Young's Church Core Beliefs

God

We believe in one God, infinite Spirit, creator, and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are one in essence having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; but distinct in person and function. Matthew 28:19–20; John 1:1-2; Acts 5:3-4; Colossians 2:9.

Jesus Christ

We affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. Eternally begotten from the Father, He is God. Mary, though a virgin, conceived Him through a miracle of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He lives forever as perfect God and perfect man: two distinct natures inseparably united in one person. We believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world as the substitutionary sacrifice, that His crucified body was raised from the dead, and that He ascended into heaven to appear before the Father as our High Priest, Advocate, and Mediator. Luke 1:35; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1–3; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15–17; 2:9; Hebrews 4:15; 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:2.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit came in a special sense on the Day of Pentecost, indwelling every believer. In this age, the Holy Spirit conducts the ministries of restraining evil in the world; convicting people of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerating and indwelling all believers; baptizing them into the Body of Christ; sealing them unto the day of redemption; and empowering them for sanctification and service. We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent and are intended for use throughout the entire Church Age. We affirm that God performs miracles as He wills. John 14:16–17; 16:7–15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:13, 28–30; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:1-16, 30; Hebrews 2:1-4; Titus 3:5

Bible

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are the Word of God. They are supernaturally, verbally inspired of God and inerrant in the original writings. All its words are the written true revelation of God. We believe that this inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the Scriptures, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. John 17:17; Galatians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21

Sin and Death

We affirm that Adam, the first man, willfully disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into the world. As a result, all persons are sinners from conception, which is evidenced in their willful acts of sin; and they are therefore subject to eternal punishment, under the just condemnation of a holy God.

Salvation

We believe that salvation was provided for everyone in the entire world and was accomplished solely by the finished work of Christ shedding His blood upon the cross, and no work on the part of any person can merit this salvation. We affirm that each person can be saved only through the work of Jesus Christ, through repentance of sin and by faith alone in Christ alone as Savior. The believer is declared righteous, born again by the Holy Spirit, turned from sin, and assured of heaven.

Whoever believes solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ receives the new birth, becomes a partaker of the divine nature, and thus becomes a child of God, once for all, forever. John 3:16; 6:37; 10:27–30; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2 Peter 1:3-4.

Sanctification

We affirm that the Holy Spirit indwells all who are born again, conforming them to the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is a process completed only in Heaven.

Every believer is responsible to live in obedience to the Word of God in separation from sin. Doing so produces a distinctly Christian lifestyle of practicing virtues and avoiding sin. Among other virtues, followers of Jesus Christ will: show evidence of the Holy Spirit living within them such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and supremely, love; seek righteousness, mercy and justice, particularly for the helpless and oppressed; love and side with what is good in God’s eyes and abhor what is evil in God’s eyes; uphold the God-given worth of all human beings, from conception to death, as the unique image-bearers of God; treat all people impartially, seeing them as equals before God and worthy of salvation; pursue unity and embrace people of all tribes and tongues as part of God’s design for humanity; uphold chastity among the unmarried and the sanctity of marriage between one natural-born man and one natural-born woman; be people of integrity whose word can be fully trusted; give faithful witness to the Gospel; practice good works toward all; and live lives of prayer and thanksgiving.

The Church

1. We believe the Church universal began at Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church, called His Body.
2. We define our local church as a body of baptized believers in Christ, under the discipline of the Word of God and the lordship of Christ, who are joined together under scriptural leadership for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, for fellowship, for the proclamation of the Gospel, for evangelism, for the teaching of people of all nations and for observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 1:4-5; 2:42–47; 11:15-16; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:20–23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:15.

3. We believe that Ordination is the formal setting apart of a servant of God for pastoral or missionary ministry. By recognizing God's call upon an individual, and examining that candidate’s: (1) conversion; (2) call to ministry; (3) education in the things of God; (4) world view, Godly walk, biblical values and relationships; and (5) doctrinal statement; the church sanctifies a person from the world an and to God for service.

Last Things

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will rapture His church and return in person, with power and great glory, to reign for 1000 years. He  will lift the curse on creation, restore Israel to her land, fulfill God’s covenant promises, and bring the entire world to the knowledge of God. All people will experience a bodily resurrection, the unsaved to everlasting punishment and the saved to eternal life. (Mt. 25:46; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 20:1-3; 20:12-21)