What We Believe

Theological Distinctives

We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we do have a few convictions that stand out in our vision for New Ground Ministries.

Grace Changes People

We believe that man-made religion that emphasizes tradition and outward behavior is detrimental to who God has called His people to be. More rules only make people more guilty according to God’s standard. Throughout the Bible, God is clear that he is more concerned about a change of heart, rather than a change of behavior. When hearts are changed by believing in the grace of Christ, godly behavior follows. To live holy lives that honor God, we believe the answer is to have a perspective of faith that rests in the righteousness of Christ, and not by our own works. We believe abiding in the grace of Christ is the primary catalyst for change in a person’s soul. (Matthew 23:25, Galatians 2:20-21, 5:1, Romans 3)

Saint > Sinner

Think about these two statements : 1. I’m a saint that can sin. 2. I’m a sinner that can do good. If you had to choose one of these to define your Christian identity, how would you answer? Both of these statements are true, but depending on how you identify, it can shape the course of your life. Perspective is important. Much of mainstream Christian teaching has emphasized a deficiency mindset in believers, which in our opinion, has produced deficient spiritual fruit. We strongly believe in the mindset of victory over victimhood, because we know how the story of the world ends. Jesus wins, and because he wins, we win as well - not only in the future, but right now. As Christians, we are no longer defined by our sins, we are defined by Jesus. We are His priests, His children, His friends. We are saints. (1 Corinthians 5:57, John 16:33, Romans 8)


We Are Church

In our ecclesiology, we believe that the function of Christ’s Body is more important than the titles in Christ’s Body, which 1 Corinthians 12 summarizes perfectly. Titles are important and necessarily provide structure, but they can also be a source of misguided authority and confusion. Christ said clearly that “He will build His Church”, and we want to be mindful of this fact, making sure that we are not building something that goes against our Lord’s work. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” and He alone calls and appoints people to His service. We desire to wisely listen to His voice as He reveals His will through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. In addition, we emphasize that the New Testament Church is primarily identified by its people and its geographical location. The Church (ekklesia) is an “assembly” of God’s people in a particular area, whether it be a town, a state, a country, or the world. New Ground is a part of “the Church” in Lockhart. We emphasize that the Church is not a corporation or a building, but is rather the people of Christ spiritually unified with Christ and His work in the world. (1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 2, Matthew 16:18, John 10)

Doctrinal Statement

We take doctrine seriously and strive to live in accordance with God’s Word. We believe the Bible is the source of authority in the life of a Christian. The list below makes up the things that we believe are the essentials to the Christian faith.

  • We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality and with each having specific work to perform. We believe that God is a personal being who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

    (Matthew 3:16; John 10:30; 14:10; 14:26; 15:26; Ephesians 1:3-4; 6-7; 13-14)

  • We believe that the words of the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are “God-breathed.” They give humankind His authoritative revelation, wholly without error of any kind on every topic discussed in the original writings.

    (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 12:6; 119:89, 130; 160; Isaiah 40:8; 55:8-11; Luke 24:27, 44-47; John 5:39, 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13; Ephesians 1:10; 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

  • We believe that God the Son, Jesus Christ, became flesh through His miraculous conception in a virgin by the Holy Spirit and His birth. He is perfect and complete deity and perfect humanity, these being united without mixture in one person forever. We believe that He lived a sinless life and voluntarily and vicariously paid for the sins of all mankind by dying on the cross. We believe in the resurrection of His crucified body, in His ascension to heaven, in His present ministries in heaven, and in his future literal return to the earth.

    (Psalm 2:7; 110; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-25; 28:19; Luke 1:26-35; 2:52; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16; 8:58; 10:30; 17:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:14, 15-17; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3, 6, 8-12; 4:15; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:22; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:16; 4:10, 5:20; Revelation 1:17-18; 19-20)

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and that He has come to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict people of sin, to regenerate, indwell, seal, and baptize believers into the Body of Christ. He imparts gifts to believers for the benefit of the Church, and enables believers to live holy lives.

    (John 3:8, 14:15-17, v26, Romans 8:26, 1 Cor 12, Gal 5:22-23)

  • We believe that in the beginning of time, God created the world and everything in it. We believe that man was created in the image of God and that the first man, Adam, sinned, bringing spiritual death to all. Therefore, all stand condemned and in need of Christ’s salvation.

    (Genesis 1; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-20; Romans 5:12; Romans 7)

  • We believe that God saves by grace alone, apart from works, those who put their faith in Christ alone as God and Savior from sin. The Father reveals himself to those He chooses, the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins, and Jesus sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection saves those who believe. At the moment of belief, Christ imputes His righteousness to believers and keeps them secure eternally. Based on the promises of God (not works), we believe a person can and should have complete assurance of his or her Eternal Life the moment he or she believes in Christ.

    (Matthew 4:4; 26:28; John 1:4, 9, 12; 3:5, 16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; 14:6; 16:8; 17:17; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31; Romans 1:7, 16-17; 3:22, 26; 4:4-5; 5:1, 6-9; 6:11-13, 23; 8:2-4, 9, 12-13, 29-30, 32; 10:4, 17)

  • We believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children. It is our firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we embrace the unchanging and long standing principles of scriptural truth.

    Based on Holy Scriptures, we believe:

    Marriage

    We define marriage as the legal, permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5- 9, Ephesians 5:31-33)

    Sexual Immorality

    We believe that sexual acts outside marriage are sinful. Consequently, we believe all Christians must resist and refrain from any and all sexual acts outside marriage.

    (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5)

    Sexual Identity

    We believe that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, we believe Christians should affirm their biological sex and refrain from any and all attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their predominant biological sex — including but not limited to elective sex-reassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non- binary “genderqueer” acts or conduct.(Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

  • We believe that the Church, the body of Christ, began on the day of Pentecost and is composed of all who receive Christ through faith. We believe that all believers should assemble regularly in local churches for worship, for observing the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for mutual encouragement and correction, and for carrying out God’s purposes in this world.

    (Acts 2:41-42; 10:44-47; 11:15-17; Romans 6:4-5; 12:3-8; 16:1, 5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31; 12:12-13, 27; 16:19; Galatians 3:27-28; 6:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16-22; 5:24-25, 30; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25)

  • We believe that Jesus Christ will return to the earth to restore creation and judge the living and the dead. We believe in an eternal separation of God in Hell for those who did not place their faith in Christ during their life, and an eternal reward for those who do.

    (Luke 13:28, Daniel 12:1-2, Matthew 18:6-9, 25:31-46, Rev 1:7, 22:12-13, 1 Thes 4:16-17)

  • We believe that at some time in the past Satan led a rebellion, including a host of angels, against God and was expelled from the heavenly kingdom. Satan, also called other names including the Devil, is a real being who has tremendous, but limited power, and is the true adversary to God’s people. Satan and his demonic forces roam the earth seeking to steal, kill, and destroy people’s lives. They tempt, confuse, and torment people in their attempt to prevent God’s Kingdom from spreading on earth. Satan is destined to be judged and will endure eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

    (Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20: 1-3, John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8)