STATEMENT OF TEACHING
We call this our “Statement of Teaching” rather that “Statement of Faith” or “Statement of Belief” because everyone who attends is at a different place in their learning and their beliefs. We cannot say “here is what we all believe,” but we do want to be clear about what will be taught in our church.
THE BIBLE
The Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the inspired Word of God and, as originally given, is free of error in all it teaches. It is the only essential and infallible revelation of God to mankind. The Bible is the authoritative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. It is totally sufficient and must not to be added to, superseded, or changed. All believers are exhorted to study the Bible and diligently apply it to their lives.
THE TRINITY
There is one God – infinite, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love – that is eternally existent in three distinct persons: One God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
GOD THE FATHER
God the Father created heaven and earth out of nothing by His Word and for His glory. He rules over all and is the only Sovereign – meaning His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him, and in His grace gave His Son Jesus Christ for mankind’s redemption.
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was the eternal Word made flesh – conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary – fully God and fully man. He was perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. He is the only Savior for the sins of the world having shed His blood and died on the cross. By His death in our place, He revealed divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day He rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, He intercedes for His people and rules as Lord over all. He is the Head of His body, the Church.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Through the proclamation of the gospel the Holy Spirit persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. He unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, and dwells within the regenerate – believers in Christ whose hearts He has changed. He will lead the Church into a right understanding and application of the truth of God’s Word.
MAN
God made man – male and female – in His own image that man might have fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Being estranged from his Maker, yet responsible to Him, man became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and, apart from a special work of grace, utterly incapable of returning to God. This depravity is radical and pervasive – extending to his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan and is hostile toward God. All people, regardless of their character or accomplishments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ.
THE GOSPEL
Jesus Christ is the gospel – the “good news”. His death on the cross was a sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we want our hearts, lives, ministries and church to be “Gospel-centered”.
MAN’S RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL
The message of the gospel is only effectual to those who, by God’s grace, put saving faith in Christ and genuinely repent of their sins. The Gospel is to be sincerely preached to all men in all nations. Biblical repentance and saving faith are evidenced by a changed life – increasingly submitted to the Lordship of Christ and increasingly developing Christ-like character.
MAN’S INHERITANCE THROUGH THE GOSPEL
Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and fully trusting in Christ and His substitutionary death receives the gift of eternal life and is declared righteous by God. The righteousness of Christ and His sinless life is imputed – or credited – to him. The believer is forgiven the debt of his sin and is no longer subject to God’s righteous wrath. He is justified, fully accepted by God and adopted as His child.
SANCTIFICATION
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification – or growth in godliness. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping His commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Knowing that all believers will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed – we should strive to work with God who is at work in us for our sanctification. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship and confession, are a vital means of grace in this regard.
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
In addition to effecting regeneration and sanctification, the Holy Spirit also empowers believers for Christian witness and service. While all genuine believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at conversion, the New Testament indicates the importance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit subsequent to conversion as well. Being indwelt by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are theologically distinct experiences. The Holy Spirit desires to fill each believer continually with increased power for Christian life and witness, and imparts His supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and for various works of ministry. The gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the New Testament are still available and valid today as they are defined, pursued and exercised within scriptural guidelines. As believers, we should desire and welcome these gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified.
THE CHURCH
The Church is the “universal” body of people made up of all those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ. The Church exists to worship and glorify God and to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. The ultimate mission of the Church is the making of disciples through the preaching of the gospel.
All members of the “universal” Church are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. Upon conversion to Christ, one should connect with a local church in which they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer. In this context they are called to walk as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God.
Christ has given gift ministries to the church (including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) that it might mature and grow. All members of the Church are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of ministry. In the context of the local church, God’s people receive pastoral care and leadership and the opportunity to employ their God-given gifts in His service in relation to one another and to the world.
SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
Water baptism is a visual demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that his former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin. Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself and the world; believers should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who make a credible profession of faith in Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of his blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. As we partake of the Lord’s Supper with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.
THE CONSUMMATION
The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the transformation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the Consummation, Satan with his hosts and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but the righteous shall live and reign with Him forever. The Church – the Bride of Christ – will be in the presence of God forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory.
