Sonterra Fellowship
(512) 746-2121

We believe there is only one God. God is the Creator, Ruler, and sustainer of the universe. He is personal and desires a relationship with man. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, and all-good. He is both holy and loving. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one. He is able yet retains elements of mystery that are beyond our finite human minds.

Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:191 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

 

 

We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Because of His love for the world and obedience to the Father, He chose to come to earth in the form of a man. He was both wholly God and wholly man. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus lived a sinless human life, taught with authority, and performed many miracles. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He paid the price of death for the world’s sin on behalf of humanity. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death and to secure our salvation. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

 

Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4;<BR>Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

 

 

We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with God, the Father and Jesus, the son of God. His purpose is to be a “Counselor” who assists us. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in following God, and resistance to sin. He gives every believer at least one spiritual gift at the point of conversion for the purpose of serving others. The gifts are to be exercised in an orderly manner to build up and unify the church, not divide it. The Christian seeks to live under His leadership daily.

 

II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 12:3-11; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 4:11-13; 5:1

 

 

 

We believe the Bible is God’s written message to humanity. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is living and has the power to transform lives. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. The central message of the Bible is God’s salvation of humanity.

 

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; &nbsp;Proverbs 30:5

 

 

 

We believe men and women are made in the image of God, meaning that they have a spiritual dimension allowing them to have a relationship with God and a moral dimension allowing them to differentiate right from wrong. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin separates people from God and causes a multitude of problems for people both individually and corporately. The ultimate result of sin is spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2; Romans 6:23

 

 

We believe salvation is the only solution to the sin of humanity. Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all humanity. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin's penalty. We can never please God with our own efforts or make up for our sin by self-improvement or any other good work. Salvation is God’s free gift to us that can not be earned, but we must accept it. Both repentance (turning from sin) and faith (turning to God) are inseparable aspects of the single event of conversion. When we choose to repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive a new life through salvation. Salvation consists of God establishing our relationship with Him (justification), beginning His work of making us more like Christ (sanctification), and accomplishing His goal of making us like Christ when we die (glorification). Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of Christians. Because God gives people eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in their salvation for eternity.

 

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; John 10:29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; I Peter 1:3-5

 

 

We believe the Head of the church is Jesus Christ. The church is both universal and local. It is universal in the sense that it is composed of all believers, in all places, of all time. It is local in that it is a body of believers in one location who have united around a common faith in Jesus Christ, statement of belief from the Scriptures, and mission to worship God, make disciples, serve people, and extend the message of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. The church is God’s strategy for reaching the world with the message of Jesus Christ. It is a living organism of people rather than a building. The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The church is an autonomous body.

 

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Romans 1:7

 

 

We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to an appropriate end. Though some the details of the events encompassing this time period are highly debated, there are many certainties. Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly to the earth. At this time, the dead will be raised and Christ will judge all humanity. Those who have received salvation through Christ will be destined for heaven, where they will dwell in the total presence of God. Those who have rejected salvation through Christ will be consigned to hell, which is the total absence of God and the presence of everlasting punishment. Both Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

 

John 3:16; John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 8:11; 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64