THE ROOTS
Echo Church is a Christian church. We follow Jesus, teach from the Bible and worship God. We will do all things possible to reach those who are far from God by reaching out to our culture and connecting them to Christ. Although our approach may be nothing close to traditional, we hold a conservative position.
Trinity – God: Three In One
We believe in one Triune God, who has existed as three persons for all eternity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even though each part of the trinity serves different roles, they eternally posses equal power and authority.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; 2; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 13:14; 2 Corinthians 13:13; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19)
God – He Is Great, He Is Good
We believe God is all knowing, never changing, Holy, creator, sustainer and ruler of the universe. He is our Father. He is compassionate, loving, worthy of our trust and faithful to His people.
(Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; Psalms 11:4-6; 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Son – God Came To Be Man
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He is completely human and at the same time completely God. Jesus lived a life without sin and gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead three days later, defeating death, so that we might have life. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King.
(Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit – God Is Always Present
The Holy Spirits 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. He comforts us, give us spiritual gifts and makes us more like Christ. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Galatians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Revelation 22:17)
The Bible – His Word To Us
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was inspired by God and is the truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to all people.
(Psalm 12:6; 119:105, 160; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:16; Proverbs 30:5)
Man – Made In His Image
Man is made in the image of God and is the object of His creation. Every human is created unique and is worthy of Christian love. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated through disobedience. Because of this, man cannot acquire a right relationship with God through his own effort.
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-23; Psalm 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; 53:6; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18; 3:23; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-2)
Salvation – The Only Way
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:1; 10:9-10; Revelation 3:20)
The Church – Designed For Community
The church is the local community of believers who worship together and are unified through the faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Jesus and strives to live by His commands seeking to spread the gospel to the world. The Church strives to work together in love and unity for the purpose of glorifying God.
(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)
In Addition To The Essential Beliefs
In Non-Essential Beliefs, we have liberty. Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. In All our Beliefs, we show charity. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
(Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22; 1 Corinthians 13:2)