CORE BELIEFS
The following are the core beliefs of Overcome based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical truths.
God The Father
We believe God created us in His image because He first loved us. Even when we didn’t love Him, God remained faithful to us. Moses, Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Isaac, and so many more have experienced a God that would not abandon them but instead helped them OVERCOME their fears within their deepest valleys through love. Most of all, we know God loves us unconditionally, and He proves His love for us by giving His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Jesus The Son
We believe that God was born into the person of Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that God chose to redeem the world. Through the teachings, miracles, and life of Jesus, we understand that a life of forgiveness, grace, and mercy is at the heart of our Lord. His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb shows us many things:
- that death has no dominion over us any longer
- sin has no power over us any longer
- we have access to a loving God and eternal life.
"But God showed great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
- that death has no dominion over us any longer
- sin has no power over us any longer
- we have access to a loving God and eternal life.
"But God showed great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
The Holy Spirit
We know that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit that lives and breathes within us all. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of Jesus in our lives. That Holy Spirit, through forgiveness, guidance, and grace, now helps us overcome the temptation to sin every day. We are not alone in our daily struggles, but we have One that helps us overcome life! "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the Spirit intervenes through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26:27
THE FALL
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time. Yet, even in their disobedience God never gave up on them. God still provided and still loved, as He does for you and me. Our "falls" are never to deep for God to pull us up and out. Reach out to Him today!
SALVATION
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone. Jesus wants you to know Him, and puts no barriers between you and a new life. No matter who you are or what you have done, Jesus loves you!
THE CHURCH
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know, however, that the current Church has changed that message of love into a message of judgement and hypocrisy. Overcome wants to change that by bringing the real life-giving message of grace and forgiveness. The world needs to know Jesus, and the church with that biblical message of mercy and grace in its hands can change the world!
A RELATIONSHIP
Jesus wants a real relationship with you. One that gives life. One hour on Sunday will never establish one. Instead, our walk with Jesus is throughout the entire week. At Overcome we believe we must be intentional about that walk, and we are here to help you discover that today.
THE APOSTLE'S CREED
Origins and Purpose
The Apostles’ Creed is a concise summary of core Christian beliefs. It emerged during a time when the early Church needed a clear way to teach new believers, combat heresy, and unify the growing Christian community.
The Apostles’ Creed is a concise summary of core Christian beliefs. It emerged during a time when the early Church needed a clear way to teach new believers, combat heresy, and unify the growing Christian community.
- Its original function was as a baptismal confession of faith used in the Church at Rome during the 2nd century A.D.
- Early Christians were baptized after publicly professing their faith, often with a series of questions resembling the Creed.
- The exact author is unknown, and the apostles themselves did not write it directly.
- The name "Apostles’ Creed" reflects the content of the apostles' teachings, not their authorship.
- Church Fathers such as Irenaeus (c. 180 A.D.) and Tertullian (c. 200 A.D.) quoted or paraphrased parts of the Creed’s teachings in their writings, showing its early influence.
- By the 4th century, creeds were also being used to defend against heresies like Gnosticism and Arianism, which denied key doctrines such as the incarnation or the divinity of Christ.
- To clarify essential Christian beliefs in a time of doctrinal confusion and false teaching.
- To prepare new believers for baptism and entrance into the Church.
- To unify the Church across different regions with a shared confession of faith.
- To preserve apostolic doctrine during a time when the New Testament canon was still being recognized and formalized.
- The Creed evolved gradually over time.
- The full version of the Apostles’ Creed as we know it today likely took shape by the 8th century in Western Europe, especially under the influence of Charlemagne and efforts to standardize Christian doctrine across the Frankish empire.
- It was used especially in the Latin Church (Western Christianity), while the Eastern Church used the Nicene Creed more prominently.
The Apostles’ Creed was developed by early Church leaders—not the apostles themselves—as a baptismal confession and doctrinal safeguard. It reflects the heart of apostolic teaching, ensuring that Christians across generations would be grounded in the essential truths of the faith.
"Holy Catholic Church" Meaning In Apostle's Creed
In the Apostles’ Creed, the phrase “the holy catholic Church” can be confusing or misunderstood, especially by those who associate the word “catholic” exclusively with the Roman Catholic Church. However, in the context of the Apostles’ Creed, the meaning is broader and more rooted in the early Christian understanding of the universal church.
What It Means
1. “Holy”
This further clarifies that the Church includes all believers — those alive now and those who have gone before — all united in Christ. It expresses the spiritual unity of the Church across time and space.
Supporting Scriptures:
What It Means
1. “Holy”
- Set apart by God — The Church is holy not because its members are perfect, but because it has been set apart by God for His purposes (see 1 Peter 2:9).
- The Church is made holy through Christ’s righteousness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the call to be sanctified in this world (Ephesians 5:25–27).
- This word is a greek word that means “universal” — not a reference to the Roman Catholic denomination, but to the entire body of Christ throughout history and across the world.
- It expresses belief in the unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, regardless of denomination, culture, or geography (Ephesians 4:4–6).
Historical Note: The word “catholic” has been used since at least the 2nd century (see Ignatius of Antioch) to mean “universal” in regard to the global Church.
3. “Church”- The people of God, called out from the world to follow Christ (Greek: ekklesia – "called out ones").
- Refers not to a building, but to the community of believers (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18).
- Christ is the head of the Church, and we are His body.
This further clarifies that the Church includes all believers — those alive now and those who have gone before — all united in Christ. It expresses the spiritual unity of the Church across time and space.
Supporting Scriptures:
- Matthew 16:18 – "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
- 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 – “The body is a unit... so it is with Christ.”
- Ephesians 4:4–6 – “There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
- Hebrews 12:1 – “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…” (those who have gone before).