What We Believe

New Hope is a church located in Portland, Oregon whose mission is to help people take the next step in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the vision of New Hope to see our community grow in their personal intimacy with God, relationships with each other, and increased influence with the World.

The following is a simplified statement of the most important core beliefs of New Hope Community Church.

About God: God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three Persons, Who are co-equal: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14

About Humanity: We have been created in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Men and women are the supreme object of God's creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates humanity from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

About Eternity: Humankind was created to exist forever. Men and women can live this existence separated from God through disobedience, or in union with God through faith and salvation. Heaven and Hell are the future places of existence destined for those who live in union with God (Heaven) and those who choose to remain separated from God (Hell).
John 2:25; 3:16; I John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 18:8; 25:44-46

About Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a life free of sin and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His victory over sin and death. He ascended into the glory of Heaven and is there now where He rules as the head over His Kingdom. He will return to earth again to reign forever as the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

About Personal Salvation: Salvation is a gift given to humanity by God. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good deeds. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Titus 3-5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

About Eternal Security: Because eternal life is based on the gift of God to sinful persons through grace, the believer in Christ is secure in that salvation for all eternity. His or her salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. The Christian's life of righteousness is motivated by God's grace, not by fear of losing salvation.
John 10:28-29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; I Peter 1:3-5

About the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He is also referred to in scripture as the Spirit of Jesus. He is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He works to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christians with the power for daily living, understanding of spiritual truth, and power for effective witnessing to others. The Christian is commanded to live under the Spirit's control every day.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

About the Bible: The Bible is the written record of God's revelation of Himself to humanity, coming to fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the perfect source of instruction/authority for knowing God and living the Christian life.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

About Christian Growth: The Bible teaches us that it is God's desire for every Christian to grow to full spiritual maturity. This means that the goal of Christian growth is activated in our lives through the working of the Holy Spirit. We also cultivate spritual growth through such personal disciplines as: Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and sharing Christ with those who don't know Him. Growth in Christlikeness is the surest evidence of our relationship with the Lord.
Ephesians 4:13; Romans 8:29; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 2:2; John 16:24; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 3:15

The Church Ordinances

Jesus gave his Church two symbolic ordinances that "act out" the message of the Christian faith: Baptism and Communion (also called The Lord's Supper). They are both outward expressions of an inner experience of faith. We do not believe the physical elements in Baptism or the Lord's Supper possess spiritual powers to impart grace or salvation to us. Rather, their sacred significance is in the heart-felt union of the believer to Jesus that they express.

Baptism: This is the way we confess Christ as an initiation into His Church. In baptism, Christians are immersed in water, symbolizing Christ's plunge into our world's suffering to die and rise again for our salvation. This is the way He gave for us to identify ourselves as His disciples. Though baptism is an act of saving faith, it does not and cannot save us: only Jesus does that! It's an outward expression of an inward experience of faith.

Communion/The Lord's Supper: Signifies the sacrifice of body and blood Jesus lovingly made for us, symbolized with bread and grape juice, and recalls His desire for all to receive Him personally. Participating in Communion, we remember Christ's radical commitment to us and reaffirm our commitment to Him. While Baptism is done once, at the beginning of our Christian journey, the Lord's Supper is repeated often throughout our life of Christian devotion.

Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26; I Corinthians 1:17-18; I Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 13:9; Romans 14:17