What We Believe

The historic Christian faith, the faith summed up in the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, which Christians have confessed for centuries.

PraiseHim Club is for every church that confesses these truths. Members come from many denominations, and we gladly welcome seekers and questioners. These are the beliefs our articles, Bible studies and moderators stand on.

The Bible

The Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, true in all it teaches, and the final authority for what Christians believe and how they live.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

One God in three Persons

There is one God, eternal and holy, the Creator of all things. He exists as three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, each fully God, yet one God and not three.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Humanity and sin

God made men and women in His image, to know Him and to reflect His goodness. We have all turned away from Him. Sin is not only falling short; it is rebellion against a holy God, and it brings His just judgment and death. No one can save themselves.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man. He lived without sin, died on the cross in our place as the sacrifice for sin, and rose bodily from the dead on the third day. He ascended to the Father, where He reigns and intercedes for His people.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

Salvation

Salvation is God's free gift, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not earned by good works. God calls everyone to repent, turning from sin, and to trust Christ as Savior and follow Him as Lord. There is salvation in no one else.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, gives new birth to those who believe, lives in every Christian, and gives power to live a holy life and to serve.

The church

The church is the family of all who belong to Christ. Believers gather in local churches to worship, hear God's Word, share baptism and the Lord's Supper, pray, and serve their neighbors. Following Jesus is not meant to be done alone.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Christ's return and the judgment

Jesus will return in glory. All people will be raised and judged. Those who belong to Christ will live with God forever; those who reject Him will face everlasting separation from Him.

“He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

Where Christians differ

Faithful Christians disagree on some questions, and we do not take sides on them here: how baptism is given, how the spiritual gifts work today, the order of events at the end of the age, how a church is governed, and styles of worship. We ask members to discuss these with charity.

Where to go from here