CORE BELIEFS
The following are the core beliefs of Overcome based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical truths.
God The Father
We believe God created us in His image because He first loved us. Even when we didn’t love Him, God remained faithful to us. Moses, Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Isaac, and so many more have experienced a God that would not abandon them but instead helped them OVERCOME their fears within their deepest valleys through love. Most of all, we know God loves us unconditionally, and He proves His love for us by giving His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Jesus The Son
We believe that God was born into the person of Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that God chose to redeem the world. Through the teachings, miracles, and life of Jesus, we understand that a life of forgiveness, grace, and mercy is at the heart of our Lord. His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb shows us many things:
- that death has no dominion over us any longer
- sin has no power over us any longer
- we have access to a loving God and eternal life.
"But God showed great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
- that death has no dominion over us any longer
- sin has no power over us any longer
- we have access to a loving God and eternal life.
"But God showed great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
The Holy Spirit
We know that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit that lives and breathes within us all. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of Jesus in our lives. That Holy Spirit, through forgiveness, guidance, and grace, now helps us overcome the temptation to sin every day. We are not alone in our daily struggles, but we have One that helps us overcome life! "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the Spirit intervenes through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26:27
TENANTS OF OUR FAITH
The Death and Resurrection of Christ
We believe that God sent His one and only Son to die for our sins upon a cross. We, also, believe that Jesus was raised from death to life on Easter Day. Afterwards He presented Himself to the disciples, and would give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have eye-witnesses to this very fact.
- Scripture: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.” 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
- Scripture: “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Romans 4:25
The Reality of Sin
All humans have sinned and fall short of God’s standard. Sin separates us from God and brings death. This is a human condition from the time we are born.
- Scripture: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
- Scripture: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- Scripture: “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you.” Isaiah 59:2
Belief in One God
We believe there is only one true God, revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity). Our God, our creator, reveals Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and because of His great love reconsiles humanity back into a real and loving relationship with Himself that will last for eternity.
- Scripture: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4
- Scripture: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
The Authority of Scripture
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the foundation for faith and practice. In it we see God working out a redemptive path for all of humankind. We acknowledge that although some parts of scripture are difficult we ask God for guidance and wisdom as we discern its message.
- Scripture: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
The Deity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the Son of God who came to save humanity. This shows us how committed our God is to bringing everyone into a relationship with God the Father.
- Scripture: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1,14
- Scripture: “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” Colossians 1:19
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We know salvation is a gift from God, not earned by works, but received by faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to earn God's love. It is given to us freely by the Father through Jesus the Son.
- Scripture: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
We believe that Holy Spirit is the very presence of Jesus in our lives. It is the third person of the Trinity, and through it the Holy Spirit regenerates, empowers, and guides believers. Jesus tells us that He gives us the Holy Spirit to remind us and teach us everything He has said.
- Scripture: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
- Scripture: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8
- Scripture: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26
The Church as the Body of Christ
The universal Church is the community of believers, united in Christ, called to worship and serve. We know the church has a history of judement, abuse, and hypocrisy. We believe God is working in a new way to restore the church to its original purpose, which will bring people back to love the church again and be a part of all it can offer.
- Scripture: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
- Scripture: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together.” Hebrews 10:24–25