Statement of Beliefs

Jesus


We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and God in human form. We believe that the virgin-born Son of God died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead and is coming again. We believe He is both fully God and fully man.


Philippians 2:5-7, John 14:19, John 8:58, John 1:1, 14, Col 2:9

The Bible


We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority. It is complete in its revelation, final in its content and without any error in its teaching and is “living and active” ever speaking to our present circumstances.


Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21

Sin and Salvation


We believe that all people are guilty of willfully sinning against God and are consequently lost and without hope apart from Christ Jesus.


Isaiah 53:6, Act 4:12, Romans 3:23


We believe the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross is the sole basis of atonement for the sins of mankind.


Isaiah 53:3-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8


We believe that the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life are promised to those who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.


John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-9


We believe the Bible teaches that the pattern to follow to receive Jesus as Savior is to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to confess Jesus as Lord, and to be immersed in baptism.


Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:3-4


We believe in the assignment of all people to heaven or to hell at their time of death or at the time of Christ’s return.


Hebrews 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelation 20:15, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Free Will and God’s Sovereignty


We believe that when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus and is saved it is through a cooperation of that person’s free choice responding to the work of God upon them.


God gives indispensable help in moving a person’s heart to receive Christ, but that does not eliminate God’s sovereign decree that man should be free to exercise moral choice. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe but does not interfere with man’s freedom. Each sinner possesses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God’s Spirit and be regenerated or resist God’s grace and perish.


We believe that a believer, who has received grace through faith, can willfully and deliberately choose to reject their belief in Jesus and therefore forfeit their salvation. However, we do not believe a believer can lose their salvation from anything other than a deliberate rejection of his or her belief in Jesus.


Galatians 5:4, 2 Peter 2, Hebrews 10:26, 27

The Holy Spirit


We believe that those who receive Christ also receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He marks them as the possession of God, manifests the fruit of righteousness in their character, and endows them with spiritual gifts for ministry.


2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6


We believe that a spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, to be used to minister to others and thereby build up the Body of Christ.


1Pet 4:10, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11


a. We believe that through Holy Spirit God supernaturally intervenes in life by healing and other miraculous intervention.

b. Regarding the miraculous gifts of speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, and the spiritual gift of healing by one’s own will: We believe that in New Testament churches which lacked direct apostolic leadership these specific miraculous gifts were not present because in the New Testament they are only given by the laying on of the Apostles hands. Therefore we do not expect to see spiritual gifts such as speech in tongues and healing by one’s own will as a normative gift in the church today.


Acts 8:5-8, 14-17


c. Since we do not believe these particular gifts are normative in the church today we ask that those who seek to exercise these particular spiritual gifts (e.g. speaking in tongues) not practice them within our worship services. We also do not see this as a point of contention should one believe that the gift of speaking in tongues exists if they follow the instruction of 1st Corinthians 14 and practice it in private.

Sanctity of 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.


Psalm 139:13-16

Sanctity of Marriage


We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union between one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is to occur exclusively within that union.


Genesis 2:24, Jer 29:6, Isa 62:5, Le 18:22, Le 20:13


The Church has adopted a Statement on Marriage and Sexuality (as set forth in Article 3 herein accessible through this link).

Gender


We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.


We believe that gender is assigned by God at birth and the Holy Scripture does not permit an individual from altering their sexual identity physically or otherwise.


Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 23:1

The Local Church


We believe the Church should seek unity with all believers in matters essential to the universal Christian faith, and contend for liberty in all matters wherein the Lord has not spoken through His Word.


Ephesians 4:2-6


We believe the local church is an autonomous body which cooperates with many Christian agencies but is regulated or dominated by none.


Ephesians 5:23b

Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct


The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Westway Christian Church’s faith, doctrine, policy, and discipline, our Pastoral Leadership Team and Elders are Westway Christian Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.


Genesis 1:27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7

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Statement on Baptism


The New Testament teaches that when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus, that process is culminated by immersion in water as a public testimony of that decision. In other words God intended baptism to be part of how a person puts their faith in Jesus.


We aren’t making a theological argument about the exact moment that a person is saved. Instead, we teach that after the resurrection of Jesus, there is no concept in the New Testament of an unbaptized believer.


We understand that there are people from other traditions who have confessed their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, but were baptized as an infant, before they had faith. There are also other believers who confessed their faith in Jesus but were simply never taught the New Testament teaching of baptism. In these cases we teach people to fulfill the teaching of the New Testament by being baptized (immersed) as a believing adult. We also require all unbaptized believers to be baptized before becoming a member of Westway Christian Church.


Romans 5:1-2 / Luke 24:45-47; Acts 3:19; 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9 / Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11; 1 John 4:15 / Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-7; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21

Leadership

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Colossians 3:17 ESV


The ultimate authority for Westway Christian Church is God and His Word, the Bible. We also have a leadership structure that handles the day-to-day operation and the ministries of the church moving effectively.

Structure

The Westway leadership structure has a few integral parts.

First, Elders. Westway is an Elder-led church. The elders provide oversight and guidance to the corporate and spiritual direction of the church.

Second, Pastor. Lead Pastor Edmund Lucido provides leadership and decision making for the ministries along with the various ministry leaders. He is also an elder and leads the formulation and driving of the church vision along with the elders.

Thirdly, the Board. Westway raises a group of men and women who along with the elders performs the fiduciary duties for the church. They also work hand in hand in running the key and support ministries of the church to further help the Pastor be more effective and focused in championing the preaching and teaching ministries.

The First Step

 

Do you believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior? At Westway, we believe this is the most important question you will answer in your lifetime.

Why should I join Westway?


1. Membership is an affirmation of your commitment to Jesus and to the church’s core beliefs, values, and mission.

2. Becoming a member empowers and allows you to serve in more ways at Westway.

3. Membership is an important first step to greater involvement in the powerful work God is doing here.

4. Additionally a Christ follower grows best when connected with a church family of other Christ followers.

How do I join?


Come forward and talk to a Decision Guide—An opportunity is given at the close of each weekend service for any believer to walk forward, talk to a Decision Guide, and become a member of Westway.

Requirements for Membership


Believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9)

Confess your faith. (Romans 10:9)

Repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19)


Be baptized by immersion.

(Acts 2:38)

Agree with and abide by the Statement of Faith.


Complete the New Beginning class.