At Whitepine, we believe that Truth matters and can be discovered by those seeking it. In a time where such ideas may sound old-fashioned and even “stuffy,” we believe in Truth as revealed and practiced in the Christian faith, primarily through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
1. The Scriptures: The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have their authority from God alone and are given to us by divine inspiration. They are the only perfect, supreme, infallible and sufficient standard of faith and practice.
2. God: There is one true and living God; He is an infinite Spirit; self-existent, present everywhere, all-knowing, all-powerful, good, wise, just, and merciful. He is the creator, preserver and sovereign Lord of the universe; He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all honour, confidence, and love. In the Godhead there are three persons in one – The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine perfection, and who execute distinct but harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.
3. Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the second person of the Trinity, who by virtue of His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial work on the cross, and resurrection, is the world’s Redeemer and the Saviour of all who believe. He is at the right hand of the Father, the only advocate of all His people.
4. The Holy Spirit: the Holy spirit is the third person of the Trinity, by whom all saving, comforting, and sanctifying power is exerted upon human hearts. He indwells and seals the believer at conversion, giving us power to live a holy life, gifts to serve in the church, and guidance in the truths of God’s Word.
5. State and Fall of Humanity: Adam, the first human, was created sinless. By his own disobedience, he fell into sin. Through his fall into sin, an evil nature was transmitted to the entire human race, revealing itself in actual transgression (sin), and bringing everyone under the reign of condemnation and death.
6. Atonement: God has provided salvation through offering His Son on the cross of Calvary and allowing His blood to be shed to atone for our sins.
7. Regeneration: In regeneration, new life is born in the soul of man by the Holy Spirit through the Word of truth, producing a disposition of joyful obedience to Christ and to holy conduct in life.
8. Repentance: In repentance, the sinner, having seen his sin, is then moved by the energy of the Holy Spirit, to grieve for and hate it as an offense against God, and taking hold of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he lovingly turns to God to walk in the way of His commandments.
9. Faith: Faith is a conviction of the mind that God will perform all that He has promised and an implicit trust of the heart in Christ as a personal Saviour. It includes a hearty concurrence of the will and affections with the whole plan of salvation as revealed in the Gospel, and is a condition of justification and of cleansing from the pollution of sin and of all subsequent Gospel blessings.
10. Justification: Justification is an act of God wherein He accepts as righteous the sinner, to whom is given the perfect righteousness of Christ, on the condition of faith alone.
11. Sanctification: The Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, Christians are made partakers of His holiness; that it had its beginning in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as the believer continually uses the Word of God—selfexamination, selfdenial, watchfulness, and prayer.
12. The Lord’s Day: We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day and is to be set aside for worship and rest.
13. A Gospel Church: We believe that a Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His word. In a more general sense, the word “Church” is used to designate all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
14. Ordinances: We believe that there are only two rites or ordinances to be administered by the Church in the New Testament.
a- Baptism: We believe all believers should be baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as an act of obedience to Christ’s command. It is not a necessity for securing their salvation, but represents their death to the world, and their resurrection to a new life in Christ. Baptism also represents identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
b- The Lord’s Supper: All believers should regularly participate as requested by Christ at the Last Supper. We believe that the cup and the bread represent Christ’s body and blood reminding us of His sacrificial death on the cross.
15. The Second Coming of Christ: We believe that those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Saviour and are unrepentant will be judged by God in His perfect justice and doomed to eternal punishment. We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children.