Values and Beliefs

We believe the Bible is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, the infallible revelation of God to man.

II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21

We believe there is only one true, eternal God revealed in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — all equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.

Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14

We believe God intentionally designed and created humanity male and female. We believe marriage is ordained and instituted by God and according to the Scriptures can only exist and be fulfilled between a man and a woman. This church defines “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment based on love, respect, mutual submission and personal sacrifice.  A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in these Articles.

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Celebration Center will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of Celebration Center shall only participate in weddings and perform marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Celebration Center shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-24, 5:1-2; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:3-11; Mark 10:2-12; I Corinthians 7:10-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; I Timothy 3:2, 12; I Peter 3:1-7

We believe that God wonderfully and intentionally designs and creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe God intended sexual intimacy to be enjoyed only within the context of the biologically male and female marriage relationship; and that all other sexual relations outside of marriage are personally destructive, sinful and forbidden by God.  These include,  but are not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia, which are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church.  Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, are incompatible with the biblical witness.

Genesis 1:26-28, 2:25, 5:1-2; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; Romans 1:24-32; I Corinthians 6:9-10, 6:13-20, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Jude 1:7; Revelation 21:8

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, both 100% God and 100% man, is the eternal Son of God and the only One who can reconcile us to God.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life and revealed God to mankind.

We believe He accomplished our complete redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ resurrection from the dead,

ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate and His victory empowers us for life.

Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14, 18; 20:28; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8-10; 8:34; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:5-6; I Timothy 2:5, 3:16; Hebrews 1:3, 6:9, 20, 7:24, 9:24; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:1-2

Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the Virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27-35

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to sinful man by grace and received solely by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who accomplished complete redemption by His substitutionary death and shedding of His precious blood. Salvation is a gift and not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.

John 3:18; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:18-19

Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ. This allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.

Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ within us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, II Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5,2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

We believe that God through His Holy spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts upon all believers for the primary purpose of building up the Body of Christ. We believe that all gifts are given to glorify the Giver of the gift rather than the receiver and that manifesting the character of Christ is of greater importance to God than exercising a spiritual gift. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 13:1-13, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:11-12, 16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; Hebrews 2:4; I Peter 4:10

Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved will be resurrected to be with God, and they that are lost will be resurrected to eternal separation from God.

Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21

We believe that Heaven and Hell are both very real. It can be scary to think about what will happen after we die.  However, we know that those who put their faith and trust in Jesus and make Him the Lord of their life will spend eternity together with Him in Heaven. Unfortunately, for those who do not choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they will spend eternity separated from God in Hell.

Heaven – Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
Hell – Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.

Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelations