What We Believe
Welcome! To help you get to know us, we’ve summarized the shared beliefs of our leaders and teachers below. At the same time, we recognize that faith is a personal journey, and want to emphasize that you are welcome at ClearView no matter your doubts or questions.
If you have any questions, we would love to talk more about faith.
What We Believe:
About God
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the creator and sustainer of all things. God is good. God is faithful. God is love. God longs to be known and reveals himself to us in our hearts, in creation, in scripture, and, most of all, in Jesus Christ.
About Jesus
We believe in Jesus, the son of God, our savior. We believe Jesus was God incarnate – fully divine and fully human. We believe he is the ultimate word or revelation of God’s heart, mind, and character. We believe life is found in following him and centering our lives on what he says matters most – loving God and loving others. We believe he died and rose again for our salvation. We believe he is coming again.
About the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, God remains an active presence in the world, guiding, convicting, comforting, strengthening, and transforming lives. The Spirit reveals the truth, bestows diverse gifts and talents, and is a sign or deposit of our salvation. The indwelling of the Spirit sanctifies Christians to live new, Christ-like lives, full of the fruit of the Spirit.
About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is Holy Scripture, uniquely inspired by God, authoritative, true, and vital for daily living. It is our reliable guide for what we believe, what we teach, and how we live. Made up of many genres, and written by many human hands, it tells one overarching story about God and his love for us, pointing us to Jesus, the word made flesh, and our opportunity today to have a relationship with God through him.
About People
We believe that all people are made in the image of God and, like God, have the capacity to love, to create, and to commune with God. Therefore, all people are worthy of equal respect and care. We also believe that all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The human experience, then, is one of tension and conflict between spirit and flesh, and all of us stand in need of salvation by grace.
About the Church
We believe the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. As such, Christ is the head of the church. The church is also the family of God, and we belong to one another because we belong to Jesus. Every member of the church possesses unique talents according to the grace of God, allowing each to serve the body and the world in valuable ways. Jesus prayed for the unity of the church, and unity and love are essential to the church’s witness. The mission of the church in any time and place is to glorify God by making and maturing disciples into the image of Christ.
About Salvation
We believe God’s desire is for our salvation. Having sinned, all people stand in need of forgiveness and salvation. For this reason God sent Jesus, whose death and resurrection open up to each of us the hope of redemption and eternal life. Salvation is by grace. None of us could save ourselves, but it is freely offered to us all. Our response to this grace is faith, trusting Christ and surrendering our lives to him.