Beliefs.
Hosea Church Statement of Faith
The Bible
We believe the Bible, comprised of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the fully-inspired Word of God, and is without error in the original manuscripts. We believe it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has ultimate authority in all matters of faith and behavior. 1
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that each Person of the Trinity is equal in all aspects of divine perfection, and that they carry out distinct yet unified roles in the acts of creation, providence, and redemption. 2
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an eternal, personal spirit, who is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He has absolute knowledge of all future events, that He compassionately involves Himself in human affairs, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 3
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, existing before all of creation. We affirm His supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit, His virgin birth, His life without sin, His miraculous works, and His teachings. We believe in His sacrificial death in our place, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to heaven, His ongoing intercession for believers, and His future visible return to earth. 4
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who comes from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to bring new life to, sanctify, and empower all who have faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an everlasting helper, instructor, comforter and guide. 5
Humanity & Salvation
We believe that humanity was made in God's image; that humanity sinned, resulting in physical, spiritual, and eternal death—meaning separation from God under His just wrath; and that, as a result, all people are born with a sinful nature, are sinners by choice, and are thus under condemnation. We believe that those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit repent from their sin, trust Jesus Christ as Savior, become new creations. They are delivered from condemnation and are recipients of eternal life by grace through faith. 6
The Church
We believe in one unified, universal Church; a living, spiritual body made up of all regenerated Christians, with Christ as its head. We also believe in the local church, which is made up of baptized Christians who have made a credible profession of faith, and who gather together for worship, mission, and fellowship. We believe that each local church and its members are entrusted with the primary responsibility of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world. 7
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live to glorify and honor God and promote the well-being of others; that their behavior should be above reproach in the world; that they should be a responsible steward of their resources; and that they should strive to attain spiritual maturity in Christ, both for themselves and others. 8 9
Baptism & The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Jesus has entrusted two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was established by Christ for the remembrance of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be practiced until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 10
The Last Things
We believe in the visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth where he will establish His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the never-ending suffering of the wicked. 11
Biblical Marriage
We believe that marriage, as designed by God, is a sacred covenant between one biological man and one biological woman, ultimately representing the relationship between Christ and the Church. We uphold the biblical view of marriage as the only rightful context for sexual relations, and we seek to honor God’s design in how we approach and live out this institution. 12
Sanctity of Life
We affirm the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Every person is made in the image of God and is therefore worthy of love, respect, and protection. We oppose abortion as a violation of the God-given right to life and are committed to advocating for the protection of the unborn, as well as offering support and compassion to women and families facing difficult circumstances. 13
Gender
We believe that God created humanity in His image, male and female, each with distinct and complementary roles. Both sexes or genders are equal in value and dignity before God, yet uniquely designed to reflect His glory in different ways. We affirm that gender is a God-given and unchangeable characteristic. 14
References:
2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Mk 13:31; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 20:31; Acts 20:32
Gen 1:1,26; Jn 1:1,3; Mat 28:19; Jn 4:24; Rom 1:19-20; Eph 4:5-6
Lk 10:21-22; Mat 23:9; Jn 3:16; 6:27; Rom 1:7; 1 Tim 1:1-2 & 2:5-6; 1 Pet 1:3; Rev 1:6
Mat 1:18–25; Lk 1:26–38; Jn 1:1, 20:28; Rom 9:5, 8:32; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:21–23; Jn 20:30, 31; Mat 20:28; Eph 1:4; Acts 1:11; Rom 5:6–8 & 6:9,10; Heb 7:25; Heb 9:28; 1 Tim 3:16
Jn 14:16,17,26 & 15:26,27; Jn 16:9–14; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; Gal 5:22–26
Gen 1:26, 5:2; Gen 3; Gen 2:17, 3:19; Ecc 2:11; Jn 3:14, 5:24; Jn 5:30, 7:13, 8:12, 10:26; Rom 9:22; 2 Thess 1:9; Rev 19:3,20, 20:10,14 & 15, 21:18; Ps 51:7; Jer 17:9; Jam 1:14; Rom 3:19, 5:19; Pro 28:13; 1 Jn 1:9; Jn 3:16, Jn 1:13; 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:1
Eph 2:19–22; Acts 1:8; Eph 5:19–21; Acts 2:42; Heb 10:23–25
See also “Biblical Commitments Expected of All Christians” in our Church Covenants
1 Cor 10:31; Rom 12:1–3; Heb 12:1–2; Jn 14:15,23-24; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 2 Cor 9:6–9; 1 Cor 4:2; Col 1:9–10
Mat 28:18–20; Rom 6:3–5; 1 Cor 11:23–26
Mat 16:27; Mk 14:62; Jn 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 4:15; 2 Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 4:5; 1 Cor 15; 2 Thess 1:7–10; Rev 20:4–6,11–15
Gen 2:24, Mat 19:4-6, Eph 5:31-32
Ps 139:13-16, Jer 1:5, Ex 20:13
Gen 1:27, Mat 19:4
Distinctive Beliefs of Hosea Church
The following distinctive beliefs distinguish our local church from others who would affirm the basic, first-rank doctrines of orthodox Christianity.
We do not expect all members to embrace all aspects of these distinctive beliefs, but members should expect that these beliefs will be maintained at Hosea Church, and members agree not to teach contrary to them.
Local Biblical Eldership
We believe in a plurality of qualified elders at the local church level who are mutually submitted to one another and share in the leadership of that local church. 1
Complementarian
We believe that both men and women are created in the image of God, equally valued and dignified in His sight. At the same time, we affirm that God has designed each gender with unique roles that complement one another, particularly within the home and the church, reflecting His intentional creation and purpose. 2
Continuationists
We believe that all spiritual gifts listed in the Bible continue to be active and in use today. This includes the gifts of prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and healing. These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church and the fulfillment of God's purposes, and we believe they should be exercised in an orderly, respectful, and God-honoring manner, in line with biblical instruction. We reject a “word of faith” theology. 3
Reformed
We adhere to Reformed theology, primarily the sentiment of “semper reformanda”, or “always reforming”. We affirm the core truths of the 5 Solas: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. We believe in the sovereignty of God over all things, including salvation, and hold to the doctrines of grace. 4
Believer’s Baptism
We believe that baptism, as practiced in the New Testament, follows a person’s conversion and is symbolized through immersion in water. Baptism serves as a powerful depiction of the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection, signifying both a public declaration of faith and a step in the journey of discipleship. 5
References:
Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28-32, 1 Tim 3:1-7, Ti 1:5-9, 1 Pet 5:1-5
Gen 1:27, 1 Tim 2:12-13, Eph 5:22-33
1 Cor 12:4-11, 1 Cor 14:1, Acts 2:17-18, 1 Thess 5:19-21
Eph 2:8-9, Rom 8:28-30, Rom 9:15-16
Acts 2:38, Rom 6:3-4, Matt 28:19-20