What We believe

Article 3 of the Bylaws of Walnut Creek Persian Church, adopted by the congregation, May 16, 2022

Section 3.01 Systematic Theology
A. God – We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in
a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Having
limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a
people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians
13:14)
B. The Bible – We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments,
through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without
error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate
authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.
Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all
that it promises. (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12)
C. The Human Condition – We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned
when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice,
alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God's saving work in Jesus Christ can we be
rescued, reconciled, and renewed. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10)
D. Jesus Christ – We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in
two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of
the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the
dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and
Advocate. (Isaiah 53; John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 5:9-11)
E. The Work of Christ – We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His
blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and
victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. (John 1:12; Romans 10:9;
Ephesians 2:8-9)
F. The Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.
He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union
with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides,
equips, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. (John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-
12)
G. The Church – We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace
through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of
which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be
composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism, and the Lord's
Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation,
when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the
believer. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 5:1-3)
H. Christian Living – We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying
power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live
out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed.
With God's Word, the Spirit's power, and fervent prayer in Christ's name, we are to combat the
spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ's commission, we are to make disciples among all
people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed. (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:10; 2
Corinthians 10:3-5; Matthew 5:13-16)

I. Christ’s Return – We believe in the personal, bodily, and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as
our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic mission.
(Matthew 24:27; John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
J. Response and Eternal Destiny – We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe
the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that
God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and
eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the
new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen. (Matthew 24:1-31; 2
Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:22)
Section 3.02 Practical Theology

In keeping with our commitment to the veracity of the Scriptures and their application to all areas of faith
and practice as previously stated in this Article, we affirm the following:

A. Human Sexuality – We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male
or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God
(Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that
person.
B. Marriage – We believe that marriage has been instituted and ordained by God, and that marriage
has only one meaning: the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman for life (Gen.
2:18-25), uniquely reflecting Christ’s relationship with His Church (Eph. 5:21-33). We believe that
God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each
other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4) and that no intimate sexual activity is to be engaged in outside
of marriage as defined in this Article. Any form of sexual immorality (including adultery,
cohabitation, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, or use of pornography) is sinful
and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).
C. Sanctity of Human Life – We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image.
Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the
physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through
natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139).
D. Tolerance – We believe that love and respect are due, and to be offered, to all people, as we’re all
created in the image of God. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any
individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the Scripture (Matt. 22:35-40). However,
when the Scriptures speak against other philosophies, belief systems, and behaviors, we will be
true to the Scriptures and will speak the truth, but will do so in love.
E. Family – We believe that the roles of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children are clearly
stated in the Scriptures, including the principles of discipline, instruction, and correction (Eph.
5:22-6:4; Col. 3:18-21). When found to conflict with laws and/or social norms, we will follow the
biblical principle.