What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Heritage Church in Bismarck ND. These are based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these
biblical doctrines.

Our God is one God, yet manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the head of the trinity and resides in Heavenly realms. God the Son is the Word of God manifested in the flesh, the one who was begotten of God, and who has existed with the Father from the beginning, Jesus. God the Holy Spirit is the very spirit of God who proceeds forth from the Father and guides us into all truth, revealing the things of Christ, bringing divine comfort, and help to the believer.

John 1:1, 18, 14 | Colossians 2:9 | John 15:26; 14:26; 16:7-14

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the revealed will of God. It is given to us by Him as the authoritative voice in matters of doctrine, faith, and conduct.

2 Timothy 3:16 | 1 Thessalonians 2:13 | 2 Peter 1:21

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, and there is none righteous, no, not one. Jesus, the Son of God, shed His blood and gave His life to redeem mankind from sin and restore man back to God. He is the only way into the presence of God. Salvation is the gift of God to man and is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s work through Christ has broken the power of sin, bringing righteousness to the believer, and enabling him to produce good works which are acceptable to God.

Romans 5:14; 3:10; 3:23 | 1 John 3:8 | John 14:6 | Ephesians 2:8-9

Repentance means to turn around, or the turning away, from sin. True repentance brings God’s forgiveness and restoration. Repentance is a total change of heart, mind, attitude, emotions, will, action, and lifestyle flowing from the turmoil and sorrow of the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin.

2 Corinthians 7:10 | Psalms 51 | Acts 11:18 | 2 Timothy 2:25 |
Romans 1:18-32 | Matthew 9:12,13

True repentance is followed by New Birth, which is also referred to as one “being saved” or “born-again.” In the New Birth, the believer is made one with Christ Jesus. He is delivered from the power of sin and the authority of Satan’s rule and brought into God’s Kingdom. The New Birth is a new beginning, bringing God’s life, wisdom, righteousness, and holiness to the believer.

2 Corinthians 7:10 | 1 John 3:3-5; 5:12 | Romans 6:11 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Titus 3:4-7

We believe that water baptism by immersion and the communion of the Lord’s Supper are New Testament ordinances to be observed and practiced by believers. The water used in baptism and the bread and wine used in communion do not have the power in themselves to change man, but rather, faith.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promised gift to all believers of Christ received by faith subsequent to the New Birth. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to walk in the power of God, live a holy life, manifest the fruit of the Spirit, and be a witness of Jesus Christ. We believe in the continuing operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as enumerated in
1 Corinthians 12-14 and as experienced in the early church of Acts.

John 3:21 | Mark 16:16 | Acts 8:12; 19:5 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 |
1 Peter 2:5,9 | Matthew 3:11 | John 14:16-17 | Acts 1:8

Sanctification is a definite, yet progressive, work of grace. Sanctification refers to a “setting apart”. Though none are perfect, Christians are to continually pursue growth in faith and holiness in the midst of an unholy world.

Hebrews 12:14 | 1 Thessalonians 5:23 | 2 Peter 3:18 | Philippians 3:12-14 |
1 Corinthians 1:30 | Romans 6:4-14 | 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1

We believe that faith without works is dead. We believe that nothing can be genuinely believed without there being an accompanying and corresponding action. A living, active faith will be manifested not only in belief and mental assent, but in actions expressed and based upon that belief.

James 2:14-17 | Ephesians 2:8-10 | Matthew 5:16 | 2 Corinthians 5:10 | Matthew 16:27 | Revelation 2:23; 22:12

According to Scripture, Jesus is coming back to the earth again. We believe in the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to this earth to gather His Church (Bride) and judge the world.

Matthew 5:5 | Acts 1:11 | 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

We believe that those who physically die in their sins without believing in and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are hopelessly and eternally lost. The Lake of Fire is real. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used in describing the duration of punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire carry the same meaning of endless existence describing the duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints with God in Heaven.

Hebrews 9:27 | Revelation 19:20

We believe the church to be more than just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body (The Body of Christ) living in relationship and harmony under the direction of a head, Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ is an intimate community of believers who are devoted to apostolic teaching, fellowship, discipleship to breaking of bread, prayer, and evangelizing.

1 Corinthians 6:15 | 2 Corinthians 1:1 | Romans 16:5 | 1 Peter 2:4-5 | Ephesians 2:19-22 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 | Romans 12:4-5 | Ephesians 4:11-16 | Matthew 16:13-20 ; 18:15-20 | Acts 2:41-47 | 1 Peter 4:17 |
1 Timothy 3:15 | Ephesians 2:19 | 1 Peter 2:5 | Acts 18:8 |
Romans 16:5,10-11 | 1 Corinthians 1:11,16 ; 16:15,19 | Colossians 4:15

We believe the church to be more than just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body (The Body of Christ) living in relationship and harmony under the direction of a head, Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ is an intimate community of believers who are devoted to apostolic teaching, fellowship, discipleship to breaking of bread, prayer, and evangelizing.

1 Corinthians 6:15 | 2 Corinthians 1:1 | Romans 16:5 | 1 Peter 2:4-5 | Ephesians 2:19-22 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 | Romans 12:4-5 |
Ephesians 4:11-16 | Matthew 16:13-20 ; 18:15-20 | Acts 2:41-47 |
1 Peter 4:17 | 1 Timothy 3:15 | Ephesians 2:19 | 1 Peter 2:5 | Acts 18:8 |
Romans 16:5,10-11 | 1 Corinthians 1:11,16 ; 16:15,19 | Colossians 4:15

We believe that the Holy Spirit enables us through specific guidance, instruction, revelation, and discernment of truth from falsehood in all matters concerning the Body of Christ (its direction, discipline, ministry, and functioning).

Acts 13:1-3 | 1Timothy 1:18 | Romans 8:14 | 1 Timothy 5:22 | John 16:13-15 | 1Corinthians 5:3 | Revelation 2:7

The laying on of hands is a biblical practice. Jesus practiced it as a blessing.

God has made provision for healing in and through His Word and through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Healing can be realized through the prayer of faith, by the laying on of hands, and by the gift of healing.

It is God’s desire to bring deliverance to His people. We have been granted authority in the name of Jesus to bring deliverance to others. Our weapon is the Word of God. Our authority and power is from Jesus Himself.

Mark 10:13-16 | Mark 5:22-23,41 | Mark 5:28-31 | Acts 28:8 | Acts 19:11-12 | Acts 6:2-6 ; 8:14-18 | 1 Timothy 4:14 | Psalm 107:20 | James 5:15 |
1 Peter 2:24 | Mark 16:18 | Matthew 8:16-17 | Isaiah 53:4-5 |
1 Corinthians 12:9 | Job 5:19 | Psalm 91:3 | Hebrews 2:14-15 | 2 Peter 2:9 | Mark 16:17 | John 14:12 | 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 | Ephesians 6:12 |
Mark 16:17| Acts 1:8 |  Ephesians 6:10-18 | 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 |
Romans 8:9 | Galatians 5:22-23

We believe that Scriptures instruct members of the church to tithe in proportion as the Lord has prospered them. We believe that the supporting of God ordained ministry is in obedience to the Lord and it should be a joy for believers rather than guilt or compulsion.

Malachi 3:6-12 | Genesis 14:17-20 | Hebrews 7:1-10 | Matthew 23:23 |
2 Corinthians 8-9 | Acts 20:35

We believe that each believer is a priest of the Lord Jesus Christ and has direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus. Each person must believe for himself, be baptized for himself, obey for himself, and answer to his creator for himself.

Revelation 1:6 | 1 Peter 2:9