What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Higher Level Worship Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines. We believe that there is only one God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. And the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Psalm 90:2 before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God Genesis 1:26, 27;   Genesis 3:22; Isaiah45:5;  2 Corinthians 13:14;  1 Peter 1:2

Jesus Christ is the son of God.  He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; and He was born of the virgin Mary.  Jesus lived in a world of sin but lived a sinless life. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, dying on a cross for the sins of mankind.  Jesus demonstrated His power over sin and death by rising from the dead three days after His crucifixion.  He ascended into Heaven and will return again to rule and reign as King and Lord.  On the Cross Jesus:
 Died in my place – substitution
 Made me right with God – justification
 Made it possible to have peace with God – reconciliation
 Made it possible for me to be a part of God’s family – adoption
  Purchased my salvation with His blood – redemption
 Satisfied God’s justice in full – propitiation
 Cleansed me from sin – forgiveness
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.   Isaiah 9:6;  Matthew 1:22,23;  John 1:1-5;  John 8:56; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 14: 10 30;  Acts 1:9-11;  Romans 1:3-4;  1 Corinthians 15:3-4;  Hebrews 4:14,15;  1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Revelation 22:13

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.  He is equal with the Father and Son of God.  He lives within a Christian; and He is present in the world.  The Holy Spirit makes men aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit gives understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right.  He gives every believer a spiritual gift.  Christians should seek to live under His control daily.
Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 4:13; John 16:7-13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 5:25  

The term Trinity is a theological word that describes the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  There is only ONE God with three distinct personalities.  Although the word Trinity cannot be found in the Bible, it is the belief and basis of what makes Christianity different from other doctrines.    
Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.   And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God revealed to human writers.   God is the author who inspired the writers to write His word.  It is the supreme source of truth and instruction written without error.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Psalms 119:105; Psalms 160; Proverbs 30:5; 1 Timothy 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20

Man (male and female) is created in the spiritual image of God.  As spiritual beings man desires to fellowship and have a relationship with God. Man has the ability to do good, know God and worship God.  Unlike animals, man is able to reason by thinking, acting, and communicating.   When man is disobedient toward God or chooses to do evil, he sins.  Sin is what separates us from God, causes us to live apart from God, and causes problems in our lives.
Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image; He created him in the image God; He created them male and female. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 10:12; Isaiah 59:1,2; Psalms 8:3-6; Psalms 42:1; Romans 2:15; Colossians 3:10

God recognized the need for sinful man to be redeemed.  He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of sin on the cross for those who would believe on Him through faith.  Salvation is the free gift given to those who accept Jesus Christ.  It is because of God’s love through Jesus Christ that eternal life is made available.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:16, 14:6, 1:12; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; Romans 10:10

 If a person genuinely and sincerely accepts Jesus Christ, God gives eternal life.  God’s grace and power sustain and help the believer in living out his salvation.  
John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5; John 10:29

After the physical death, the spirit continues to live.  One’s spirit will be in the presence of God in Heaven or separated from God in Hell.  Heaven and Hell are real places that exist.  Where a person will spend eternity is dependent on his/her acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ.   Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Ephesians 1:13 Psalms 139:7; John 3:16; Psalms 145:20; John 14:7, 17;   1 Corinthians 2:7-9

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision of the believer.  The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means to submerse in water.  Complete immersion of a believer is representative of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  The believer symbolically dies to sin and is resurrected into a new life.  
Romans 6:4 We were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. Romans 12:1; Matthew 10:32-33

Jesus Christ established the Lord’s Supper before his death on the cross at the Last Supper. The bread is symbolic of His body which was broken for believers, and the wine represents His blood.  Believers must examine themselves before partaking in the Lord’s Supper - acknowledging and repenting of personal sin, which includes unforgiveness and ought against another.
Luke 22:19 Do this in remembrance of me Hebrew 9:22; 1 Corinthians 11:27-32; Luke 22:20.