What I Believe

I believe that the words of the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and  New Testaments, are “God-breathed.” They give humankind His authoritative revelation, wholly without error of any kind on every  topic discussed in the original writings. I believe that the Bible must be interpreted as language is normally used, recognizing the importance of dispensational distinctions.

(Psalm 12:6; 119:89, 130; 160; Isaiah 40:8; 55:8-11; Luke 24:27,  44-47; John 5:39, 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13;  Ephesians 1:10; 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:10-12,  23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

I believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father,  Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom possess equally all the attributes of  deity and characteristics of personality and with each having specific  work to perform. I believe that God is a personal being who is the  Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

(Matthew 3:16; John 10:30; 14:10; 14:26; 15:26; Ephesians 1:3-4; 6-7; 13-14)

I believe God the Son, Jesus Christ, became flesh through His  miraculous conception in a virgin by the Holy Spirit and His birth. He  is, therefore, perfect and complete deity and perfect humanity, these  being united without mixture in one person forever. I believe that He  lived a sinless life and voluntarily and vicariously paid for the sins  of all mankind by dying on the cross. I believe in the resurrection of  His crucified body, in His ascension to heaven, in His present  ministries in heaven, and in his future literal return to the earth.

(Psalm 2:7; 110; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-25;  28:19; Luke 1:26-35; 2:52; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16; 8:58; 10:30; 17:5;  20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:5-8;  Colossians 1:14, 15-17; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3,  6, 8-12; 4:15; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:22; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:16; 4:10, 5:20;  Revelation 1:17-18; 19-20)

I believe the Holy Spirit is God and that He has come to reveal  and glorify Christ, to convict sinners of sin, righteousness, and  judgment, to regenerate, indwell, seal, and baptize believers into the  body of Christ, impart gifts to believers, and to enable them to live  holy lives.

(Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 1:18- 20;  28:19; Luke 1:35; John 1:13; 3:3-8; 6:63; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15,  13; Acts 2:1-4; 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:9,10, 12; 6:19;  12:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:22; 4:30; 5:18; 2  Thessalonians 2:7; 2 Timothy 3:16- 17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14; 2 Peter  1:20-21; 1 John 2:20, 27)

I believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be understood  historically and literally and not allegorically or figuratively. I believe that man was created in the image of God and that the first man,  Adam, sinned, bringing spiritual death to all, who, therefore, stand  condemned and in need of Christ’s salvation.

(Genesis 1; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-20; Romans 5:12; Romans 7)

I believe that God saves by grace alone, apart from works (whether  past or future), those who put their faith in Christ alone as God and  Savior from sin. Initial faith resulting in justification and  regeneration is not a gift of God. That is, fallen humanity when  persuaded by the illuminating and convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit  and the drawing ministry of the Father still possesses the capacity to  believe in Christ. Such faith precedes regeneration. At the moment of  belief, Christ imputes His righteousness to believers and keeps them  secure eternally. Based on the promises of God (not works), I believe a  person can and should have complete assurance of his or her Eternal  Life the moment he or she believes in Christ.

(Isaiah 55:8- 11; Matthew 4:4; 26:28; John 1:4, 9, 12; 3:5, 16,  18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; 14:6; 16:8; 17:17; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31;  Romans 1:7, 16-17; 3:22, 26; 4:4-5; 5:1, 6-9; 6:11-13, 23; 8:2-4, 9,  12-13, 29-30, 32; 10:4, 17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 8; 6:11; 12:13; 15:1-4; 2  Corinthians 3:18; 5:21; 7:1; Galatians 2:16; 5:13-26; 6:15; Ephesians  1:3, 7; 2:8-9; 4:22-24; Philippians 3:4-9; Colossians 1:22; 2:6, 10;  3:1- 7, 16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:3-4; 5:23; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews  4:12, 10:10, 14; 12:14; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2:2, 11; 1 John  1:5- 7; 3:2, 5-9; 5:13; Jude 24)

I believe that although sinless perfection is not possible in this  life, all believers are called to live holy lives in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

(John 17:17; Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:13-25; Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 1 John 3:2)

I believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on  the basis of Holy Scripture, which is our infallible guide. (2 Timothy  3:16–17) Since the Holy Bible does speak to the nature of human beings  and their sexuality, it is imperative that we correctly understand and  articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters.

I am committed to the home and family as set forth in Holy  Scripture. I believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist  between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible  sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct  roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children. It is  my firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we  embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth.

Based on Holy Scripture and the constant moral teaching of the universal Church, I believe:

1. Marriage
   I define marriage as the legal, permanent, exclusive, comprehensive,  and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically  ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the  moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5- 9, Ephesians 5:31-33)
2. Sexual Immorality
   I believe that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited as sinful.  Consequently, I believe all who receive Christ through faith must resist and refrain from any and all  sexual acts outside marriage — including but not limited to adultery,  fornication, incest, zoophilia, pornography, prostitution, voyeurism,  pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or  same-sex sexual acts. (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus  20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Romans  1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4,  Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5)
3. Sexual Identity
   I believe that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female  (woman), sexually different but with equal personal dignity.  (Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
4. Sexual Orientation
   I believe that God created and ordered human sexuality to the  permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of  man and woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological  family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of  binding father, mother, and child. (Genesis  1:27, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1  Corinthians 6:9- 11, Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation  21:2)
5. Sexual Redemption
   I believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and  should seek redemption and harmonious relationship with God through  confession, repentance, baptism, and faith in Jesus Christ.  Consequently, I welcome and treat with respect,  compassion, and sensitivity all who experience same-sex attractions or  confess sexually immoral acts but are committed to resisting sexual  temptation, refraining from sexual immorality, and conforming their  behavior to this Statement of Faith.(Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-10, I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16)
6. Celibacy
   I believe that Holy Scripture grants two life-enhancing options for  human sexual behavior: (1) the conjugal “one flesh” marital union of one  man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Either is a gift from God, given  as He wills for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice  in His gift to them. I celebrate and affirm celibacy and faithful singleness. (Genesis  1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Hebrews 13:4; 1  Corinthians 7:1- 8; Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 12:10;  1 Timothy 5:1-2)

I believe that the church, the body of Christ, began on the day of  Pentecost and is composed of all who receive Christ through faith. I believe God’s program for the Church is distinguished from His program  for Israel described in Daniel 9. I believe that all believers should  assemble regularly in local churches for worship, for observing the  ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for mutual  encouragement and discipline, and for carrying out God’s purposes in  this world.

(Acts 2:41-42; 10:44-47; 11:15-17; Romans 6:4-5; 12:3-8; 16:1, 5;  1 Corinthians 11:23-31; 12:12-13, 27; 16:19; Galatians 3:27-28; 6:2;  Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16-22; 5:24-25, 30; Philippians 1:1; Colossians  1:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25)

I believe that the personal and imminent return of Christ to rapture His church will be followed by a period of tribulation on this earth.  At the conclusion of this period, Christ will return triumphantly and  inaugurate His millennial reign over this earth. I believe in the  everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved in the New Jerusalem and  the everlasting conscious punishment of the unsaved in the lake of fire.

(Matthew 24:21, 29-30; 25:31, 46; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 20:1-6,11-15)

I believe that at some time in the past Satan led a rebellion,  including a host of angels, against God and was expelled from the  heavenly kingdom. Satan, also called other names including the Devil, is  a real being who has tremendous, but limited power, and is the true  adversary to God’s people. Satan is destined to be judged and will  endure eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

(Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20: 1-3)

Adapted from Grace School of Theology