STATEMENT OF FAITH

God

We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and that each has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and that each is worthy of the same worship, trust and obedience.

The Father

We believe in God, the Father, who is an infinite spirit being, perfect in purity, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He is personally involved in the affairs of mankind, saving from sin and spiritual death each who comes to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ

We believe in the deity and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ our Lord - God the Father’s only begotten Son and conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, supernatural miracles and infallible teachings. We believe in His voluntary, substitutionary, atoning death, bodily resurrection from the dead, ascension into Heaven, continual intercession for His followers and His future visible return to earth in power and glory to reign.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the person of the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to the church, regenerating and indwelling every believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides and enables each believing child of God to live a godly and fruitful life. We believe that the Holy Spirit brings the witness of Jesus Christ to the world, convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is holy, being God-breathed and inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very Word of God to people. We believe the whole Bible in the originals is without error and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct and when properly understood will always point us to Jesus Christ.

Salvation

We believe that every person is a sinner by nature, choice and practice and is, therefore, under condemnation apart from the saving grace of God. We believe that salvation is by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection is our only hope for regeneration and reconciliation with God. We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, completely apart from any human work, bringing each believer God’s eternal life, justification of sin and righteousness in God’s eyes.

Christian Conduct

We believe that a follower of Jesus Christ should live for the glory of God and the wellbeing of others. We believe that we are to strive to live above reproach in conduct and seek to mature into the image of Christ. We believe that we must trust in God’s enabling for growth in these areas of Christian conduct.

The Church

We believe in the universal Church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head and all regenerated persons, past and present, are members. We believe in the local Church, consisting of a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith and associated for worship, fellowship and ministry. We believe that the Church has been commissioned to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to our world.

Church Ordnances

We believe that Jesus Christ has taught and committed two ordinances to the local Church. These ordinances are Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, commemorating his already having been baptized (immersed) by the Holy Spirit into the fellowship of the universal church. We believe that Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the partaking of both bread and the fruit of the vine to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus and symbolize the need to continually feed upon and commune with Jesus Christ for spiritual nourishment. We believe that these ordinances are to be administered and observed until the return of our Lord.

Last Things

We believe in the imminent and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church in the air, to which we should await with hope and preparedness. We believe that the prophesied period of great tribulation in the earth will be culminated by the glorious return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish His kingdom. We believe that death brings the spirits and souls of believers into the immediate presence of God to await the resurrection of their bodies when Christ returns for His own, whereupon soul, spirit and glorified body shall be united with Him forever in glory. We believe that the spirits and souls of the unbelieving will be kept from the glory and presence of the Lord and ultimately be judged and not annihilated but punished in everlasting destruction.

MEMBERSHIP COVENANT

Believing that God has led me to receive his Son Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord by the leading of the Holy Spirit and having testified of this work of God and my saving faith by being baptized by water, I do now join with other believers of like experience and testimony to affirm this membership covenant of the local fellowship known as Oaks Bible Church of Goleta/Santa Barbara.

It is my commitment and desire to KNOW God more fully. Just as the apostle Paul counted knowing Christ as a surpassing value - Philippians 3:8, so I will strive to know Christ above all else. I will seek to know God more in the intimacy of worship, prayer and meditation on His person and Word. I will seek to know Him more in my loving fellowship with other members and friends of this local body of believers. I will seek to know Him more in my regular observance of Holy Communion. I will seek to know Him more in my receiving of his forgiveness, cleansing and giving of righteousness in regular confession of my sins -1 John 1:9. I will seek to know Him more as I strive to exemplify His godly words, conduct and integrity in all areas of my life.

It is my commitment and desire to GROW in respect to my salvation. Just as the apostle Peter knew the importance of reading and studying the Word of God, the Bible, to grow in respect to salvation - 1 Peter 2:2, so I covenant to personally read and study my Bible that I may grow spiritually. I will also strive to mature in my faith, growing up in all aspects of Him, conforming to the image of Christ that God intends for me - Ephesians 4:15; Romans 8:29. Therefore I will strive to esteem one another - Philippians 2:3, build up the church with my willing participation - Ephesians 4:16, purposefully and cheerfully support the church with my financial contributions - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, encourage and stimulate one another toward Christian maturity - Hebrews 10:24-25, support, assist and pray for the leadership of the church - Hebrews 13:17-18, seek to care for the needs of each other (Galatians 6:2,10) and walk in the purity of the Light as He is in the light so that I might truly fellowship with other members of Christ's body, the Church - 1 John 1:7.

It is my commitment and desire to GO forth for God in the sharing of His love and gospel message. I will teach God's Word in my family and to others under my care - Deuteronomy 6:6-7. I will pass on God's good news of salvation in word and deed to my personal community of acquaintances - Acts 1:8. I will seek to be a part of the Great Commission to win the world for Christ as I minister in my community and beyond to support God's work in the world; and I will go, as God leads and enables me, to my family, neighborhood, community and world as God's ambassador of love and grace Matthew 28:19.

I do understand that as I verbally affirm this Membership Covenant and accompanying Oaks Bible Church Statement of Faith as aligning with my personal beliefs and desires before a pastor/elder or Council member of Oaks Bible Church, I am a full member of Oaks Bible Church of Goleta/Santa Barbara.

WHY A BIBLE CHURCH

While Oaks is not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination, we adhere to the Bible as our standard of faith and practice. More than just a name, we look to God's Word as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Psalm 119:105

Oaks originated as a home study and is comprised of members from various backgrounds, including non-denominational, Baptist, Evangelical Free, Presbyterian, and more. Whatever your background, we would like to meet you at Oaks and welcome you to our church family.

At Oaks we invite you to…

Know: John 17:3 (Jesus) And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
Philippians 3:8 (Paul) I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.

Grow: Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects unto Him, who is the head, even Christ.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.

Go: Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (Jesus) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.

Searching for a home church?
Here are five good principles for choosing the right one

1. Choose a church where the Bible is taught rightly and thoroughly 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
2. Choose a church where the people strive to love and serve one another.
3. Choose a church where the pastors are genuine and seem to love their people.
4. Choose a church in which you feel blessed, but also where you sense you could be a blessing. That is, where you could help build up the body with your gifts and strengths Ephesians 4:16.
5. Seek God's wisdom James 1:5 and will in prayer for a church home and choose the church of God's leading.