What We Believe
Oikos Statement of Faith
Core Doctrines
At Oikos, our core doctrines align with the historic, orthodox confessions of faith like the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creed. These beliefs make up the essential core of Christianity. Our Oikos family is partnered around these shared beliefs.
We believe in One True & Living God.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one in essence; perfect in being, character, wisdom, and power; the Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. He is our all in all. (2 Cor. 13:14; Gen. 1:1-2; Ex. 3:13-15; Col. 1:15-20; Matt. 5:48; 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 15:28)
We believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, the promised Messiah and King, who for us and our salvation came down from heaven, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin named Mary. He suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, was buried, and descended to the dead. He rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, and reigns at the Father’s right hand. He himself is our peace. (Jn. 1:1-4, 14-18; 3:16-17; Lk. 1:26-35; Acts 2:30-36; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Eph. 2:14)
We believe in The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who is sent by the Father and the Son, and who speaks in Scripture through his apostles and prophets. His word is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it commands, and embraced in all that it promises. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (Ps. 104:30; Jn. 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:10-13; 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Cor. 3:17)
We believe that each person is created in God's image.
Both male and female, but when we ignore him and go our own way, we fall into sin and death and are lost. But God, through his grace, saves us. We enter into that grace by trusting in Christ, turning our lives toward him, confessing him as God’s Son, and being baptized into him for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Christ we are a new creation. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 10:8-10; Tit. 3:3-8; Acts 3:19-21; 1 Pet. 3:21-22; 2 Cor. 5:17)
We believe in the One Church of Jesus Christ.
The church, the body of the saved. When we gather each week at his table we share in his bread and his cup, proclaiming his death till he comes. We look forward to the resurrection of our bodies, and the life of the world to come. He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom will have no end. And so, we will always be with the Lord. Amen. (Acts 2:36-47; Matt. 16:13-18; Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:26; 15:50-55; 2 Thess. 1:5-9; 2 Pet. 3:8-13; Rev. 11:15; 1 Thess. 4:17)
Convictions and Non Essentials
At Oikos, we embrace the historic principle: “In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things, love.” We are eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace based around the essence of the faith (Eph. 4:1-6), but we recognize that there are many important convictions and opinions which are not core to the faith. In some areas of conviction, we will work to clarify Oikos positions so that we can have alignment among our leaders and teachers. We welcome diversity in non-essentials, seeking to love and show liberty, not to judge or divide (cf. Rom. 14).