Our Beliefs
The following is a snapshot view of our core beliefs. It is not comprehensive, but it is meant to help you gain an insight into what PLCC views as essential elements of the Christian faith.
We Believe….
The Bible is the uniquely inspired (“God breathed”) and infallible Word of God. The contents of the Bible declare God’s design and plan for humanity. It is God’s authoritative self-revelation (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Jn. 10: 34-36). It is inspired in that its origin comes from God through human agency and personality. It is infallible in that it is fully trustworthy as to its message and understanding.
There is only One God revealed in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). There is both community and mystery in the adorable Godhead; moreover, God’s self-revelation of the Holy Trinity is revealed comprehensively throughout Scripture. (Gn. 1:2, 26; 3:22; Ex. 3:3-6; Jos. 5:13-6:2; Mt. 3:13-17; 28:19; Jn. 14: 15-23; Acts 2:3ff; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2: 18, 4: 4-6; Phil. 3:3; 1 Jn. 5:1-12).
In the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s unique and only Son. Jesus is understood as both fully human and fully divine (Mt. 1:23; 9:36; 10:27; 11:28f; Lk. 5:4f; 9:35; Jn 1:14; 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 10:11, 18; 15:12-16; Eph. 5:25; Heb. 2:14; 10:7).
The Holy Spirit is alive and well today. The Holy Spirit is not an inactive, impersonal force or some divine power limited to the pages of the Bible. The Holy Spirit is a divine Being. We believe that all Christians should take seriously the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and engaging within both the believer and the church. The Spirit is given to the believer for empowerment to witness and spiritual formation; to edify the church and to transform our world (Ezek. 37:1-4; Jn. 3:8; Mt. 3:16, 28:19; Jn. 14:16; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2: 1-4, 13:2; 19: 1-10; John 3:8).
The fallenness of Humanity. Humanity, though originally created good and in the image of God, fell to sin – ushering in evil and death. Both physical and spiritual death entered the world at that point. As a result, humanity can never be on our own as good as we were created to be. Because of sin, humanity has been alienated from God, from one another, from the rest of creation, and from one’s original and true self. Although now sinful and the Image of God smeared, God's image nonetheless remains in humanity. (Gen. 3:1-7; Deut. 32:8; Jb. 31:33; Rom. 3:1-10, 23; Ps. 14:1ff; Ps. 51; 1 Sam 31:1-6; Rom. 1:18-32; James 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:5-10).
Salvation by grace through faith. Every human being can have a restored relationship with God and creation through trusting the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for one’s personal salvation as evidenced by genuine and repentant faith. (Jn 1:12; 3:1-8 Gal. 2:20; 5:22; Acts 16:30-31; Eph. 2: 4-9; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 5:9-10; 1 Jn. 5:6-13).
Baptism and Communion. The church is instructed to practice two lasting ordinances: water baptism and communion. When a believer comes to genuine faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, they follow Christ into water baptism as a public act of commitment to God. As an ongoing act of confession and obedience to Christ, the believer receives communion (The Lord’s Supper) as offered. Both Baptism and Communion are essential discipleship issues for those who follow Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 8:13, 38; Acts 16: 33-34; I Cor. 5:7; 11:23-26; Mk. 14:22,24; Mark 1:8, Matt. 28:19; John 6: 53, 57, 63).
A believer’s sanctification is already/not yet. Sanctification (“being made holy”) initially begins at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy (a saint), but sanctification is a lifelong process. It is the believer’s continuous activity in engaging in and participating with both the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. The goal is to glorify God and become more like Jesus Christ in thought, will, heart, and deed. (Heb. 10:10-14; Phil. 3:12; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:1-2).
The church has a mission. The mission of God is nothing short of the re-creation and redemption of the world. The Church (both global and local) is to be God's agent of change and hope in the world. The church participates in the mission through every activity of life that expresses God’s creativity, sustains God’s creation, and cooperates with God’s redemption, including seeking and saving all who are lost in sin. Consequently, in the words of Dallas Willard, “The church is for discipleship, and discipleship is for the world” (Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 13:35; Rom. 1:16; Acts 20:28; Acts 1:8; 2 Tim. 2:2; Rom. 8:1-39; Isa. 52:7; Gen. 1:1-31; Rev. 5:10; Mk. 16:15; Mt. 5:14).
God still intervenes in our lives today. The Christian has the privilege and responsibility to pray for others and expect a miracle. Miracles such as physical, spiritual, and psychological healing are possible according to God’s sovereign will and wisdom. (Jer. 33:6; 3 Jn 1:2; James 5:14-15; Heb. 11:6; 13:8; Mt. 8:16-17; Acts 10:38; Mk. 11:24; Jer. 17:14; Lk. 8:50).
The Blessed Hope. Jesus Christ will one day come again in glory to usher in the culmination of all things unto Himself. His 2nd Coming will be in glory and power when all believers who have died will rise from the dead and meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. We understand some details of Christ’s return are debatable and wrapped in apocalyptic literature, as a church we discuss them but leave it to the Lord. Regardless, what is clear in Scripture is the church’s joy and expectation of a New Heavens and New Earth that Christ is preparing for all believers, of all time who will be forever with the Lord! (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rom. 8:24-25; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 16:15, 3:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Jn. 14:3; 3:16; Rev. 20:6, 22:12; 1:7; 1 Jn 3:2; 1 Pet. 1:3).