Our Beliefs
Heppner Christian Church is an independent, congregational style, restoration church. The restoration movement sought to restore the church as a single body patterned after the church of the New Testament.
The restoration movement began all across America in the late 1700’s. Christians who wanted to serve God without someone interposing themselves between the believers and God, and to avoid sectarian squabbles, began promoting unity by using the Bible as the only source of faith and doctrine. Although there were some differences in interpretation, the movement recognized anyone who looked to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and used His teachings to guide their faith and practice. As the movement grew, the individual groups found they were not the only Christians, but they desired to be Christians only.
This idea was not new. During the Roman persecution, dedicated Christians began to group together, separating from the newly forming Roman Catholic Church, using the Scriptures as their guide. Throughout history they called themselves Christians or Brethren.
We at Heppner Christian Church, still hold the belief that all who trust in the one true God and His son Jesus Christ and obey His commands are our Brethren, and those who do not trust in the Divine Savior for salvation and do not obey His commandments, are not our Brethren.
The following constitutes the beliefs of Heppner Christian Church
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments were inspired by God without error in the original manuscripts. These sixty-six books are the completed written revelation of God written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They have been reliably preserved and transmitted so as to provide an accurate basis for modern translations, and to insure that God’s commands, promises, and purposes may be clearly understood. They are entirely trustworthy and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.
There is one living and true God, who is infinitely perfect and the creator of all things. God is holy and eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God governs all things according to His sovereign will for His glory.
Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, the second Person of the Trinity, who exists as one person in two natures, being both fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth and sinless life, including His miracles and teachings. We believe in His sacrificial death and the shedding of His blood on the cross atoning for our sins. We believe that He rose bodily from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father; from there He makes intercession for man having completed His earthly work (Luke 1:30-35, John 1:1-5, 1:14-18, 3:16 Matthew 16:16, Hebrews 1:8).
The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is active today to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement, always pointing to the completed work of Christ. The Holy Spirit also works to convict, indwell, renew, and empower believers, always working in agreement with the revealed Word of God.
Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were created perfect in God’s image. God created them for the purpose of a close personal relationship with Him. They chose to disobey God and by their action, destroyed that relationship and brought the curse of sin and death to mankind and all creation.
Salvation – Saved by God's Grace: We believe that we are saved by God's grace and restored to Him through faith in Jesus. Our response to God includes repenting (turning from sin), confessing Jesus as our Lord, being baptized by immersion into Christ, and living a life committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:5-9; Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:16; Acts 2:38)
The evidence of salvation is reflected by our words and actions. Saving faith never comes alone, but always shows itself in obedience to Christ. This includes a love for: God, God’s word, fellow believers, and for the lost world which needs a Savior. All of this leads to a life of personal integrity. (Rev 3:5)
The Church is comprised of all committed followers of Jesus and is identified as the “Body of Christ” with Jesus at its “Head”. The Church’s mission is to go into the whole world proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and teaching them to obey what Christ has commanded.
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person to establish a new Heaven and Earth and to judge the living and the dead. Those who belong to Jesus will receive eternal fellowship with God and those who have not repented will receive eternal punishment. How and when this will happen is in God’s hands. (Matthew 12:36; John 5:22, 16:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 6)