What We Believe

Thrive LA Church is a non-denominational Christian Church. We hold to a few core beliefs that provide the foundation for our mission and vision. We hold these beliefs with humble conviction, accompanied by the desire to allow people space to learn and question as they participate in our community. While we hold other beliefs and are committed to partnering with and learning from those whose beliefs are different than our own, we would consider these to be the essentials of our faith. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, through the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself. The Bible came into existence through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is God’s verbal and sufficient revelation to man. As such, it was inerrant in its original documents and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and performed miracles. He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, and our redemption is made sure through His bodily resurrection from the dead. He is in heaven exalted at the right hand of the Father where, as our High Priest, He intercedes on our behalf. He is the messiah of Israel, the only Lord and savior for mankind, and he will return to judge the living and the dead and to reign as King on earth forever.

The Holy Spirit is God. He came forth from the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian, assures us of our salvation, and is our present helper, teacher and guide. The Holy Spirit imparts Spiritual Gifts to Christians and thus equips them for effective ministry in the Body.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory with the purpose to represent God's heart and will to the rest of creation. All humans have inherent purpose, value, and dignity.

Since Adam and Eve, humans have chosen not to obey God. All humans sin by nature and by choice. We fall short of what we were made to be, are alienated from God, and live in a corrupt world marked by suffering and death. In spite of this, though God's design and His image are distorted, all humans are still image-bearers, deeply loved by God.

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God and restore all creation to the fullness of God's design. 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. This life is offered by grace to all, but is received exclusively through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This means a commitment to Jesus as lord, savior, teacher, and friend. True faith is evidenced by a lifestyle of repentance and by the fruit of the spirit.

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. When people of every tribe, tongue, and nation live as a unified and hospitable family dependent on the Holy Spirit, it demonstrates the message of the gospel in power.

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.