True Life Church affirms the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God, inerrant and sufficient, and the only basis for our beliefs. We hold to the ancient faith as introduced in the Hebrew Scriptures, revealed in Jesus, and proclaimed by His first followers in what is known as the New Testament.
These beliefs include:
The Trinity
There is only one true God who exists as one entity in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - all actively operating in complete unity to bring salvation to people and restoration to the world. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29, Isaiah 43:10)
The Father
The Bible faithfully presents God the Father as Living, Personal, Relational, Good, Just and Loving. Jesus revealed Him as Father and completely worthy of our trust. (Genesis 1:1, 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Son
Jesus, being in nature God, gave up his divine privileges and took on the humble position of a servant to be born a human. He lived a sinless life, died in our sinful place, but rose again in three days to conquer sin and death. (Matthew 1:22-23, Isiah 9:6, John 1:1‐5, John 14:10‐30, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3‐4, Romans 1:3‐4, Acts 1:9‐11, 1 Timothy 6:14‐15, Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God's presence within mankind and convicts all people of sin. For believers the Spirit renews the soul, empowers Christ‐like living, imparts spiritual gifts and guides into all Truth. (Acts 1:8, John 16:7‐13, 14:16‐17, Galatians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)
The Bible
The Bible is God's Word to all people. Through letters and narratives inspired by His Spirit it communicates inherent truth and teachings that reveal who God is, the way of salvation, and how He wants us to live today. (2 Timothy 3:15‐17, 1 Peter 1:23‐25, Hebrews 4:12)
Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We have a choice to either live forever with God through forgiveness and salvation which is found in Jesus Christ, or to be eternally separated from God by sin (hell). God honors each person's choice for forgiveness or separation. (John 3:16, 14-17, Romans 6:23, 8:17‐18, Revelations 20:15, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
Sin
People were created in the image of God to have a relationship with Him. Sin disrupts that relationship but God loves each of us so much that he provides a way for our redemption through His Son Jesus. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3‐6, Isaiah 53:6, 59:1‐2, Romans 3:23)
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 scripturally called to defend, protect and value all human life. We believe God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman and Himself. True Life Church only recognizes marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Furthermore, we believe and prescribe that all pastors and/or staff shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one biological man and one biological woman.
Salvation
Salvation has nothing to do with how good or bad we are. It is a gift from God and cannot be earned through our own efforts. Individual salvation is accessed when people place their faith in the life, death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8‐9, John 1:2, 14:6, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1, 10:9‐10)
The Church
The church is not a building. It is a universal body of believers as well as a local community of people unified through faith in Christ, commitment to His teachings and dedication to His mission of expressing God's love and salvation to the world. (Acts 2:42‐47)
Communion
In participating in Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection. The elements are symbols, representing Christ's body and blood, in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice. (Luke 22:19‐20, 1 Corinthians 11:25)
Baptism
Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism through immersion is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to "fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:16‐17, 28:18‐20, Acts 2:41, 8:12)
Practice
As True Life Church of Melbourne, Inc., we believe that any form of racism, greed, selfishness and the vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism, gay, transgender, beastiality, incest lifestyles or practices, cohabitation, pornography, drunkenness, and drug use for non-medicinal purposes are in direct conflict with the Word of God, the tenets of our faith, and are sinful and offensive to God.
We recognize that all people are sinners, and that Christ came to save all sinners. Therefore, all are welcome to take their next steps in their relationship with Jesus Christ here at True Life Church.
The above statements of faith do not exhaust the extent of the church’s beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible 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 True Life Church of Melbourne Inc.’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, the Elders and Lead Pastor are the Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
