EASTMONT DISTINCTIVES
TEACHING
We teach line by line.
Each time we gather corporately, we will open our Bibles and work through a book line by line. This means we are often in a book of the Bible for extended periods of time. While we may teach on a topic from time to time, the primary method of teaching we apply is expositional. (Acts 8:30-35; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)
We believe in the sovereignty of God.
In the simplest form, we believe that God is the initiator and finisher of our salvation (Heb. 12:2). Had we been left to our own devices, none of us would have sought after
or found God (1 John 4:19). The story of the Gospel is the story of God rescuing His people. God alone deserves the praise and glory for our salvation (Rom. 8:3-4). As a result of this, we can rest in confidence of our salvation free from fear and doubt of our standing before God (Rom. 8:29-39).
OBSERVANCES
We believe in believer’s communion. While all are welcome to attend our gatherings, we believe communion is for the family of God only. The communion elements are not special. They do not possess any supernatural powers in themselves but are symbols of the Gospel of Jesus. In the bread and cup, we are reminded of the broken body and blood of Jesus on our behalf (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Because communion is a time to remember Jesus’ work on our behalf, we believe you must be a recipient of that gift first before participating.
We believe in believer’s baptism through immersion.
We believe that baptism is an outward declaration of an inward decision. Because of this, we do not baptize children who are unable to articulate a personal repentance and faith
in Jesus. There is nothing special about the water we use and being baptized doesn’t justify anyone before God. It is simply a visible symbol to the world of internal faith. We also believe that it represents a first act of obedience for someone who has given their life to Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20).
MEN & WOMEN
We believe that men and women are created in the image of God, equal in value, dignity and worth. We also believe that men and women have been given different roles—different roles in the church (1 Tim. 2:9-15) and different roles in marriage (Eph. 5:22-33).
This is referred to as complementarianism.
The complementarian view has often been hijacked by “traditionalism” which would abuse the authority men have and use it as a tool to be domineering in the home. This is the opposite of what is taught in Ephesians 5. As the culture continues to push for the removal of any distinction in gender, the church will often be caricatured as an institution that marginalizes women and needs to catch up with the times. We believe that the Scriptures are timeless and stand as the sole authority in the Church. When we live according to the commands of the Scriptures, we find that both men and women flourish.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that, upon conversion, believers are given spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes they work in conjunction with our natural abilities, yet spiritual gifts are unique to the individual who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). We also believe that gifts are given for the good of God’s people. Most of the questions of spiritual gifts surround the gifts of healing, prophecy and tongues. These are often referred to as sign gifts. At Eastmont, we don’t believe these gifts have ceased, but we are cautious when someone claims to have these gifts. We are not cautious because of the power of God, but because these are often misunderstood and misused. For this reason, we do not practice the sign gifts during our corporate gatherings.
We believe that defining these gifts is vital to understanding how they should be used.
HEALING
Healing is the act of supernatural and dramatic restoration to the physical body. Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, and the lame. He cured diseases that had no medical remedy. The healings of the New Testament are dramatic, obvious, and defy any other explanation than divine intervention. They were also complete healings. There were no lasting side effects, or relapses. God can heal in these ways and He can work through the common grace of medicine and doctors. At Eastmont, we believe that our responsibility is to seek the Lord in prayer for those who are ill or hurting (James 5:13-14), and to seek out medical remedies (1 Tim. 5:23; Mark 2:17).
PROPHECY
The gift of prophecy in the New Testament is different than the office of prophet in the Old Testament. The Old Testament prophet was a position given to an individual who would be the mouthpiece for God. When they spoke, it was with the authority of God Himself— "thus says the Lord” (Isa 7:7). We do not see the same authority given to someone with the gift of prophecy. We are told to test the words of men against the Word of God to see whether they have come from the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:1). We do not see an equal authority level in the New Testament as “thus says the Lord” in the Old Testament. The Scriptures are the very words of God given to us (2 Tim. 3:10-17). Even the Apostles in the early church saw the scriptures as authoritative (2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Pet 3:15-16). So, the gift of prophecy is not speaking on God’s behalf, but rather, communicating what God has already spoken. It is
the objective truth of God’s Word that is to test the “spirits” or statement made claiming to be God’s message. So, the gift of prophecy is anchored to the truth of the Scriptures and works in conjunction with the gift of illumination of the Spirit to make the truth clear to those who are listening.
TONGUES
The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a known language that is unknown to the speaker. It doesn’t refer to an unknown utterance or heavenly language (Acts 2:1-13). There can often be misunderstandings about passages that refer to utterances and language. For example, 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 speaks to the Holy Spirit empowering wisdom and knowledge through the speaker, not to a different language. Romans 8:26 refers to the interceding work of the Holy Spirit in our prayers, not a prayer language.
The gift of tongues cannot be faked. The reality of a person speaking in a known language that is unknown to them demonstrates the power of God. The purpose of the gift of tongues is not the act of speaking in them, but the content of them. The truth of the gospel message is always the point, not the way it is given (1 Cor. 14:5). It is for this reason that we preach and teach from the Bible in every area at Eastmont. The public gatherings and teaching times are centered around the Word of God. It is our authority, and our gathering times are orderly to make much of the clear understanding of the Scriptures.
Our Distinctives Series
If you’re visiting us for the first time or are wanting more information about our distinctives, we encourage you to listen to these sermons or checking out our Distinctives page!