we believe

Jesus

The Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is God’s Anointed One, empowered by the Holy Spirit to inaugurate God’s Kingdom on earth. He was crucified for our sins, buried, and resurrected. He ascended into heaven and is alive and within us by the Spirit. He will return again to the earth one day in power and glory. (Matt 1:18–25; 1 Cor 15:3–4; John 14:6, Matthew 27:33-66, Matthew 28, Acts Acts 1:9–11; Rev 19:11–16)

Scripture

The Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God. It is the source for doctrine, teaching, reproof, correction, and walking out the Christian life. We believe that the Bible cannot be added to, subtracted from, or replaced. (2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:20–21; Deut 4:2; Rev 22:18–19)

The Fall

Humankind was created in the image of God to know and enjoy Him, yet we willfully rejected the Lordship and glory of God for which we were intended. Because of this, sickness, death, and judgment entered the world and now creation experiences the effects and consequences of sin.
(Gen 1:26–27; Gen 3:1–24; Rom 3:23; Rom 5:12–19)

Salvation 

We are saved by God’s grace, through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Anyone can be restored to fellowship with God through repentance, believing and receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates and justifies us as we enter the Kingdom of God. The victorious redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides freedom from the power of the enemy – sin, lies, and torment. Through salvation we are no longer sinners but sons and daughters adopted into the household of God. (Eph 2:8–9; John 3:16; Rom 10:9–10; Titus 3:5–7; Gal 4:4–7; Col 1:13–14; 2 Cor 5:17)

Holy Spirit

We need the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live holy and minister supernaturally. The baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 1:4-8 and 2:4 is poured out on believers that they might have power to be witnesses. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission. (John 14:16–17; Acts 1:4–8; Acts 2:1–4; 1 Cor 12:4–11; Heb 2:4; Rom 8:11)

Church

The Church consists of all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. He gave His church the ordinances of Baptism and Communion. The Church exists to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ and further advance His kingdom by being light in the midst of darkness, destroying the works of the enemy, preaching and living the good news of the gospel, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, and discipling nations. (Matt 16:18; Eph 1:22–23; Matt 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Pet 2:9; 1 John 3:8)

Return of Christ/Eternity

We believe that Jesus is coming back to establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. Heaven and hell are real places. There will be a resurrection of the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting death. (John 14:1–3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess 4:16–17; Matt 25:31–46; Rev 20:11–15; Rev 21:1–4)

Water Baptism

Baptism and Communion are the two sacraments given by the Lord to His Church. Water baptism (by immersion) is a public act of repentance, faith, and allegiance to Jesus, commanded by Christ and normative at the outset of discipleship (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38–41). In baptism we identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and confess that our old self has been crucified with Him and that we now walk in newness of life by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 6:3–7; Col 2:12; Gal 2:20).

While salvation is by grace through faith alone and not by any work or rite (Eph 2:8–9), baptism is more than a mere symbol: It is a God-ordained sign and act of obedience confirming our union with Christ and incorporation into His body (Gal 3:27; 1 Cor 12:13; 1 Pet 3:21). Thus, the New Testament treats baptism as the covenant marker of new life in Christ—not the cause of regeneration, but the obedient, Spirit-attended entry act of a believer who belongs to Jesus and His Church.

Communion

The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is one of the two ordinances given by the Lord to His Church. Instituted by Jesus on the night of Passover (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Cor 11:23–26), it is a Spirit-attended act of remembrance, proclamation, participation, and anticipation. We remember and proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Cor 11:26), participate (koinōnia) in the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor 10:16–17), and anticipate the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9). We affirm that Communion is more than a mere memorial. Christ is truly present by the Holy Spirit, ministering grace to His people as we receive by faith. Yet the elements do not change in substance: the bread and the cup’s contents remain bread and juice.

At Convergence, we celebrate Communion weekly out of conviction that frequent participation nourishes faith, deepens our unity (1 Cor 10:17), and draws us into deeper communion with Jesus. Participation is open to all believers in Jesus (members and non-members).

Trinity

We believe there is one God who exists in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three Persons are not each part of God, but are each fully God and equally God. Within God’s one, undivided being is an “unfolding” into three personal distinctions or persons. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19; John 1:1–3; John 14:16–17; 2 Cor 13:14).

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that the Bible is clear that God created only two genders, male and female (Genesis 1:27). This is clearly conveyed in the Bible, including for example, in Matthew 19:4-6 where, in speaking about marriage, Jesus referred to the fact that “he which made them at the beginning made them male and female.” We believe that the covenant of marriage is to be between one man and one woman only (Genesis 2:24).