Trinity

The ONE true God eternally exists in the three persons of the Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The reality of God’s oneness and plurality is a mystery. Gen. 1:26, 50:20; Deut 32:4; Ps 104:27; Matt 3:16-17; Col 1:17

 

Revelation

All 66 books of the Bible are inspired by God and completely without error).

Jer. 1:9; Jn 14:6; Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21, 3:15b-16

 

Creation

God created everything for His glory and all people (starting at conception) are made in God’s image and therefore regardless of culture, status, or creed all have intrinsic value and worth.

Gen 1:2, 1:26-27, 2:72:7, 2:24; Jn 1:3; Acts 2:17-18; 1 Cor 11:3, 12:7;  Gal 3:27-28;  Eph 5:22-24; 1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:2; Heb 11:3

 

The Fall

All people and all of creation has rebelled against God and are broken at all levels—This means that we are totally depraved (wrecked by sin from our birth), and can do nothing to save ourselves.

Gen 3:6-7; Rom 3:23, 5:12, 5:18-19, 6:23; 2 Cor 4:3-4, 5:17-19; Eph 2:1-3, 2:8-9 

 

The Gospel

Jesus as fully God became fully man and was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life, died a brutal death for the sins of the world (according to the scriptures) and 3 days later rose from the grave.

Mar 1:15, Luk 24:25-27; Rom 1:16, 5:1, 8:30; 1 Cor 1:20-31, 15:3-4; Eph 1:3-6, 2:8-9

 

Salvation

By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. When we put our confidence in Jesus, He covers us in His righteousness and makes us a son or daughter. Eph 1:3-6, 2:8-9

 

The Church

The representation (body) of Jesus in the world. Its purpose is to gather people from every nation, tribe, and tongue; and make them into disciples who live on a mission to make other disciples. This mission of gathering those far from God, and making disciples means that the local church is organic and always growing to include more people who are far from God. The local church is led, taught, and equipped by a plurality of qualified men who are called elders; and is served by faithful deacons who care for the practical needs of the body. Jn. 10:1-30, 13:34-35; Jn 17; Rom. 7:7-25; 1Cor. 15:3-19; Eph. 1:3-14, 2:8-22, 4:4-16; 1Jn. 2:1-6

 

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God works to bring dead hearts alive in Christ, sanctifies believers to be changed daily into the character of Christ, and empowers believers to accomplish the mission of taking the good news of Jesus to the world. Additionally, the Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the common good so that the body may grow and be built up. Jn 3:5-8, 14:15-17, 16:5-11; Rom 5:1-5, 8:9-11; 1 Cor 2:10-16, 2:12-14; Gal 3:1-6, 5:16-26; Eph 1:11-14; 1 Thess 5:10-20; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Pet 1:3-4

 

The Return of Christ

Christ will return and establish the new heavens and new earth. He will raise those who put their hope in Him to a physical resurrection to live with him forever free from Sin or pain; he will in complete justice send those who reject Him to eternal punishment. Matt. 24:3-51, 25:31-46; Eph. 1:5-6; 1Thess. 4:13-5:11; Rev. 6, 20:7-22,21

 

 

Additional Positions/clarification

 

Mosaic desires to be a Jesus-centered church that focuses on the central aspects of Christian teaching. Here are a few commonly misunderstood issues where we want to avoid confusion. 

 

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today, manifested as God sovereignly determines, and are to be pursued and practiced in an orderly manner. The gifts are essential to the mission of the Church in the world today. We do not believe that any particular gift (such as speaking in tongues) is an evidence of being filled with the Spirit. All believers are filled with the Spirit and are commanded to be continually filled with the Spirit. 1 Cor 12-14; Rom 12:3-8; Eph 5:18

 

Why an Intentionally Multi-ethnic Church?

Christ Jesus is our peace: He has not only brought about peace with God, but also peace between alienated peoples. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both Jew and Gentile to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.  An intentionally multi-ethnic, generationally, and economically diverse local church demonstrates what God has done through Christ and the gospel. John 17; Acts 11:19-26, 13: 1; Eph 2: 11-22

 

Baptism

The ordinance prescribed by Jesus for how believers become members of the body of Christ. It does not save us; but is an outward physical sign of the inward work of regeneration (death to sin and alive in Christ) happening to us spiritually when we put our faith in Jesus. Matt 28:19; Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:12

 

Communion (Lord’s Supper)

The Lord’s Supper marks our ongoing participation in the new covenant community, provides a tangible reminder of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and, by our faith in His completed saving work, provides spiritual nourishment for our souls. John 6:56; 1 Cor 11:23-26

 

Marriage

Men and women, equally made in the image of God, enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to move beyond passive self-indulgence to significant ministry in every arena of human affairs. Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a one-flesh union that establishes the only normative pattern of sexual relations for men and women. Gen 2:18-25; Eph 5:22-33

 

Security (or perseverance) of the Believer

Since we are saved only by God’s grace through faith we believe that those who genuinely experience spiritual rebirth will continue in the faith. If we are saved by grace we can’t lose our salvation by our works. Additionally, we believe that those who belong to Christ will walk out their faith—growing in Christ sometimes in very noticeable ways, and sometimes in ways no one but God can see. Eph 1:11-14

 

Structure of the Local Church

We are a Plural Elder-ruled, Deacon-served, Staff-operated Church. We believe scripture teaches that the oversight/authority and primary teaching responsibility of the local church is entrusted to qualified men who are called Elders/Pastors. Qualified men and woman serve as Deacons to take care of practical needs of the church body (finances, hospitality, benevolence, etc…) so that the elders can focus their energy on overseeing, teaching, and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Various paid staff members manage and develop the day to day ministries of Mosaic to implement the Mission, vision, and cultural rhythms we feel called to.

1 Tim 2:8-3:1-13, 5:17-21; Titus 1:5-2:15