THE 4 w lIFE:
The 4 W Life is essential to our mission as we plant Ascend Bible Church. We believe this represents clearly the process of discipleship for the believer, and provides language for us to encourage one another in our growth towards Christ.
WORSHIP
Worship is the response of praise and adoration to God because of who God is.
WALK
Walk is the daily rhythm of abiding in Christ that leads to increasing Christlikeness.
WORK
Work is the stewardship of all that God has given us to lovingly and sacrificially serve the body of Christ.
WITNESS
Witness is the obedient love to those in my communities by consistently serving and sharing the gospel.
Our Doctrinal Essentials
The below statements represents the beliefs we hold as an Elder team as we plant Ascend Bible Church. We provide this document to give clarity for how our theology will affect our functioning as a local body of believers at Ascend Bible Church.
The Scriptures
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure
to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally
moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, those
applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s
Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and only sufficient authority for all of life (2 Timothy 3:16-
17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally
moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, those
applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s
Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and only sufficient authority for all of life (2 Timothy 3:16-
17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Triune God
We believe in the one living and true God, eternally (John 17:3) existing in perfect unity as three equally and
fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Each member of the
Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same
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nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (John 1:1-4;
Acts 5:3-4).
fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Each member of the
Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same
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nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (John 1:1-4;
Acts 5:3-4).
God the Father
We believe God the Father created all things for His glory according to His own will (Revelation 4:11),
through His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising
sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3).
through His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising
sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3).
God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, took
on human flesh (John 1:1, 14, 18). Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born
of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man (John 14:8-9), lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed
His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him.
He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s
right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man,
and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission (1 Timothy 3:16).
on human flesh (John 1:1, 14, 18). Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born
of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man (John 14:8-9), lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed
His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him.
He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s
right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man,
and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission (1 Timothy 3:16).
God the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He
convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He encounters the unredeemed in repentance and
faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ
and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers,
permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service
(John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5,
11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).
convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He encounters the unredeemed in repentance and
faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ
and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers,
permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service
(John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5,
11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).
Mankind
We believe that, in the beginning, God created mankind in His own image and likeness, male and female,
free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:7-8).
However, tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin,
death, and condemnation to all mankind. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to
God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19;
Romans 1:18, 32).
free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:7-8).
However, tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin,
death, and condemnation to all mankind. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to
God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19;
Romans 1:18, 32).
Marriage & Gender
We believe that God intentionally created humanity both male and female; each in the image of God and
equal in value, while also having distinct but complementary roles in marriage, family life, church leadership,
and elsewhere in God’s overall plan for human good and human flourishing (Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25).
We believe that one male and one female entering into a lifelong, procreative, and covenantal union
(marriage) is specifically designed to reflect the covenantal love between Christ and his bride The Church.
(Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:28-32).
equal in value, while also having distinct but complementary roles in marriage, family life, church leadership,
and elsewhere in God’s overall plan for human good and human flourishing (Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25).
We believe that one male and one female entering into a lifelong, procreative, and covenantal union
(marriage) is specifically designed to reflect the covenantal love between Christ and his bride The Church.
(Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:28-32).
Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the substitutionary
atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s death on the
cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that
turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation each person is
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made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God. Genuine faith continues in obedience
and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians
12:13).
atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s death on the
cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that
turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation each person is
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made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God. Genuine faith continues in obedience
and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians
12:13).
The Church
We believe that upon placing one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the believer is made part of the
Body of Christ, the one universal Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The Scriptures command
believers to gather locally in order to devote themselves to God’s glory through worship, prayer, teaching of
the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, service to the local body through the
development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world to make disciples of others
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:24-25). Wherever
God’s people meet regularly in obedience to these commands, there is the local expression of the Church
under the watchful care of a plurality of elders. A church’s members are to work together in love and unity,
intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Ephesians 4:16).
Body of Christ, the one universal Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The Scriptures command
believers to gather locally in order to devote themselves to God’s glory through worship, prayer, teaching of
the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, service to the local body through the
development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world to make disciples of others
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:24-25). Wherever
God’s people meet regularly in obedience to these commands, there is the local expression of the Church
under the watchful care of a plurality of elders. A church’s members are to work together in love and unity,
intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Ephesians 4:16).
Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with
Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 28:19).
Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 28:19).
Communion
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the united commemoration by believers of Christ’s death until He
comes and should be preceded by a careful self-examination (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
comes and should be preceded by a careful self-examination (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
Disciple-Making
We believe it is the aim, duty, and privilege of every believer and local church fellowship to glorify God by
responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all
nations (Matt. 28-19-20).
responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all
nations (Matt. 28-19-20).
Things to Come
We believe in and expectantly await the glorious, visible, personal, return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
blessed hope of His return has vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The lost will be
raised to judgment and experience eternal wrath in hell. The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new
heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God (Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26).
blessed hope of His return has vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The lost will be
raised to judgment and experience eternal wrath in hell. The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new
heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God (Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26).