The members of Heights Christian Church, exercising their right to religious freedom under the United States Constitution for the purpose of maintaining general unity, adopt these Articles of Faith.

Section 1. The Scriptures Inspired: We believe that the Bible itself is the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, and is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Elders is Heights Christian Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application (II Tim. 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; Heb.4:12). The Scriptures are given by inspiration of God and are sufficient for our correction and instruction in righteousness, and are designed to make us perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).

Section 2. God: We believe there is one triune God, eternally existent in the persons of Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit; these three are one in essence, but distinct in person and function.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the God-Head, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the author of the resurrection and of life (John 11:25); He assuredly rose from the dead (Luke 24:34; Psa. 16:10; Acts 4:33; I Cor. 15:20), and He declared that as certainly as He lives we shall live also (John 14:19).

Section 3. Man, His Fall and Redemption: We believe that man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”. But, man, by voluntary transgression, fell into sin and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31,3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21). We believe that all man is under sin (Gal. 3:22; Rom. 3:9), and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Section 4. The Salvation of Man: We believe that man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and that by the grace of God we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Rom. 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Rom.10:8-10; II Cor. 5:10; and I Cor. 3:10-15).

We believe that God commanded all men to repent (Acts 17:30), and the Savior expressly declared that, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). We believe that Jesus is coming again to gather all His Saints to Heaven (I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:16-17; and II Thess.2:1).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Section 5. Baptism in Water: We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water after his salvation profession, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19,20); that it sets forth in picture the essential facts in redemption -- the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4); that it gives testimony to that which has taken place in the life of the believer -- death to sin and resurrection to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4); and that it is an act of obedience to Christ and a prerequisite to local church membership (Acts 2:41).

Section 6. The Last Judgment: We believe that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31), whom He has ordained to be the judge of the living and dead (Acts 10:42; II Tim. 4:1; I Peter 4:5); and all that have ever lived upon the earth, both small and great, must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad (Rev.20:12-13; II Cor. 5:10; Rom.14:10).

We believe that those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from God and shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15).

Section 7. Human Sexuality: We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture and that God intends marriage to be for life (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Matt. 19:4-6).

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex are sin and an abomination to God (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 18:20; Gen. 19:5-7 & 13; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-32; I Cor. 5:13; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God; but, that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. A husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (Elders, Pastors and Deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and/or ordination by the church (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:2-5; 12).

Section 8. Abortion: We believe that human life begins at conception and the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of an unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortion of pregnancy due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; Ps.139:13-16; Is. 44:24; Is. 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:44).

Section 9. The Church: We believe the spiritual unity of the body of Christ, called the church, is composed of all born-again believers who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ as Savior (Eph. 2:8–22, 3:10-11, 4:4–16, 5:23–24). God has ordained the church for the perpetuation of His truth and work in the world. The two sacraments of Heights Christian Church are baptism by immersion and a regular observance of the Lord’s Supper by believers.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Heights Christian Church.

Section 10. The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death to be observed until He comes (Matthew 26:29); that the elements, the bread and the juice, are symbols of His broken body and shed blood (Matthew 26:26-28); that our observance of it is a pictorial testimony of the believer’s fellowship with the crucified Savior (I Cor. 10:16-21); and that the observance should be preceded by solemn heart searching and self-judgment (I Cor. 11:17-34).