What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of 34th Street Church of God based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

Therefore, our purpose is to lead people to a life of faith in Christ and empower them to grow into everything that God created them to be.

Our Statement of Essential Beliefs
• In Essential Beliefs – we believe that there should be unity. Ephesians 4:4-6
• In All Our Beliefs – we believe that we must maintain love toward each other.  I Corinthians 13:2

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:25-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13)

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to humankind the saving work of Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit enlightens the minds of people, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior and regenerates them. We believe that, at the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit of God permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for ministry. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. We believe that the Holy Spirit’s power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of God.
(John 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 6:19-20; Hebrews 9:14)

We believe that humans were created in the image of God, but fell short of God’s ideal and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become guilty sinners in thought, word and deed.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:25; 5:12-18; I John 1:8)

We believe that the scriptures are the inspired Word of God, our supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter1:20-21)

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; that Christ rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. (Isaiah 53; Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; I Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; I John 2:2; Matthew 28:6; Romans 10:9; I Corinthians 15:14) 
We believe that all who come by grace through repentance and faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. (John 1:12-13; 3:3, 5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe that there is one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe that the Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, the observance of believers baptism and communion as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts and outreach to the world. We believe that wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the Church and that under the loving governance of spiritual leaders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47)

We believe that Christ shall return to receive the church according to a timetable set and known by God alone. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

We believe in the resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting joy of those who are in relationship with God and the everlasting suffering of those who choose against God. (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15)

We believe that all Christians are receive the Holy Spirit when they are born again and a baptism of the Holy Spirit through sanctification. We believe that water baptism by immersion is the Biblical testimony of the professed believer in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:28-41,47; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-40; 10:47; 18:8; Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 12:13)

We believe that those who partake of the Lord’s Supper should be born-again believers, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:42-46; I Corinthians 11:23-29)