Reach Church Palos Verdes Statement of Faith
1. Doctrine of God
We believe in one sovereign, eternal, holy, and loving God who created all things for His glory. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, unchanging, and perfectly just, yet rich in mercy and steadfast love.
2. Doctrine of Christ (Christology)
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection, He accomplished redemption for all who believe. Jesus ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
3. Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)
The Church is the redeemed people of God, saved by Christ and empowered by the Spirit. We exist to glorify God through worship, teaching, fellowship, service, and mission—making disciples of all nations.
4. Doctrine of the Trinity
We believe in one God who eternally exists in three equally divine Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—co-equal in essence, power, and glory.
God the Father
The Father is the source of all things—sovereign, eternal, and personal—showing love and care for His creation. 1 Corinthians 8:6
God the Son
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son, fully divine and fully human, sent by the Father for the salvation of the world. John 1:1–3
God the Holy Spirit
The Spirit works in creation, prophecy, the ministry of Jesus, and the lives of believers—empowering, teaching, and sealing them. John 14:26
5. Authority of Scripture
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. It is the final standard for all matters of faith, life, and doctrine. 2 Timothy 3:16
6. Salvation (Soteriology)
Salvation is entirely the work of God’s grace through the finished work of Christ, applied by the Holy Spirit. Humans are dead in sin and unable to save themselves. Salvation is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We affirm both God’s sovereign initiative in salvation and humanity’s responsibility to respond in faith. We value insights from both Calvinism and Arminianism while not fully aligning with either system. We hold to the biblical tension that Scripture presents. Salvation is:
By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Offered to all, effectually applied to those who believe.
Secure in Christ and evidenced by a transformed life.
Biblical Stages of Salvation
Election — God’s gracious choice before the foundation of the world.
Calling — God draws sinners through the gospel.
Regeneration — The new birth by the Holy Spirit.
Conversion — Repentance from sin and faith in Christ.
Justification — God declares believers righteous in Christ.
Adoption — Believers become sons and daughters of God.
Sanctification — Lifelong growth in holiness by the Spirit.
Perseverance — God keeps true believers to the end.
Glorification — Final transformation at Christ’s return.
7. Church Government
Reach Church PV practices pastoral board-led (elder-governed) leadership. A plurality of elders provides spiritual oversight, doctrinal guardrails, and administrative stewardship for the congregation.
8. Communion / The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and a proclamation of His death until He returns. It is a means of grace and encouragement for believers but is not a saving act. All who trust in Christ may partake with reverence. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
9. Baptism
Baptism is a public declaration of faith and obedience for all who trust in Christ. By immersion, believers symbolically express union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Infant baptism is not practiced; instead, we offer parent/child dedications.
Romans 6:4
10. Spiritual Gifts
We hold a continuationist view: all spiritual gifts remain active until Christ returns in 3 categories.
1. Speaking Gifts: Prophecy (tested by Scripture), tongues, interpretation, teaching, words of wisdom, and words of knowledge.
2. Power/Miraculous Gifts: Healings, miracles, and the gift of faith.
3. Serving Gifts: Administration, helps, giving, mercy, hospitality.
All gifts must point to Christ, not individuals.
All gifts must be exercised in order, love, and submission to Scripture.
Prophecy must be tested by elders and Scripture. Public prophetic words are shared only at the invitation of the pastor or service leader and only by recognized members for accountability and order. Tongues are primarily for personal prayer; public use requires interpretation.
11. Biblical Marriage
Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting Christ’s union with His Church. It is marked by love, faithfulness, and mutual submission. Ephesians 5:22–33
12. Creation
We believe that the account of creation in Genesis 1–2 is the true, historical, and authoritative Word of God, revealing that God alone is the sovereign Creator of all things, visible and invisible. In its original context, we affirm that the creation narrative stands as a direct theological confrontation against the false gods of the ancient world—particularly the Egyptian deities associated with the sun, moon, sea, and sky—declaring that these are not gods to be worshiped, but created things under the authority of the one true God. Genesis boldly proclaims that there is no rival to the Lord; He alone speaks, and creation obeys.
We affirm that God created humanity—male and female—in His image, with Adam and Eve as real, historical individuals, and that creation was intentional, ordered, and declared “very good.” We hold that the most faithful and natural reading of Scripture presents creation as occurring in six literal days. This conviction is supported by the consistent use of the Hebrew word yom alongside “evening and morning,” which throughout Scripture refers to a normal day; by the pattern established in Exodus 20:11, where God grounds the human workweek in His six days of creation and one day of rest; and by the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11, which present a continuous historical timeline rather than symbolic ages.
At the same time, we acknowledge that faithful, Bible-believing Christians may differ on the age of the earth. Any acceptable view must uphold the full authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the direct and intentional act of God in creation, the historical reality of Adam and the Fall, and the entrance of sin and death into the world through human disobedience.
Therefore, we stand firmly on the truth that God is Creator, that all false gods are powerless before Him, that humanity is fallen, and that all creation ultimately points to the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
13. Heaven
Heaven is the eternal home of all who are in Christ—a place of perfect joy, holiness, and communion with God, free from sin and suffering. Revelation 21
14. Hell
Hell is eternal separation from God for all who reject Him. It is real, conscious, and everlasting, demonstrating the justice and holiness of God. Revelation 20
What about those before Jesus? Before Christ, the righteous were saved by trusting God’s promises and looking forward to the Messiah. After Christ, salvation is found only in His finished work.
15. Angels
Angels are created spiritual beings who serve God, minister to believers, and carry out His purposes. They are not to be worshiped. Hebrews 1:14
16. Demons
Demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God. They deceive, tempt, and oppose God’s purposes but are fully subject to Christ’s authority. Believers resist them by the Word, faith, and the power of the Spirit. James 4:7 Why won’t rebellion happen again?Because God’s eternal kingdom is unshakable, Christ’s victory is final, and glorified believers and faithful angels are sealed forever in perfect righteousness. Revelation 21–22
17. Eschatology
We hold to historic premillennialism. Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return to the earth, raise the dead in Christ, gather His people, defeat evil, and establish His millennial reign before the new heavens and new earth. We affirm that faithful believers hold differing views regarding the timing of the rapture, including a pre-tribulation return of Christ for His Church, and we recognize these positions as within the bounds of biblical orthodoxy.
Timeline of God’s Redemptive Future:
1. The Present AgeThe kingdom is “already and not yet.” The Church advances the gospel while enduring opposition in a fallen world.
2. The Tribulation & Antichrist A period of intensified suffering and opposition will precede the full consummation of Christ’s kingdom. The Antichrist will deceive nations and oppose God’s people. God will preserve His Church and empower believers to remain faithful.
3. The Rapture & the Second Coming Jesus Christ will return visibly and bodily. At His coming, the dead in Christ will rise, and believers will be gathered to Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). We affirm that this gathering may occur before the tribulation (pre-tribulation) or in connection with Christ’s return in glory. In all views, believers will be united with Christ and will share in His victory as He establishes His reign.
