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Following is a list of the essential beliefs of The Core, although there are actually two lists on this page. The first list includes only scriptures, and the second list (the commentary) explains our thoughts about these scriptures. To skip down the page, use the index in the right column. If you have questions about our beliefs, see the FAQ list in the left column, or feel free to e-mail us.
“…The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw the Holy Spirit - it looked like a dove - descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: ‘This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.’…”
-The Baptism of Jesus, according to Matthew
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”
“…The Lord our God, the Lord is one…”
“…Father of orphans, champion of widows, is God in his holy house. God makes homes for the homeless and leads prisoners to freedom…”
“…From now on, you [Satan] and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He [Jesus of Nazareth] will crush your head, and you will strike his heel…"
-God, speaking to Satan, in the form of a serpent, and referring to Eve and Jesus
“…It was our sins that ripped and tore and crushed him - our sins! He took the punishment that made us whole. Through his bruises we become healed…”
-Prophet Isaiah, regarding Jesus of Nazareth
"…‘Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus - 'God saves' - because he will save his people from their sins’..."
-An Angel of God, speaking to Joseph, according to Matthew
“…But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What's more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus' resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.) The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, ‘This has to be the Son of God!’…”
-The Crucifixion of Jesus, according to Matthew
“…Later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief – their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead. And then he told them, ‘Go to the world and tell the good news to everyone, everywhere’…”
-The Resurrection and Commission of Jesus, according to Mark
“…Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth - even those long ago dead and buried - will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father…”
-Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Philippi
“…among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!’...”
-Apostle John, recording his Revelation of the last days
“…when the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will receive what is mine and deliver it to you..”
-Jesus, speaking to his disciples, according to the Apostle John
“…Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped for the tasks God has for us...”
-The Apostle Paul, writing to his protégé, Timothy
“…’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments..."
-Jesus, referencing Moses, according to Matthew
“…There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys…”
-Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome
"…This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life…”
-Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus according to the Apostle John
Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
-Apostle James, writing to the Church at Large
“…Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love…”
-Apostle John, writing to the Church at Large
“…They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe of all the wonders and signs done through the apostles. And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved…”
-Dr. Luke, recounting the Acts of the Apostles
“…The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind - Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me…”
-Jesus, in prayer, according to the Apostle John
The Triune God. We believe that there is one true God—the God of the Bible. And although we can never fully comprehend this mystery, God has, since before the beginning of time, existed in three “persons”—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Kings 8:23; 2 Kings 5:15; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Psalm 47:7; Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6; Ephesians 4:4-6)
God the Father. God describes himself as a father to those who have faith in him—his children. As any loving father must do, God desires the best for ,and gives the best to, his children. This includes lavishing gifts on them, protecting them from evil, providing for their needs, empowering them, and even rebuking and disciplining them. Fortunately, God is a gracious and merciful Father who longs to save his children from the earthly consequences of their wrongdoing. His unconditional love for them is not based on their obedience to him, but on the fact that they are his children. (Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 2:7; Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 29:17; Matthew 6:25-26; John 15:16; Romans 4:11, Romans 8:14-15; Hebrews 12:5-7; I Peter 2:9)
Jesus, God the Son. Jesus was completely human and completely God at the same time. He never sinned, and he always did exactly what the Father wanted him to do, including allowing himself to be brutally executed on a Roman cross. He did this to take all our punishment upon himself, for the redemption of each person who fully believes in him. Although we are all still sinners by choice and by nature, if we accept Jesus’ free gift to us and follow him, we will live a life of love, joy and peace, and ultimately be with him forever in the paradise that he is preparing for us. Those who do not accept Jesus and his gift will be forever separated from God. This is why his message carries such urgency for us. (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 11:27, Matthew 16:13-17, Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 4:17-21, Luke 22:70; John 1:1, John 3:16-18, John 4:25-26, John 6:35 & 51, John 10:30, John 11:25-26, John 14:6, John 15:1-6; Philippians 2:6) The Core Blog - on Jesus
God, The Holy Spirit takes up residence in all people who believe in Jesus, but some people allow him to work in their lives more than others. The Holy Spirit’s purpose on Earth is not to draw attention to himself, but to point people to Jesus and to glorify him. The work that he does includes drawing us to the Father, convicting us of sin, teaching us truth, encouraging us when we despair, guiding us down right path, empowering us with faith to be bold and trust Jesus, and developing us in the unique gifts he bestows. (John 3:5-7, John 14:25-27, John 16:5-14; Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38, Acts 4:31; Romans 8:5-9, 16 & 26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Galatians 5:16-26)
