What We Believe

We believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and sufficient Word of God. Scripture is not merely helpful religious literature, but God’s written revelation to mankind. It teaches us who God is, who we are, what sin has done, what Christ has accomplished, and how we are called to walk before the Lord.

We believe Scripture should be taught faithfully, in context, and with reverence. That is why Upward Knoxville emphasizes line-by-line, verse-by-verse Bible teaching.

We believe in one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is holy, sovereign, righteous, merciful, just, gracious, and good. He is the Creator of all things and the One to whom all people are accountable.

God is not distant or indifferent. He has revealed Himself through creation, through His Word, and most fully through His Son, Jesus Christ.

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, taught with authority, performed works that revealed His identity, died on the cross for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return.

Jesus is not merely a teacher, prophet, example, or moral guide. He is Lord, Savior, King, and the only way to the Father.

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and actively works in the world and in the life of the believer. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, indwells, seals, teaches, comforts, sanctifies, and empowers believers to walk in obedience to Christ.

The Christian life is not lived by human strength alone, but by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.

We believe mankind was created in the image of God, but through sin, humanity became separated from God. Sin is not merely a mistake or weakness. It is rebellion against God and affects every part of human life.

Because of sin, all people need redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. No person can make themselves righteous before God by good works, religious effort, morality, or personal sincerity.

We believe salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned by works, religious performance, church attendance, personal goodness, or human effort. Salvation is the gift of God, made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Those who repent and believe in Christ are forgiven, justified before God, made new, and brought into eternal life.

We believe grace is not permission to remain in sin, but the undeserved mercy of God that saves, restores, teaches, and transforms. True faith is more than intellectual agreement. It is trust in Christ that produces a changed life.

We are saved by grace, through faith, and called to walk in obedience, humility, repentance, and love.

We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all true believers. The Church exists to worship God, teach Scripture, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, serve one another, pray, encourage the saints, and bear witness to Christ in the world.

Upward Knoxville is currently beginning as a Bible teaching and fellowship community, with the hope of growing faithfully and prayerfully as the Lord leads.

We believe baptism and communion are important acts of obedience, remembrance, and public identification with Christ, but they are not what saves a person. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through rituals, works, or religious performance.

We follow baptism because Jesus Himself was baptized and commanded His followers to baptize believers. Baptism publicly identifies a Christian with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and serves as an outward expression of inward faith.

We also practice communion because Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Communion is a reverent remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and a proclamation of the gospel. We do not believe the bread and cup literally become the physical flesh and blood of Christ, but rather serve as meaningful reminders pointing believers back to Jesus, the cross, and His finished work.

These practices are not empty rituals, but important acts of obedience and worship that continually direct our hearts toward Christ.

We believe the Christian life is a continual process of growing in Christ. Believers are called to turn from sin, walk in obedience, love God, love others, and become more like Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Growth does not happen through performance or pretending, but through abiding in Christ, submitting to the Word, repentance, prayer, fellowship, and the grace of God.

We believe Jesus Christ will return. His return is the hope of the believer and a reminder that this present world is not our final home. Christians are called to live faithfully, watchfully, and expectantly as we await the Lord.

The return of Christ should not lead us to speculation, fear, or distraction, but to holiness, endurance, worship, and faithful obedience.

We believe followers of Jesus are called to live lives marked by humility, repentance, truth, love, holiness, service, prayer, and faithfulness. The Christian life is not about appearing impressive, but about walking with the Lord one day at a time.

We desire to be a fellowship where ordinary believers can grow honestly, ask sincere questions, be corrected by Scripture, encourage one another, and keep looking to Christ.