At New Life Burnet, our beliefs shape our culture.
What do we mean by culture? Simply put, it’s how we do things around here. Culture determines acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, right or wrong, workable or unworkable. It encompasses all learned and shared, explicit or tacit assumptions, beliefs, knowledge, norms, values, attitudes, behavior, dress, and lifestyle. All groups of people and organizations have a culture. These beliefs define ours. By the grace of God, we will actively seek to cultivate the Culture of Heaven on earth to see our local community transformed by the gospel of Christ.
Covenant Scriptures
The Old Testament (Covenant) and New Testament (Covenant) is the inspired Word of God. The Bible acts as our authority for what we believe about God and how we live (2 Tim 3.15-17).
Christ Jesus
We believe in One eternally existing God who created all things. God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and mercy. God has revealed Himself to us as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit, with distinct attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being. Jesus Christ is God displayed in the flesh. He is both God and man. To see Jesus is to see God (Deut 6.4; John 14.9; Eph 4.4-6; Col 2.9; 1 Tim 3.16).
Called into Covenant
God is revealed in scripture and ultimately known relationally. We offer the identity and the work of Jesus Christ in the scriptural context of an invitation to covenant relationship. To restore relationship with humanity, the Good News declares Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We express our belief in the gospel through our obedience to the gospel. We believe the gospel and experience covenant initiation by repenting of our sins (death to sin), being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection). This threefold experience is the consistent pattern of conversion in the first-century church (1 Cor 15.1-4; 2 Thes 1.8; 1 Pet 4.17; Mark 1.15; Acts 15.7; Rom 6.3-4; Acts 2.4, 37-39; 8.9-17; 10.1-48; 19.1-7).
Compelled by the Cross
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Rom 3.23-25; 6.23; Eph 2.8-9).
Committed to the Crown
A covenant relationship is more than a casual relationship. It is a lifetime commitment to Christ, to value what he values and to love him unconditionally. Love entails a lifelong commitment to His sovereign rule. We worship God joyfully and seek to live a life pleasing to him both inwardly and outwardly—in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are empowered to live a life pleasing to God through the Holy Spirit. As a Pentecostal church, we believe that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit are for the church today and are available to all Spirit-filled believers (Mark 12.28-31; 1 Cor 12.8-10; 2 Cor 7.1; Rom 8.13-14; Gal 5.19-26; Heb 12.14).
Created for Community
As Christians, we are to love others as Christ has loved us. New Life Burnet is a place of refuge where everyone can find the healing grace of a Savior and the hope of a new life, no matter their past or present situation. Heaven will have people of every age from every nation and language group. By the grace of Jesus Christ, we want New Life Burnet to reflect heaven on earth.
Confirmed in Communion
The church is the visible body of Christ in the world. When we partake of communion, we acknowledge the work and Kingdom of Christ: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:23-26).
Commissioned to the Called
We are commissioned by Christ to “go” and “be witnesses” (Matt 28:19, Acts 1:8). Jesus Christ calls each believer to be a missionary. So we live missionally. Each believer is sent into his or her world to shine the holy hope of Christ to others.
Captivated by Christ’s Coming
Jesus Christ is coming again for his church. Jesus Christ will judge both the living and the dead and usher in the fullness of God’s kingdom on earth (1 Thes 4.16-17; Rev 20.11-15).
Christian Liberty
We encourage Christian liberty in Christ when the scripture does not give an explicit command. We encourage believers to seek the scripture, follow the leading of God’s Spirit, consider the compassionate guidance of spiritual authority, and remain true to his or her conscience. Believers should ask these questions: Is it beneficial for me? Can it gain power over me? Can I give God glory? Will it cause someone else to stumble or harm others? We obey scripture, but where the Bible does not clearly define a matter – this is an area of Christian liberty – and we respect other brothers and sisters’ decisions within these areas.