What We Believe

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

THE ANCHOR

Our symbol is simple, but its meaning is full.  1st century Christians used the symbol of an anchor to identify themselves and to proclaim a message of hope and encouragement in the face of persecution.  Archeologists have found anchors engraved in catacombs, prison cells, martyr's tombs, and various other places.  It was a symbol that represented: no matter how bad life got, no matter how big or terrifying the waves, we have an anchor in Jesus Christ. We have safety and hope in the storm. Jesus is going to come and make all things new and life is not always going to be like this.  

So at The Anchor, we desire to be a place where you can find that same hope, peace, acceptance, help, forgiveness, guidance, encouragement and love...no matter what life throws your way as we point you towards Jesus, the true Anchor.  We do this through preaching the whole Word of God, we sing songs that magnify His name and we live out lives of love in rich fellowship as a community of believers.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

THE GOSPEL

WE PREACH JESUS.

We believe the whole Bible points to One.  Jesus! The way, the truth and the life.  And, so we teach through the whole Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse...pointing to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus...because it is there we find hope for all of us. It is through the darkness of the cross that we find light and life as we discover who God is and the life that He alone can give. The Gospel is the center of Christianity and the cross is the center of the Gospel.

COMMUNITY

WE LIVE LIFE TOGETHER.

Discipleship happens when we are intentional in teaching and living out the teachings of Jesus in our community together.  When we make intentional efforts to look past our differences and submit to the command of scripture to love one another, we are able to heal, grow, and reflect Christ to the community God has placed us in. 

SIMPLICITY

WE BELIEVE IN SIMPLE CHURCH.

While much of life is complicated and difficult, we believe church should be simple. Buildings, programs and methods do not define a "good" church. We believe that growth as a church is the result of knowing Jesus through immersion in His word, prayer, communion, fellowship and song. We want to see lives changed and transformed by the Gospel. The less we complicate the process the more we are able to “build one another other up to love and good deeds.”

LOVING OUR CITY

WE ARE COMMITTED TO LOVE

Gilroy is where we were born, but our Church represents a lot of neighboring cities.  We believe God had strategically placed Christians in these places.  It's where we live and where we have the most opportunity to show others the love of Christ. We do not believe the Gospel can change our cities unless those who believe in the Gospel actually invest their time and energy in their cities for the glory of Jesus. Our desire is that our neighbors would know we are Christians by our love for each other and our service to everyone and that, through our example and the drawing of the Holy Spirit, all would come to know and love the God we serve.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

WE BELIEVE the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority in every area it addresses for every individual Christian, as well as for the church collectively.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, John 10:35)
 
WE BELIEVE  there is one God who eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that all things were created by Him and for Him.

 (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:21-22, Matthew 28:19, Colossians 1:16)
 
WE BELIEVE  that God the Son became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. That He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life (for He was without sin), died a substitutionary death for all mankind, was raised from the dead the third day, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God until His enemies are made His footstool.

(John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:18-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 10:12-13)
 
WE BELIEVE  the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We believe the Holy Spirit regenerates and indwells and seals every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He empowers us to live as witnesses for Christ. We believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to His church today.

(John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
 
WE BELIEVE  that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. Because of the fall, men and women have fallen from their original design, have inherent sin and cannot save themselves. Each one of us needs a perfect Savior and Jesus, being fully God, fully man, fills that need.

 (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalms 51:5, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
 
WE BELIEVE  there is one church, the body of Christ, consisting of men and women from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We believe that each local congregation is an expression of that universal church.

(Ephesians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Revelation 5:9, Acts 2:42-47)
 
WE BELIEVE  the church will be delivered from the “hour of trial” which will come upon all who dwell on the earth, being “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture).

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Revelation 3:10)
 
WE BELIEVE  the saints will return with Christ to the earth, at His Second Coming, to rule and reign with Him.

(Jude 1:14, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4)
 
WE BELIEVE  in the pre-millennial return of Christ, to sit upon the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob (Israel), and the entire cosmos, forever.

(Revelation 20:1-6, Luke 1:31-33, Isaiah 9:6-7)
 
WE BELIEVE  in the resurrection of the dead. Some will be raised to life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (hell). We believe that God will create a new heaven and earth in which righteousness will dwell. We believe that the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) will be established in the New Jerusalem forever.

(Daniel 12:2, John 5:25-29, Revelation 21:1-22:5)

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