The Bible. We believe the 66 books comprising the Protestant Canon are the sole, divine word of God. We believe that they are flawless in their original inscription, and that their compilation is guided by the Holy Spirit, rooted in the historical Church, and supported by the internal consistencies throughout Scripture. Read here for our thoughts on translations. We believe that the entirety of Scripture is vital for our lives, and we should take great care in understanding the context and original intent of the text. We believe that God could have accomplished his Kingdom on Earth without the written word, but that He chose to reveal himself in this way out of his sovereign wisdom, for our benefit. Although the final book was completed almost 2,000 years ago, the Bible does not fulfill its purpose until it is being lived out through the lives of its readers. Thus, the Bible is God’s living Word, and Jesus, being the ultimate fulfillment of its message, is referred to as “the Word made flesh.” We, as his people, have personally experienced that the Bible brings life, peace, joy, conviction and clarity to all who adhere to it, and that there is power in its spoken and written word to all who receive it. Although the Bible is the foundation of all Christian teaching, and the final authority in all disputes, it is never to be worshipped or placed on a plane equal to or greater than God himself. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The Greatest Commandments. Jesus said that all the commandments of God can be summed up in two sentences: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When these commandments are referred to as “the greatest” it does not mean that they are superior to other scriptures. Rather, they are a summation that speaks to the essence of all God desires for us as his children. In addition, we can be sure that any interpretation of scripture that does not line up with these commandments is one that needs to be reconsidered. It is also worth noting that the type of love in question is not always pleasant, but it is always good. (Matthew 22:37-40)
Sin. God can only be found in the presence of perfect holiness. Anything less is intolerable to him, and called “Sin.” With the exception of Jesus, every human being is guilty of sin, and thus, incapable of knowing God. For more about this, read below under “Salvation.” God gave us his Word, the Bible, so that we would know the difference between righteousness and sin. Therefore, we must be careful to never usurp that authority for ourselves, permitting that which the Bible does condemns, or condemning that which it does not condemn. Because the Bible is not the totality of God's revelation to his children (he gives further, para-biblical insight to us as we honor him and listen to him) we each must be careful to understand when he is giving us individual commandments. What God allows for one, he may disallow for another. It is always a sin to disobey God's commands, whether that command comes in the form of Scripture, or personal revelation. But it is also a sin to foist one's personal obligation to God onto another person, for whom it was not intended. (Romans 3:10-12, Romans 14:1-3)
Salvation is the ultimate gift of God to humanity, and is accomplished by grace alone, through faith alone. The Bible makes it clear that every human has rebelled against God and fallen short of his standard of perfection, or holiness. Many religious leaders in Jesus’ day claimed that they kept God’s law perfectly, but Jesus put them in their place by teaching them that God’s standard was even more rigorous than they'd thought, and impossible to keep 100% of the time. He did this to help them (and us) realize their (and our) desperate need for a Savior. Jesus is the only one who ever has or ever will live a perfect, holy life on Earth. In him—and him alone—is found eternal, abundant life. In order for our rebellion, or sin, to be forgiven, a sacrifice had to be made. Since the only acceptable sacrifice to God is a pure one, Jesus’ death was the only option for redeeming mankind to God. When Jesus breathed his last breath, he said, “It is finished.” Through his death, burial and resurrection (rising from the grave to live again), he made it possible for our sin to be completely forgiven—past, present and future. From the moment a believer receives this eternal gift and his or her name is written in God’s “Book of Life”. Jesus describes this process as being “born again”, receiving a new relationship to God and therefore a new spiritual identity. At the moment of salvation, our identity radically changes from enemies of God to sons and daughters of God. Salvation is a gift given to those who believe that Jesus came to this earth, lived a perfect life as a human, died on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins, and rose from the grave to claim victory over all evil, including our sin. As with any gift, for this gift to be received it must be accepted. While we can “do” nothing to earn our salvation, we must surrender our lives completely to the sovereignty of Jesus, which is the evidence of true belief. Believing in Jesus is more than just acknowledging that he existed, performed miracles and taught good rules to live by. Believing (comprised of the words “be” and “live”) is putting complete trust and control of one’s life in the hands of Christ. (Romans 3:23; Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 19:16-21; John 14:6; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19; Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23; John 19:30; 1 Peter 1:3-5 & 11; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14, John 3:5-7, Mark 8:34-36)
Faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It is putting complete trust in something or someone. This is the essence of our love for God. The Bible teaches that “without faith it is impossible to please God,” and nothing that is done apart from faith is acceptable to him. Every man who ever has or ever will enter the Kingdom of God had done so and must do so by faith in Jesus Christ alone. It does not take a person of “great faith” to do great things in the Kingdom of God. All it takes is a “mustard seed” worth of faith in a great God to accomplish the miraculous. (Isaiah 7:9; Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 17:20; John 14:12; Romans 1:17, Romans 3:22, Romans 5:1, Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11)
Obedience is both the evidence and the product of one’s faith in God. At the same time, God is not pleased by legalistic adherence to his laws, but by a willful, loving response to the Giver of those laws. Obedience is manifested in submission to God out of trust, regardless of contrary emotion. Without it, we cannot claim to know God. As James, the brother of Jesus, puts it, “Faith without deeds is dead.” (John 14:15, Romans 1:5, Romans 14:23; James 2:18-26; 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 5:3)
The Body of Believers. The Body/Church/Fellowship of believers is God’s plan for his Kingdom on earth, and he doesn’t intend for any Christian to go it alone. The Church is the “Bride of Christ.” God loves her and pursues her as a man would love and pursue his own bride. It is also the primary means by which Christ currently exists and works in the world, and is intended to project a visible (incarnate) image of him to the world. It is comprised of all Christ-followers, each of whom is a valuable “body part” and necessary for the health, strength and growth of the Kingdom of God. As such, we must gather in ways that bind us together, make us more effective in our mission, and help us to encourage, teach, protect, support, and pray for one another. (Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-16; 1 Corinthians 12)