Statement of Faith
INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE - The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God, and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct, accepted by East Gate Christian Academy as the revealed will of God and the all sufficient rule of faith and practice (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
GOD - We believe that there is one and only one living and true God, infinite and eternal, Maker of heaven and earth, holy, loving, just, righteous and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three separate Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11).
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST - The Lord Jesus is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22); His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21); His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38); His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4); His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3) and His coming again (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
MAN - We believe that man was created by God in the image of God, and by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all men are now sinners, and, therefore, in need of a Savior, whom God sent to be the propitiation for the sins of the world (Genesis 3; Romans 1:18-32; 5:12-19).
GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION - We believe that God has provided salvation from sin and eternal death to righteousness and eternal life in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ whose redemptive work on the cross provided salvation to all who believe and receive Him as their Savior (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-14; 1 John 4:10-11). The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12).
SANCTIFICATION - Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15, 16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11; 6:13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:5).
THE CHURCH AND ITS PURPOSE - The Church consists of those called out from a life of sin to be the body of Christ on earth. The Church is the bride of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, and God’s building or temple (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16).
Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the universal body of Christ and the church of the First-born, which are written in heaven. The Church is to be the salt and light of the world, manifesting a sweet savor of the Lordship of Christ in every area of life. The church is to fulfill God’s purposes in the earth in a given generation, as it impacts the neighborhoods locally and the nations globally.
Believers who work closely together in harmony in a geographic area to accomplish this purpose become the local churches in that area. Thus, the church is a community of believers, as well as an army of war that the gates of hell will not be able to withstand (Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:7-9; Matthew 16:16-18; 18:18-20; 22:36-40).
THE MINISTRY - Our Lord has provided a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). One purpose of the ministry is the evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20). The other main purpose of this ministry is the edifying of the body of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).
THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - We believe that God’s primary objective is to make us like Jesus Christ, His Son. In order for this to happen, He desires our character to be changed continually so that we produce fruit that consistently testifies of His work of grace. The battle within is between the old and new nature. The solution of this battle is to die to the flesh and to live unto God on a daily basis (Galatians 5:12-25, Romans 6).
We believe that God also equips believers with the power of the Spirit so that we can do the works of Jesus. The works involve gifts of the Spirit that are diverse in nature and which manifest the power and presence of the Lord. They are distinct from the various ministries that can flow out from any believer in a more consistent manner.
THE BLESSED HOPE - The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the literal coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
THE FINAL JUDGMENT - There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-46; Revelation 9:20; 20:11-15, 21:8).
THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH - We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 21:22).
GOD - We believe that there is one and only one living and true God, infinite and eternal, Maker of heaven and earth, holy, loving, just, righteous and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three separate Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11).
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST - The Lord Jesus is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22); His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21); His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38); His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4); His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3) and His coming again (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
MAN - We believe that man was created by God in the image of God, and by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all men are now sinners, and, therefore, in need of a Savior, whom God sent to be the propitiation for the sins of the world (Genesis 3; Romans 1:18-32; 5:12-19).
GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION - We believe that God has provided salvation from sin and eternal death to righteousness and eternal life in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ whose redemptive work on the cross provided salvation to all who believe and receive Him as their Savior (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-14; 1 John 4:10-11). The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12).
SANCTIFICATION - Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15, 16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11; 6:13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:5).
THE CHURCH AND ITS PURPOSE - The Church consists of those called out from a life of sin to be the body of Christ on earth. The Church is the bride of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, and God’s building or temple (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16).
Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the universal body of Christ and the church of the First-born, which are written in heaven. The Church is to be the salt and light of the world, manifesting a sweet savor of the Lordship of Christ in every area of life. The church is to fulfill God’s purposes in the earth in a given generation, as it impacts the neighborhoods locally and the nations globally.
Believers who work closely together in harmony in a geographic area to accomplish this purpose become the local churches in that area. Thus, the church is a community of believers, as well as an army of war that the gates of hell will not be able to withstand (Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:7-9; Matthew 16:16-18; 18:18-20; 22:36-40).
THE MINISTRY - Our Lord has provided a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). One purpose of the ministry is the evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20). The other main purpose of this ministry is the edifying of the body of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).
THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - We believe that God’s primary objective is to make us like Jesus Christ, His Son. In order for this to happen, He desires our character to be changed continually so that we produce fruit that consistently testifies of His work of grace. The battle within is between the old and new nature. The solution of this battle is to die to the flesh and to live unto God on a daily basis (Galatians 5:12-25, Romans 6).
We believe that God also equips believers with the power of the Spirit so that we can do the works of Jesus. The works involve gifts of the Spirit that are diverse in nature and which manifest the power and presence of the Lord. They are distinct from the various ministries that can flow out from any believer in a more consistent manner.
THE BLESSED HOPE - The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the literal coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
THE FINAL JUDGMENT - There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-46; Revelation 9:20; 20:11-15, 21:8).
THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH - We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 21:22).