Awaken Church

What we belive is what defines us. Below is a simple plain language statement of faith. You could say these principles make up the core of who we are and why we exist. (If you're interested in a more detailed version, click here.)

1. It is expected that all people at Awaken will be on different spiritual journeys, however no matter where people are at on that journey, salvation is only experienced through a personal faith and commitment to follow Jesus Christ with ones. life. There is only one true and living God made known to us through Jesus Christ who is passionately pursuing us now through His Holy Spirit. There is no longer a need for a priest to intercede between God and us because Jesus himself is our high priest. Due to Christ's sacrifice we are now free to come boldly to the throne room of God because He stands as our mediator before God.
   
   
2. We believe that the scriptures are God's Love letter to us. We believe, therefore, that the Bible is without error as God inspired certain men to write down His message to all of humanity. Awaken believes all scriptures, the Old and New Testament, is the foundation for all life. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
   
   
3. We believe that God made himself known to us through Jesus Christ who is Lord over all creation. We believe that all we do and worship should center on Jesus. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary. Jesus took on perfectly the characteristics of human nature and identified Himself with us, but was without sin. He was executed on a cross as the only innocent man to pay for our rebellion against God and then rose on the third day from the dead, giving us the hope of spending the rest of our lives with God. We love Him because He first loved us. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. and for Him (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself (Colossians 1:18, 20a)
   
   
4. We believe that Jesus is Lord, but it is the Holy Spirit who calls all peoples to know Him. The Holy Spirit allows the veil over our eyes to disappear so we might see Jesus as the one true God over all creation (2 Corinthians 4:1-5). It is the Holy Spirit who causes the change or fruit in our lives, marks us as children of God and assures us as His, comforts, convicts of rebellion against God, and empowers us with Spiritual Gifts to serve in His Kingdom. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).
   
   
5. We are trinitarian in our view of God. that is we believe in the mystery that God is three persons in one, The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit. Each is God, yet God is one. God had perfect relationship within Himself and us being made in God's image explains our intrinsic need for relationship, because our maker is extremely relational.
   
   
6. Man was created in the image of God to be known and to know God personally, and man will never be truly satisfied until He allows God's constant pursuit of him. Man's only way of being reconciled back to God to walk with God as it was originally designed to be can only happen through the acceptance of Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection.
   
   
7. We believe in the autonomy of the local church. God gives each local body a particular vision to carry out for the advancement of His Kingdom. Therefore, each congregation should have the freedom to act, as they understand the vision God has for their local church, being kept within God's biblical purpose for His church.
   
   We understand that the church is God's chosen instrument to show the world His love, and desire to work with other like-minded local bodies that make up God's Universal Church.
   
   The New Testament also gives an incredible picture that the church is the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33)
   
   To the church God has given three ordinances, a believer's baptism by triune immersion (Matthew 28:19-20), three-fold communion (Luke 22:14-20) (John 13:5-20), and anointing of the sick with oil (James 5:13-20). None of these three are essential for salvation, but each give us a deeper understanding of who God is.
   
   
8. We believe that we are all called to be missionaries to the places and people God placed around us. One of the main reasons of the church is to be a mission outpost taking the gospel to neighbors, other surrounding cities, our nation, and to the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
   
   
9. We desire to live each day to its fullest enjoying the journey God has each one of us on knowing we have a future hope of Christ.s Return and spending eternity with God the way He originally designed (I Thessalonians 4:14-18, 5:1).