What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Summit Church of the Brethren based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe there is only one God eternally existent in three distinct, co-equal and co-eternal Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30).   We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35) and sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26), His miracles (John 2:11), and His vicarious and atoning death (Isaiah 53:4-6, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7). We believe in Christ’s resurrection from the tomb (John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:4), His ascension to the right hand of God the Father where He intercedes for His people (Mark 16:19, Hebrews 7:25) and His personal and visible return to the earth in power and glory (Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11). We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who lives in Christians uniting them as one in Christ, enabling them to live a godly life and empowering them to serve in the  name of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:1-7 & 30; 5-18).

We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the infallible and inerrant Word of God, and is our guide in faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:21).

Because of Adam’s disobedience to God’s command, Adam and the entire human race have fallen into sin and are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23). God, who is rich in mercy, has made a way for our salvation, and it is faith in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross in our place as the payment for our sin (John 3:14-21, 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:15, Titus 3:4-7) . The gospel is the good news that God will receive  all who repent of their sin and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Church consists of all persons who have received God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). The Church is identified in the Bible as both the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-27),  and the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9). The mission of the Church has both external and internal aspects. Externally, the Church is called to proclaim the gospel to a lost world (Matthew 28:19-20) and to display the glory of God as His representatives in the world (Romans 12:1-2). Internally, the Church is to teach and encourage fellow believers to live in a manner that is pleasing to God (Ephesians 1:4, 4:12, 5:27).

We believe in the resurrection of the dead: of the believer to eternal blessings and of the unbeliever to  eternal suffering (Luke 16:24-25, John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26).