Beliefs of Portico Church.
We believe in the eternal mystery of one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Spirit.
God created everything and sustains everything by his life. He is holy, all-powerful, all knowing, unchanging and full of mercy and grace.
God, the Father,
is an infinite personal spirit who concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of each person. He hears and answers prayer and saves from sin and death all that come to Him through Jesus, the Son.
Jesus, the Son,
was born of a virgin, Mary, by the power of the Spirit of God. He was fully man and fully God. His life displayed the perfection and power of God through His relationships, teachings and miracles. He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sin, was buried, and rose from the dead. After appearing to His followers, he ascended to Heaven, is seated at the Father's right hand, and will one day come again.
The Spirit
has been at work throughout the story of God. After Jesus ascended, the Spirit was poured out so that humanity would acknowledge its sin and be drawn towards Jesus. He is a helper, teacher, and guide that moves a person - and community - to live a life that honors God.
All people
have been created in the image and likeness of God. By nature and choice we have turned from Him, and as a result that image has been marred. God's desire is for that image to be re-made/restored through faith in Jesus and the renewing of the Spirit.
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The Bible
is God's completely true story. It is the result of God's creative breath, recorded by human writers for our learning. God's story tells of His creativity and loving involvement with His creation. Through this story we learn about who God is, what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do in the world. God's story is the source of real hope. It shows us how to be right with God, portrays the heart of a follower of Jesus, and guides us in how we are to live.
Baptism
The practice of baptism is intended to be closely linked with a personal faith in Jesus, and we desire for it to be practiced in that fashion. It is a statement of faith in which the act of being immersed in water symbolizes the new creation we become when we put our faith and trust in Jesus. It is something we encourage everyone to do once they have taken that step of faith.
Communion
There is significance to the practice of communion (the Lord's Supper) as well. This practice is a remembrance of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. It is also an opportunity to allow people to learn and explore the essence of faith in Jesus and the incredible story of God.
We practice communion in a number of different methods and moments, but always in an invitational manner. We encourage all who come to participate in this aspect of our gatherings, and to consider the invitation Jesus gives to come and follow him.
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