What We Believe

Oase Bergen is a Christian church community belonging to the Dutch Assemblies of God (VPE).

The word of God, as delivered to us in the Bible, is the only guideline for our faith and life. The confession that follows thereafter, forms the spiritual foundation for our faith community. On this basis we want to form a close community; on in commitment and conviction. We acknowledge that this confession is fundamental to the preaching of the Gospel. The authority of this confession is however subordinate to that of the Bible and this confession does not reflect all Biblical truths.

Psalm 119:105, Heb 4:12; Heb 5:11 to 6:3.

We believe in one God, the eternal Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth. He has revealed himself in the Scriptures as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His existence can be deduced from his work, the creation. The Bible makes him, YHWH, known as the Almighty, the All-Knowing and the Holy God toward all men fall short. Through his dealings with his people, the Biblical Israel and the congregation and in Jesus Christ, His Son, He has made himself to be known as the Savior, who wants all people to be saved.

Deut. 6: 4; Rom. 1:19, 20; Isa. 42: 8; Gen. 17: 1; Heb. 4:13; Lev. 11:45; 1 Tim. 2: 3.4; Rom. 9 and 11

We believe in Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation and the only begotten Son of the living God, our Lord and Savior. He was conceived by the Holy Sprit and was born from the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified, died and buried and rose from the dead on the third day. This Jesus ascended to Heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God, clothed with all power in heaven and on earth.

Mat. 1:20; 16:16; Col. 1:15; John 3:16; Luke 1:35; John 7:15, 16 and 30; Luke 24: 6; Acts. 1: 9-11; Heb. 10:12; Mat. 28:18

We believe that Jesus Christ revealed the will of God during his life on earth and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Through his suffering and dying on the cross, He has made an eternal reconciliation for everyone who believes in Him. His resurrection is the proof of his reconciliation and the assurance that we will live with Him forever. Ascended to heaven He is our advocate with the Father there, with whom He also prays and pleads for all believers. He will come back in glory to judge the living and the dead.

John 4:34; Luke 4: 18-21; Acts. 10:38; Rom. 5:11; Heb. 9:12; 1 John 2: 2; Heb. 5: 9; Acts. 17:30 and 31; Rom. 1: 4; Rom. 8: 38-39; John. 5:24; 1 John 2: 1 and 2; Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2: 5-6; 2 Tim. 1:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20: 11-15.


We believe in the Holy Spirit. He convinces from sin to repentance and works on being born again. Through Him we receive strength to be witnesses of Jesus and to leave sin behind and lead a holy and victorious life, in which the fruit of the Holy Spirit can reveal itself. He distributes the gifts to everyone as He pleases for the good of the church and for the fulfillment of its task in the world.

Gen. 1: 2; John 16: 5-15; John 6:63; Rev. 1: 8; Tit. 3: 4-7; Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 12:11; 1 Cor. 12: 7; 1 Cor. 14:12.


We believe that the Bible, which includes the writings of the Old and New Testaments, is the word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit and God's revelation to us as people. That is why the Bible is the infallible and authoritative norm and source of inspiration for faith, doctrine and life.

Rom. 15: 4; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20 and 21.


We believe that man was originally created well and completely in God's image and likeness. Due to willful transgression, man has fallen into sin and is therefore subject to physical and mental death. Because of sin every person falls under the judgment. Salvation of this is only possible by accepting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Gen. 1: 27-31; Gen. 3: 6, 17-19; Rom. 5: 12-14.

e believe that based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary there is forgiveness of all sins and redemption for all who turn to God. On the cross, Jesus, as a substitute for every person, bore the penalty for sin and worked reconciliation and peace with God for everyone who believes in Him.

John 19:30; Col. 1: 13.14; John 1:12, 13; John 3:16, 36; Isa. 53: 5; Eph. 2: 14-22.


We believe that the Church is the community through which God wants to realize His work of salvation in this world under the direction of Christ as Head and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Every born-again believer is part of this universal church. The local municipality is a visible expression of this. Through the service of elders, deacons, and the ministries that God gives for this, believers are equipped to serve God, to the world, and to each other. Every believer should join a local church.

Eph. 3: 10-12; 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 4: 15.16; Acts 1: 8; 1 Cor. 12:13; Mat. 5: 13-16; Mat. 7:18; 1 Tim. 3: 1-15; Tit. 1: 5-9; 1 Tim. 5: 17-19; Eph. 4: 11-16.


We believe that the church has the mission to make God's Kingdom known on earth by proclaiming the gospel in all its fullness to all nations and making them disciples of Jesus Christ and obedient to God's will. This mission is accompanied by the promise that signs and wonders will follow believers, such as healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.

Luke 9: 2; Acts 20: 24-27; Mat. 28: 18-20; Rom. 1: 5; Rom. 15:18; Rom. 16:26; MC 16: 15-20 John 14:12; Acts 2:43; 3: 6; 6: 8.


We believe that baptism by immersion in water is a testimony to having died with Christ and to be resurrected to new life. All who confess their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord should be baptized in obedience to His command in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a representation of our participation in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and is a proclamation of his death until He comes. After self-examination, the believers participate in eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine. 
Parents are responsible for whether their minor children participate in the Holy Supper.

Mat. 3: 13-17; Mat. 28:19; Acts 22:16; Mat. 26: 26-29; 1 Cor. 11: 23-29.

We believe that God equips His church by baptizing believers in the Holy Spirit. This baptism, received by faith, is recognized by speaking in new tongues as the Spirit gives them to speak and also by the functioning of other spiritual gifts in the lives of believers.

Acts 1: 4.5; Acts 2; 1 Cor. 12: 1-11, 28-31; 1 Cor. 14; Eph. 5: 18-21.

We believe in Jesus' return to rule as King in glory. We expect a new heaven and a new earth where justice and peace will live.
We believe in the physical resurrection of the dead, of both the just and the unjust.
We believe that as Judge, Jesus will make a just judgment about the living and the dead. That judgment implies eternal life and glory for those who have continued to expect Jesus as Savior and Lord for their salvation and eternal loss for those who have not.

Mat. 24; Luke 17: 20-37; John 5: 28.29; 1. Cor. 15; 1 Tes. 4: 13-18; Heb. 9: 27.28; Rev. 3:10; 20: 11-15; Rev. 21.


At this confession we want to unite to be God's people together and to serve Him together. This confession has been drawn up with the prayer that the truth of it will find wide recognition and thus serve as unity. All this to the honor of the triune God, the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, and Jesus the head of the church and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who leads to the full truth.

Jude 24-25