our theology

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

OUR THEOLOGICAL APPROACH

Sin is the problem | Jesus is the answer | The Bible is true | Hell is hot

When it comes to doctrine, culture, preferences, traditions, lifestyles, or politics, Four Points Church takes a “closed hand/open hand” approach. The closed hand hangs onto the non-negotiable tenets of Christian orthodoxy.

The open hand, however, allows room for differences when it comes to secondary matters; we liberally allow freedom for conscience and wisdom to guide where the Bible is silent. The open hand fosters unity among the diversity of expressions found in the Four Points congregation: Democrats and Republicans, soccer moms and homeschoolers, carnivores and vegans, trendy Macs and faithful PCs.

In this way, we are seeking to simultaneously heed the Bible’s commands:
To have sound doctrine, (1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1) To love our Christian brothers and sisters, (1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-21) To avoid unnecessary divisions (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:25; Titus 3:10).

the closed hand

THE BIBLE

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. In short, if the Bible says something we don’t like…we change our minds.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21;  Matthew 5:18;  John 16:12-13

THE TRINITY

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—coeternal in being, coeternal in nature, coequal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections.  Deuteronomy 6:4;  2 Corinthians 13:14

THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin, the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; man is totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.  Genesis 1:26-27;  Romans 3:22-23;  Romans 5:12;  Ephesians 2:1–3;  Ephesians 2:12

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.  Ephesians 2:8–10;  John 1:12;  Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19

THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.  John 1:1–2;  John 1:14;  Luke 1:35

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.  Romans 3:24;  1 Peter 2:24;  Ephesians 1:7;  1 Peter 1:3–5

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.  Acts 1:9-10;  Hebrews 7:25;  Hebrews 9:24;  Romans 8:34;  1 John 2:1–2

We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.  1 Peter 4:5;  Romans 14:9;  2 Timothy 4:1

MANY SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer’s responsibility to attempt to develop his or her sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted.  John 15:7;  1 John 5:14-15

We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him or her.
Romans 12:1–8;  1 Corinthians 13;  1 Peter 4:10–11

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons.
Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:25–27;  1 Corinthians 12:12–14;  2 Corinthians 11:2

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures.
Acts 14:27,  Acts 18:22,  Acts 20:17;  1 Timothy 3:1–3;  Titus 1:5–11

We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper as scriptural means of testimony for the Church.
Matthew 28:19-20;  Acts 2:41-42;  Acts 18:8;  1 Corinthians 11:23–26

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption, and enduing believers with power to be witnesses in the world.
John 16:8–11;  2 Corinthians 3:6;  1 Corinthians 12:12–14;  Romans 8:9;  Ephesians 5:18;  Acts 1:8