What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Coastal Community Church - TX based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

 God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one triune God. One in three and three in one.
 
Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
 
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they step over the line of faith. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
 
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of fault or error.
 
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Human beings are a special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation.  Although every person has potential for good, all of us are marred by a heart of disobedience toward God called sin and this separates people from God.  In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan, mankind fell from our original innocence and inherited a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must still accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled, sinful life and turn to Jesus in faith as our Lord and Savior, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
 
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot lose it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
 
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:35-39; John 5:24

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
 
John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

God has given each of us the freedom to read and understand the Bible for ourselves. Christ followers, however, don’t always agree in their understanding of some parts of the Bible. Therefore, we have adopted the following guidelines to help us stay true to the Bible’s central message of Jesus Christ and still offer the freedom of personal convictions the Bible describes in Romans, chapters 14 & 15 and the book of Galatians.
In essential beliefs, we have unity.
There is one Body and one Spirit…there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all…   [Ephesians 4:4-6]
In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty.
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God…So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.   [Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22]
 
In all our beliefs, we show love.
…If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.   [1 Corinthians 13:2]
Many of the areas where Christ followers have different understandings of the Bible revolve around lifestyle practices and preferences. They fall into the Apostle Paul’s category of disputable matters; areas where we have the freedom to agree to disagree. Many more areas simply have to do with culture or tradition. But there are some clear teachings in the Bible we believe are essential to unity of purpose and mission of the church. All who sign the Coastal Community Church Membership Covenant agree to these eight essentials.
We are a Church Plant affiliated with the North American Mission Board church (NAMB) planting initiative in military communities.
For more detailed information about our beliefs, please review the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.