Our Beliefs
The following paragraphs simply summarize what we believe as a church family. We believe the Bible and teach it to be perfectly true. Every belief and teaching of Desert Gateway Baptist Church flows from God’s Word.
Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God and that it is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. For reasons of textual reliability, we believe that God has preserved His Word for the English speaking people in the King James Version of the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21
Sovereign God
God is a Person, eternally existing, as a Trinity in unity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, – three Persons and yet one God.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 26:19, I Corinthians 8:6
The Son
Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God, who became a sinless man to redeem us through His shed blood. He was born of a virgin and is true God and true man.
Luke 1:30-55, John 1:1-15, Philippians 2:5-8
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. However, we believe He has a special ministry which began at Pentecost and will continue until the Rapture. This ministry includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit was also sent to regenerate, sanctify, seal, and fill all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
John 3:5-6; John 14:16; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15; I Corinthians 3:16; I Corinthians 6:19-20; I Corinthians 12:13.
Service
The local church is a group of believers baptized by water, banded together for edification, exhortation, and evangelism as commanded by Christ in the Great Commission; preaching the Gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15, I Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 1:22-23
Sin
Man was created in the image of God but fell through sin, bringing not only physical death, but also spiritual death (eternal separation from God). Now all of mankind exists as a fallen race with an inherited sinful nature.
Genesis 2:16, Genesis 3:16-19, Romans 3:10-23, Romans 6:23
Sacrifice of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered, shed His precious blood, and died as a substitutionary payment for the sins of the whole world. He physically arose from the dead and then ascended into Heaven. Simple faith in this sacrifice is the only way of salvation for mankind.
Luke 24, Acts 1:9-11, Romans 5:8-10, I Peter 3:18
End Times
Jesus Christ Himself will soon come again and His Church will be caught up in the air with Him at that time, the believers will be rewarded for their service. The unbelievers left behind will go through a period called the Tribulation, after which Christ will return to the earth to set up His kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule. After this, the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while the believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy in Heaven with the Lord.
Matthew 24:29-42, I Thessalonians 4:16-18, Revelation 19:11-20:13