What We Believe

Here at Westgate Chapel, we believe…

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God

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19- 20; Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

• FATHER: We believe God the Father is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. God is absolutely holy, righteous, and just. His love and mercy was manifested in the atoning death of His only begotten Son on Calvary. (1 John 3:24; Psalm 139:7-10; Matthew 19:26; I Peter 1:5-16; Zephaniah 3:5; Romans 5:8)
• SON: We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His humanity, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious suffering and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His Ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory. (Philippians 2:5-11)
• HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit and that He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; is the agent of God in the regeneration of the lost; indwells all believers, sealing them in the Body of Christ unto the day of redemption; is the divine teacher who guides believers into all truth; and gives spiritual gifts of His choice to all believers. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:13,14, 4:11,12; John 16:8-13)

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be inspired by God, inerrant and infallible in their original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority for faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION

Mankind was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression fell, is separated from God, and the only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12, 21)

SCRIPTURAL SEXUALITY

We believe that Scripture clearly defines God’s holy purpose for human sexuality, for sexual identity and sexual conduct.

• SEXUAL IDENTITY: We believe that God created human beings in His own image, exclusively male and female (Genesis 1:27 & Matthew 19:4).
• SEXUAL INTIMACY: We believe that the exclusive holy expression of sexual intimacy is between a husband and wife, male and female (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5 & Ephesians 5:31)

SANCTITY OF LIFE

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5).

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is the gift of God by grace alone and is received through repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His substitutionary death on the cross and resurrection. Assurance and evidence of God’s regenerating work will include the internal witness of the Holy Spirit and the external witness of a life being transformed. (2 Corinthians 5:21; James 2:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12; Romans 5:8-9; 10:9-10; 12:2)

HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe that heaven is the home of the saved for eternity, and that hell is reserved for the devil and his angels and all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. (John 14:1-3; Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 20:10-15)

THE CHURCH

We believe that the body of Christ is composed of all born again believers everywhere, who are the habitation of the Holy Spirit, and that the local church comprises born again believers who come together for worship, fellowship, instruction, and Christian service. (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 12:13, 14:26; Colossians 3:10-11; Acts 2:42-47)

ORDINANCES & SACRAMENTS

• WATER BAPTISM: We believe that baptism in water is the command of Christ for all believers and that it should be by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and shall be administered only to those who give evidence of being born again. (Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; Rom. 6:1-6)
• LORD’S SUPPER: We believe the Lord’s Supper is the command of Christ to be observed by all believers as an expression of God’s grace and presence with us. Each participant should examine himself for unconfessed sin before partaking. It is a memorial of our Lord’s suffering and death and is to be observed “until He comes.” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34)
• SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE: We believe marriage is the holy union of one man and one woman (“Scriptural Marriage”). Scriptural Marriage was created by God as an expression of the unique qualities and characteristics that both man and woman bring that together represent the qualities and characteristics of God. Scriptural Marriage is uniquely used in scripture to describe the relationship between Jesus and the Church. (Genesis 2:24-25, Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:22-33)

Fidelity to Scriptural Marriage compels us to clarify Church practices in the following ministry areas:

• Solemnization and Recognition of Marriage – Pastors and ministers may only perform, bless or recognize Scriptural Marriage. This provision extends to all ordained or licensed staff of the Church at any location.
• Use of Church Facilities for Weddings and /or Wedding Receptions – Church owned or operated facilities at all locations may only be rented or used for Scriptural Marriage ceremonies and receptions.
• Employment and Volunteers – In addition to these Tenets of Faith and other documents related to employment and volunteer practices, all Church employees are expected to agree with the Church’s position on Scriptural Marriage and the Church may not employ or accept as a volunteer anyone whose marriage does not conform to Scriptural Marriage.

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience of God, distinct from and additional to salvation. This baptism is immediately available to every born again believer. In being “born of the Spirit” there is an impartation of new life in Christ. In the “baptism in the Spirit” there is an impartation of power for the fruit of the Spirit, for the manifestation (gifts) of the Spirit, and for witness. Speaking in tongues is the normative evidence of having received this Spirit baptism and is available to and encouraged for every believer. (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 2:38-39, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Acts 19:1-7)

HOLINESS

We believe that the Bible teaches a life of holiness in response to the love of God. Sanctification is the will of God for all Believers to be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-16)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

We believe that the fruit of the Spirit will be evident and growing in the life of the believer: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

DIVINE HEALING

We believe that divine healing for physical, emotional, spiritual brokenness is a provision of Christ’s atoning death. Prayer for the broken and hurting is the privilege of all believers. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Mark 16:18; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-16)

THE HOPE OF THOSE IN CHRIST

We believe in the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord and that this is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

We believe that there will be a final judgment in which those without Christ will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the Devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8)

THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

We, according to the promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22).

contact us

service times

sundays at 9am & 11:15am

Tuesdays at 7pm

office hours

Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5pm

Address

22901 Edmonds Way | Edmonds, WA 98020

phone

425-775-2776

email

[email protected]