Doctrine
Coastal exists to develop authentic followers of Jesus Christ by connecting to God through corporate worship, growing in small groups and serving in a ministry and mission of Coastal.
About The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It is what God has to say to mankind. It was given to us by God through human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is absolutely true and trustworthy. It is our only standard of faith and practice. It is the guide for our lives.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17;Hebrews 4:12;2 Peter 1:20-21;Matthew 5:18;Psalm 119)
About God
There is one true and living God. He created and sustains all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is revealed to us as the Godhead or what is called the “Trinity”. The Bible reveals God as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three exist as co-equal, co-eternal, and co-substantial Persons.
(Ephesians 1:3-6, 13-14; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:1, 26,27: 3:22; Philippians 2:5-6; John 1:1, 3, 14, 18; Isaiah 9:6)
1.The Father- The first Person of the Trinity who orders and disposes of all things according to His own purpose and grace, and who continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events for His own glory. Fatherhood denotes spiritual relationship; first, within the Trinity; second, within mankind, creatively in relation to all men, but spiritually only in relation to those who have been saved by His grace from their sin and come to Him through Jesus Christ. (James 1:7)
2.The Son- Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross, rose from the dead to provide justification for every believer, ascended to the right hand of God where He presently intercedes for all believers, and will again, in the fullness of the Father’s time, return in visible, triumphant, person form to overthrow sin, judge the world, and establish the Kingdom. (John 1:1, 14, 19; Colossians 1:19; Hebrews 1:3)
3.The Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit is sent to draw people to Jesus. He is given to bring glory to Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His guidance daily. (John 14:16, 17; 16:8, 13; Ephesians 1:13)
About Man, Sin and Satan
Man’s condition is one of sin and separation from God. Man was created in innocence directly and immediately by God, in His spiritual image, for the purpose of fellowship with God and glory for God. Man was tempted by Satan and sinned. Because of this, all men have been born in sin since that time. All are marred by a nature of rebellion and disobedience toward God which the Bible calls sin. Sin separates us from God, others, and all good things, ultimately and eternally in Hell. All persons need to be saved from their sin.
Salvation
God has acted in Jesus Christ to deliver us from sin. Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin. He provided forgiveness by paying the price for our sins on the cross, and rose again to provide new life to us. Apart from Christ, there is no salvation or new life. All men are separated from God because of personal sin, and deliverance from separation comes only by accepting what Christ did for us on the cross and not because of anything we do. Our relationship with God is because of His grace through the faith He gives us to believe and trust in Christ. We receive the Holy Spirit who gives us new life when we give our life to Jesus. Once we give our life to God we are kept by His power forever, never to be lost. (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 5:24; 10:28)
About the Church
Jesus established the Church to continue His mission and ministry on earth. A New Testament Church is a group of baptized believers in Christ who have covenanted together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice. The church is a Theocracy not a Democracy. Jesus is the head of the church. The church is led and served by two types of officers- pastors and deacons (servant leaders). (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:25)
Death and Resurrection
Everyone will face judgment before God; some to eternal life, others to eternal condemnation. Death involves no loss of consciousness. The soul of those who belong to Christ will immediately pass into the presence of Christ and there is separation of soul and body until the first resurrection when the spirit, soul, and resurrected body will be reunited in glorified form in heaven forever.
About Last Things
Jesus Christ will return and God’s plan for eternity will be carried out. We believe in the imminent and bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth. The dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men according to their life. Those who have not given their life to Christ will be cast into eternal punishment and outer darkness prepared for the devil and his angels. The saved will enter into the eternal state of glory with God and will in their resurrected and glorified bodies spend eternity with Him. (Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13)