We believe the Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient. The Word of God is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26
There is only one true God, creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was fully God and fully man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and thus atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved will spend eternity in heaven and those that are lost will be eternally separated from God.
Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44;
Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
Only through faith in Jesus, the work of Jesus, and repentance of sin can we be reconciled to God. Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
John 6:44, 65; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3;
Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7;
1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23
Ordinances
Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48
The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
Marriage
We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God.
Matthew 19:4-6
MISSION
Merge Community Church exists to walk together with people through life, to point them to Jesus, and to help them take the next steps to grow in their relationship with God.
VISION
Encounter and Connect with God
We want people to know God because He is worthy of us offering our lives as a sacrifice of praise and, ultimately, eternal consequences hang in the balance of how we respond to the truth about God.
Create a Place of Belonging
We want to welcome people into our lives, build relationships with them, and partner with them on the journey to work through their yesterdays, find encouragement for today, and to be strengthened for tomorrow.
Discover Purpose
We want people to discover their purpose so they can actively and purposefully use the gifts God has blessed them with.
Live for Others
We want people-as they live out their relationship with God, find freedom, and discover their purpose-to be mobilized to go out and make a difference in the lives of others that will have an eternal impact.