Before you check out Venice Church for the first time, you might want to know what we believe. And we think that being upfront about who we are and what we’re all about is in everyone’s best interest. If you have questions about what any of these things mean, we’d love to speak to you more so that we can clarify. You can email questions to info@venice.church or speak with any of our pastors during weekend services.
Statement of Beliefs
We believe God inspired the authors of Scripture by his Spirit to speak to all generations of believers, including us today. We believe the Scriptures speak with the authority of God and are without error. By God’s Spirit, we seek to interpret, contextualize, and live out this story even today.
We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. God created humans in his image to live in loving fellowship with him. But the enemy tempted the first humans and because we choose (and continue to choose) to sin and go our own way, we are alienated from God and suffer the corruption of our nature because of our sin. Because of this, death, disease, darkness, and evil have entered the world and all of creation is in desperate need of redemption.
This perfect and holy God did not abandon us to our own destruction but instead promised to provide a way to restoration and redemption. That way took on flesh in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. He died a substitutionary death on the cross as payment for our sins. His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection bring hope for all humankind. Sin and death have been defeated and the promise of forgiveness and eternal communion with God are available through Jesus. No amount of good works or human effort can restore us from our state of eternal alienation from God. It is only by God’s free grace that we are saved from this state of alienation. This grace is appropriated by a change of heart toward God’s leadership in our lives, and by faith in Jesus to forgive our sins.
God’s Holy Spirit works in us to bring conviction of a person’s need for the forgiveness of sin through Christ. He regenerates their heart and then permanently indwells them, affirming as children of God all those who trust Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers us with gifts, convicts, guides, comforts, counsels, and leads us into truth through a life of worship and expressions of our faith through service.
Christ is the foundation of Venice Church. The church is a global and local expression of Christ’s love, peace, sacrifice, and healing.
The following are foundational statements of our faith and the scriptural references supporting them:
God the Father
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He exists in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
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 rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-15; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. Also subsequent to salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is available to every believer. This immersion into Spirit-led living provides the Christian with the power to live a fruitful, victorious life, understanding of spiritual truth, and boldness in sharing the good news with others. He also gives us spiritual gifts. As Christians, we seek to live under His daily control.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 160; Proverbs 30:5
Salvation
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 accepting 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.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 12:25; John 14:2-3; John 17:3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15
Church
We believe the church is the world-wide body of Christ. It is comprised of all believers who have been united through the sacrifice of Jesus. God has also called these believers to be part of a local church family.
Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22-24