At North Central, we believe the Bible is the only adequate guide for the faith and practice of Christians. We call people to learn and affirm the Scriptures in their entirety. We have no formal creed, catechism or statement of faith. The following summary of our core teachings is not a condition of membership. Rather, it represents a consensus of what our elders and staff ministers believe the Scriptures teach on core matters of Christian faith. It is designed to help you become better acquainted with the preaching and teaching emphases you are likely to encounter at North Central.
About God
God is an eternal, sovereign, omnipotent and omnipresent creator, sustainer and ruler of the universe. He is perfect in every way: loving, holy and just. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
- Genesis 1:1-2, 26, 27, 3:22
- Psalm 90:2
- I Timothy 6:15
- Psalm 147:5
- Jeremiah 23:24
About Man
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin separates man from God.
- Genesis 1:27
- Psalm 8:3-6
- Isaiah 53:6a
- Romans 3:23
About Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven and eternal life.
- John 3:16
- 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13
- Romans 6:23
- Revelation 20:15
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. 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 into heaven where he is our great High Priest and Advocate and he will return one day to claim all those who belong to him.
- Matthew 1:22-23
- Isaiah 9:6
- John 1:1-5, 14:10-30
- Hebrews 4:14-15
- I Corinthians 15:3-4
- Romans 1:3-4
- I John 2:1
- Acts 1:9-11
- I Timothy 6:14-15
- Titus 2:13
- I Corinthians 15:22-23
About Salvation
Salvation is a restored eternal union with God. It is a gift from God to man. It is the result of God’s grace. Man can never make up for his sin and earn salvation by penance, self-improvement or good works. Man can be saved from sin’s penalty only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. Such trusting faith results in a heartfelt vow to forsake sin by turning from serving and relying on self toward serving and relying on Christ (repentance), and is expressed affirmatively in confession of faith in Christ and baptism into Christ.
- Romans 6:23
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- John 14:6
- John 1:12
- Titus 3:5
- Galatians 3:26-27
- Romans 5:1
- Acts 2:38
- Romans 10:9-10
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as 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. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
- John 16:7-13
- John 14:16-17
- Acts 1:8
- 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16
- Ephesians 1:13
- Galatians 5:25
- Ephesians 5:18
About Christian Living
Christians are called to live godly and holy lives with the goal of personifying Jesus Christ. Godly living is expressed inwardly in the pursuit of knowing and trusting God and is expressed outwardly in lives of love and service. Christians are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ and are to be a light to the world showing the true meaning of what life is about. Christians are to be separated from the world in terms of perspective, priorities and behavior, but in the world in terms of influence.
- Ephesians 4:1
- I Thessalonians 4:7
- 2 Timothy 1:9
- I Peter 1:14-16
- Ephesians 4:22-24
- Matthew 22:34-37
- I John 4:20-21
- John 13:34-35
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
- Matthew 5:14-16
About Justification & Sanctification
Although reborn and in possession of a high calling, Christians do not immediately lose the desire to be sovereign and follow their own will. Consequently, Christians often miss the mark and fall short of God’s expectations. Fortunately, remaining justified before God is not a matter of being good enough. It is not achieving perfection that keeps Christians saved, but that Christians put their faith in a perfect Savior. Even though Christians often miss the mark, salvation is secure as long as the Christian continues to trust and follow Jesus Christ. However, this aspect of God’s grace must be handled responsibly. Christians are not free to cynically indulge the sinful nature. The vow of repentance must be lived out with integrity. This means Christians must learn to listen, yield and become ever more like Jesus Christ as God reveals himself, his purposes and his way.s This process of spiritual growth is called sactification. God provideds the instruction, discipline, power and motivation to listen and yield to him through the Holy Spirit. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church.
- Gal. 5:17
- Rom. 7:14-25
- Heb. 10:14
- Rom. 8:1
- Eph. 2:8-9
- I John 1:7
- Gal. 5:13
- 2 Thes. 2:13
- Phil. 1:6, 2:13
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error and is the authoratative standard for all Christian faith and life.
- 2 Timothy 3:16
- 2 Peter 1:20-21
- 2 Timothy 1:13
- Psalm 119:105, 160
- Psalm 12:6
- Proverbs 30:5
About the Church
The church is the body of Christ. It is made up of all who trust Jesus and have committed to follow him. Every member of the body of Christ is a disciple (learner) or apprentice of Jesus Christ. The church is Christ’s instrument to do his will in the world. It is the present incarnation of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 2:42-47
- Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16
- I Corinthians 12:27
