Westside Christian Church is a non-denominational New Testament Christian Church. We understand the local church goes beyond the physical walls of our building and is the body of believers who operate under the authority of Jesus Christ wherever we live and work.
The Bible
We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, written by human authors, without error, the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of all people, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life.
The Trinity
We believe that the one true God exists in relationship with Himself eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and authority but distinct in function.
Father
We believe that God is holy; He is great, all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is our loving compassionate Father, faithful to His people and promises.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and at the same time was fully man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life. By His blood at the cross, He satisfied the wrath of God in our place, He obtained for us the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, and He defeated the powers of death and satan. He was raised on the third day for our justification and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He reigns and makes intercession for the saints as head of the church.
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit ‘s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and reveals to believers the process of sanctification (becoming like Him). The Spirit dwells in us, convicts, sanctifies, leads, directs, comforts us, reveals truth, and graciously empowers all who come to faith in Christ for godly living and service.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe and bear witness to all gifts of the Spirit, as the church continues to express them today; they are subject to the order prescribed by Scripture, for the purpose of edification, conviction, building of faith, and the expansion of His Kingdom.
Prayer
We believe prayer to God is critical for relationship with Him. We firmly believe and regularly see the fruit of prayer. We know that when we align our heart and desires with God’s, whatever we ask for in prayer will be given to us. When we humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s will, while turning from our sin, He takes action on our behalf. Prayer develops and strengthens our relationship with God and further builds faith!
Creation
We believe that God created the world, science, the physical laws of nature, and He also upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists; He will bring all things to their proper end in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name.
Man and Sin
We believe that mankind in Adam was originally created in the image of God, righteous and without sin. In consequence of his disobedience, all humanity is born with a sin nature and are therefore, by nature and choice, the children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance by God.
Salvation and Baptism
We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross provides the only sufficient sacrifice of sins for all mankind through his death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is God’s free gift, given to us by grace, and is available to all who accept it and grant Jesus lordship over their lives. We believe that when someone chooses to put their faith or trust in Christ they should confess and repent of their sins, choose and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and be baptized into him.
The Church
We believe that the church is God’s primary instrument through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth with love. Every person who has placed their faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ is a part of the universal body of believers known as the church. We also affirm the call of every Christian to be joined with and actively involved with a local community of the saints; God gave every Christian a role to play in the building of His Kingdom. The members of the local church are to lovingly live their lives in unity with other believers and with the God-appointed leaders of the church. God has called the church to disciple one another to enable us to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
Communion
We believe that communion is not a ritual for Christians to observe, but a blessing designed to honor Christ as we take it regularly. Communion consists of 2 elements, the bread, which represents Christ’s body, and the cup, which represents Christ’s shed blood. Christ’s body was pure, whole, and healthy while on earth; as his body was torn and broken before and during His crucifixion, God took all our sickness and disease and put them on Jesus’ originally perfect body so that we can walk in divine health. “By His stripes, we are healed.” Christ tells us the cup represents the new covenant we have with Christ in His shed blood, which gives us the forgiveness of our sins and righteousness, and we remember His eternal commitment to us.
Tithes and Offerings
We believe the “tithe” is a tenth of one’s income or produce, it is given to the local church where you are fed spiritually, and God introduced it for the financing of the ministry. Just as God instituted the tithe in the Old Testament, Jesus affirms and elevates the tithe in the New Testament for furthering the church. Jesus instructed that the motive of our heart is just as important as the act of giving itself. “Offerings” are donations that are given beyond just that of the tenth or tithe, and can be for the church beyond the local community. We understand that by giving our resources to the church, we are showing God our reliance on Him, recognizing that all our finances belong to Him, and honoring Him for the finances He blessed us with. By tithing, we put our trust in the Lord, and consequently, we accept His promised blessings and provision of all our needs.
The Future
We believe at the end of the age Jesus Christ will return to the earth personally and visibly. The Bible indicates that we do not and cannot know the exact day or hour, but exhorts us to be ready.
