God is the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the universe. Although there is only one God, we believe He has eternally existed in three eternal and coequal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Mark 12:29; John 4:24; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus Christ is the pre-existent and eternal Son of God who became man in order to reveal God and redeem man. We believe He was supernaturally conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinful man, was buried, arose bodily from the tomb, ascended into Heaven where He ministers on the behalf of saints, and someday will come again for His own. (John 1:18; and 8:58; Matthew 1:23; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Timothy 1:15 and 3:16)

The Holy Spirit is fully equal with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is active in the world to restrain evil, convict people of sin and bestow God's goodness on all. He also indwells every Christian from the moment of salvation, providing power for living, guidance, and spiritual gifting. (Acts 5:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9; John 16:7-11; Matthew 5:45; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 12:13; Ephesians 3:20; I Corinthians 14; James 5:14; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 8:16 and 14; John 16:13)

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. The human authors wrote under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit so that the very words recorded in the original manuscripts are without error. The Bible is the complete and final authority for belief and behavior. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13; John 17:17)

Salvation from the penalty and power of sin is provided only through the blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed on the cross when He died in our place. Salvation cannot be earned. It must be received as a free gift through personal faith in Jesus Christ. At the time of salvation, a person’s sins are forgiven and he is declared righteous in the sight of God. This salvation is complete and all who have trusted Christ as Savior will never lose their salvation. (1 Peter 1:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 4:32; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:38-39)

People were created to exist forever. People who reject Jesus Christ will exist eternally separated from God to eternal punishment in Hell. People who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Substitute will exist with God in an eternal state of bliss. (John 14:3; Hebrews 10:37; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 24:21-31; Revelation 20-22)

Man was created in the image and likeness of God to glorify him. Through deliberate disobedience, we believe man fell from his sinless state and lost his fellowship with God and became subject to spiritual and physical death. We believe that through Adam's transgressions the entire human race has inherited a sinful bent, which is essentially evil and unable to please God. (Gen. 1:26-27 and 3:24; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10

We believe that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” “God has given us commands for us to follow so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” (Romans 3:23; Exodus 20:20)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Hill Country Fellowship.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: The uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman and Himself, Hill Country Fellowship will only recognize marriage between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastor and staff of Hill Country Fellowship shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Hill Country Fellowship shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

The Bible teaches that we should be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We believe in water baptism because Jesus himself modeled it for us. "When all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too. As he was praying, heaven was opened." (Luke 3:21)

Baptism is an outward confession of an inward decision.

Baptism is a command. Everyone who confesses Christ should be baptized.

Baptism comes from the word “baptize” which means to immerse.

Baptism represents a burial of the old way of life and mindset.

Baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation.

Baptism doesn’t get you to heaven... it announces to your friends you are headed to heaven.

The Church is a unique organism composed of individuals who have placed their faith in Christ as Savior. The Church exists both in a universal aspect, as the Body of Christ, and in a local assembly of believers. The local church has the twofold purpose of the edification of believers and the evangelization of the lost. The two ordinances of the church are water baptism, and the Lord's Supper. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Colossians 4:16; Ephesians 4:7; Hebrews 13:17; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Hill Country Fellowship as the local Body of Christ and to provide a biblical role model to the members and community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Hill Country Fellowship in any capacity or who serve as volunteers, agree to abide by this Statement of Essential Beliefs.