What We Believe
Theology is best experienced in community, and it should always lead to love. (1 Timothy 1:5) If you have any questions regarding the beliefs or teaching of The Bridge, please don't hesitate to ask.
THE BIBLE: We believe the very words of the Old and New Testament Scriptures are God’s inspired revelation. Error-free in the original writings, the Bible is the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12).
GOD: We believe in one living and true God, who, being one in essence, exists eternally in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Persons of the Godhead, or Trinity: (a) possess the same divine nature, attributes, and perfections (b) are equally worthy of honor, trust, and obedience; and (c) carry out different functions in God’s dealings with mankind (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; 2 Cor.13:14).
THE FATHER: We believe the first Person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according His own purpose, pleasure, and grace. He sovereignly decreed all things that come to pass for his own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of mankind, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who, by grace, come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ(Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Eph. 1:3-6).
THE SON: We believe Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of man. Fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s perfect justice concerning sin by His death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible return to earth to establish His earthly kingdom(Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-5, 14-18; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-8; 2:17-18; 4:14-16; Rev. 19:11; 20:6, 11-15).
THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe the third Person of the Trinity executes the will of God in the world of men. It is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates the elect, baptizing them into the body of Christ. He indwells and transforms individual believers, empowering them to live Christ-like lifestyles and endowing them with spiritual gifts so that they are able to accomplish distinct ministries planned beforehand by God the Father (1 Cor. 12; John 3:1-8; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal.5:16-26 Romans 8:9).
GOD: We believe in one living and true God, who, being one in essence, exists eternally in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Persons of the Godhead, or Trinity: (a) possess the same divine nature, attributes, and perfections (b) are equally worthy of honor, trust, and obedience; and (c) carry out different functions in God’s dealings with mankind (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; 2 Cor.13:14).
THE FATHER: We believe the first Person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according His own purpose, pleasure, and grace. He sovereignly decreed all things that come to pass for his own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of mankind, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who, by grace, come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ(Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Eph. 1:3-6).
THE SON: We believe Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of man. Fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s perfect justice concerning sin by His death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible return to earth to establish His earthly kingdom(Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-5, 14-18; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-8; 2:17-18; 4:14-16; Rev. 19:11; 20:6, 11-15).
THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe the third Person of the Trinity executes the will of God in the world of men. It is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates the elect, baptizing them into the body of Christ. He indwells and transforms individual believers, empowering them to live Christ-like lifestyles and endowing them with spiritual gifts so that they are able to accomplish distinct ministries planned beforehand by God the Father (1 Cor. 12; John 3:1-8; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal.5:16-26 Romans 8:9).
THE NATURE OF MAN: We believe humanity was created in the image of God to enjoy fellowship with God and to fulfill God’s will on this earth. By willful disobedience to the clearly revealed will of God, man sinned; as a result all men are spiritually dead (i.e., separated from a holy God). This fall of man into sin is a once-for-all historical fact. Sin’s spiritually deadening effect spread to all people—as each individual is born with a sinful nature and sins habitually in thought, word, and deed(Genesis 1:26 27; 2:7; 3; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-23; 5:12,17-21; Eph. 2:1-3).
SALVATION: We believe that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life on the cross to pay for our sins. All who trust in Him are declared righteous by the Father on the grounds of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who are made alive by the Spirit—by grace through faith—become God’s children forever, as well as members of the one true Church, the body of Christ. “So great a salvation” results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his or her life to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit(John 1:12; 3:1, 16; 5:24; 14:6, 21; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 2:3).
THE CHURCH: We believe that all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true universal Church and are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches. The local church is the only visible representation of Christ’s “invisible” Church, and it exists to lead individuals to saving faith in Christ and help them become fully devoted followers of Jesus (Matthew 16:13-28; 24:36; 28:18 20; Acts 2:14-17, 38-47; 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 2:19-22, 24; 4:11-16).
THE FUTURE: We believe in the physical, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead. This is the believer’s “Blessed Hope”—the next great event of salvation history for which all who love Jesus eagerly await. Though the timing of Christ’s return is a mystery, the fact of it is as certain as His first coming. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting in the presence of God for those who believe. Those who do not believe will be raised to conscious and everlasting punishment in hell (Matthew 16:27; 24:27-31; 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:27).
SALVATION: We believe that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life on the cross to pay for our sins. All who trust in Him are declared righteous by the Father on the grounds of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who are made alive by the Spirit—by grace through faith—become God’s children forever, as well as members of the one true Church, the body of Christ. “So great a salvation” results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his or her life to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit(John 1:12; 3:1, 16; 5:24; 14:6, 21; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 2:3).
THE CHURCH: We believe that all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true universal Church and are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches. The local church is the only visible representation of Christ’s “invisible” Church, and it exists to lead individuals to saving faith in Christ and help them become fully devoted followers of Jesus (Matthew 16:13-28; 24:36; 28:18 20; Acts 2:14-17, 38-47; 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 2:19-22, 24; 4:11-16).
THE FUTURE: We believe in the physical, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead. This is the believer’s “Blessed Hope”—the next great event of salvation history for which all who love Jesus eagerly await. Though the timing of Christ’s return is a mystery, the fact of it is as certain as His first coming. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting in the presence of God for those who believe. Those who do not believe will be raised to conscious and everlasting punishment in hell (Matthew 16:27; 24:27-31; 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:27).