What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Castine Church 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.

We believe the Bible to be God's complete truth, entirely inspired by God (God oversaw every aspect of the Bible's writing and fully endorses every aspect of its content as His truth) without error in the original writings, and
the supreme and the final authority (power or right) in Castine's faith and practice.

We believe the Trinity refers to God as three persons: God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that the term "Trinity" is not found in the Bible; therefore, we are open to different terms to describe the Trinity. However, we firmly believe the Bible speaks of one God existing eternally (without end) in three persons
with equality equal in nature, glory and purpose. (See Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4, which expresses one God God's oneness). God's oneness consists of three beings. The three persons representing one God are:
1. God the Father is equal in power and authority with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
 (see Matthew 6:10-13; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4).

2. Jesus Christ is completely equal in power and authority with the Father and the Holy Spirit
(see Matthew 6:10-13; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4).

3. Holy Spirit, completely equal in power and authority with Jesus Christ and the Father
(see Matthew 6:10-13; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is personal: He may be lied to, Acts 5:3; blasphemed (to speak without respect disrespectable about or to God), Matthew 12:31; grieved, Ephesians 4:30;  and that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, John 16:8. He makes it possible for each believer to live the Christian life, Romans 8:1-2. He also distributes supernatural gifts (those that can only come from God) to each believer to serve God
and the church, 1 Corinthians 12:11.

We believe salvation is first understood in a person's relationship to God before salvation. The Bible teaches that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), resulting in an adversarial (opposing) relationship to God (John 3:36). Sin makes it impossible for someone to have peace with God and, ultimately, a place in heaven.

Jesus brings reconciliation to one's sinful position.

Jesus satisfied God the Father's required payment for sin eternal separation from Him, and freely offers eternal life to all that will accept Jesus' payment for his or her personal sin.

1. Salvation can only be obtained through Jesus Christ's payment for sin, John 3:36; 14:6.
2. Salvation is a willful surrender (repentance) from living by one's current way of life to a commitment to live by God's requirements, as taught in the Bible. In other words, there is a decisive change in how one understands life.
No longer is the first question, "What do I want," but, instead, "What does God want?"
(Acts 3:19; 17:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:17).      
  

We believe that baptism is for anyone who has experienced the repentance of sin and decided to follow the leadership of Jesus Christ. We are baptized by immersion (under the water), based on the formula Jesus gave in Matthew 28:19 and explained in Romans 6:1- 5. We do not baptize those who do not make a personal decision to follow Jesus. Therefore, we do not baptize infants; instead, we offer a dedication service.

Our understanding of baptism is informed by the Apostle Paul's teaching comparing the Old Testament teaching on circumcision to the New Testament's teaching on Baptism (Colossians 2:6-15). In other words, what you can say about circumcision provides the context for understanding baptism in the New Testament.

We believe that all who have accepted the payment of Jesus Christ for personal sin are immediately adopted into God's family as children of God. Further, all children of God will spend eternity in heaven with God, Romans 8:14-17. Just as heaven is eternal, likewise is hell (Matthew 25:46). The Bible teaches that there will be an eternal, everlasting conscience suffering (torment) for those dying without acceptance of Jesus Christ.

We believe that just as Jesus bodily arose from the grave, victorious over sin and death, He ascended into heaven to return to the earth in the same body while on earth Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7. At this time, Jesus will welcome all that belong to Him into heaven and pronounce judgment on all others to eternal-conscience suffering, Matthew, 25:31-46.

We believe Satan to be a personal being (Matthew 4:1-11), powerful (Jude 9), and eternally defeated (Revelation 20:10). His mission is to promote his evil agenda against all good through lies that confuse and harm God's people
(John 8:44, John 10:10).

We believe, by sincere conviction and by God's divine precepts, that the gift of a sexual relationship is exclusive to one man and one woman in a lifelong marriage.  1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Hebrews 13:4

We believe the Lord's Supper is open to all who share a salvation experience with Jesus Christ. We share in the Lord's Supper two times each year. On the 1st Sunday in October and Maundy Thursday, we dedicate an evening service to the Lord's Supper. The service begins with self-examination, foot washing, and a fellowship meal, and it ends with celebrating the Bread and Cup. Additionally, we share in a communion service two times a year in January and July. The communion service occurs in a Sunday morning service with the bread and cup.

We believe that Jesus Christ was born of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin Mary without a sinful nature. "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. . ." "So, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,'
which is translated, 'God with us'" Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23.

We believe in anointing with oil for healing by laying on hands and prayer. James 5:14 informs us, "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." We believe all healing has its source in God and recognize that sometimes miraculous healing occurs, which defies medical explanation.  We further believe God also uses human skill and wisdom to heal emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically.