Community
Bible Church
Introduction
Through the ages, Jesus Christ has been building His Church. Jude v20 tells us to “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Since the days of the Protestant Reformation, the doctrinal building block summary sentence was, “Justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.” By this statement the Church stands or falls. (Rom 1:16 & 17; 1Cor 1: 29 – 31)
Therefore; in elaboration of this, we confess the following:
The Bible
The Bible (also called Scripture and the Word) alone is our authority over faith and its practices. The Bible is the Word of God in 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. In the original written manuscripts it was verbally inspired by revelation from God and without error. It has been preserved by God so that we can only know salvation by the Gospel contained therein.
(Ps 12:6 & 7, 138:2, Matt 5:18; Jn 12:48, 17:17; 2Tim 3:16 & 17; 1Pet 1:22 – 25; 2Pet 1:20 & 21)
God
The Bible reveals the one true God. He has always existed as One indivisible in His substance of Nature by the essence of Spirit. This One is a Godhead of Trinity in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; this is a great mystery. He is perfect in His attributes; therefore, God is holy, righteous, almighty, infinite, eternal, light, and love. He is perfect in His actions; therefore, God is sovereign in the creation and preservation of the visible and invisible universe; merciful and longsuffering in judgement; and the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
(Ex 3:14; Deut 6:4; 1King 8:27; Is 48:12; Mal 3:6; Matt 5:48; 1Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6; Heb 6:13, 11:6; Jam 1:17; 1Jn 1:5, 5:6 & 7)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Word and Son of God. He is of one substance with the Father in His divinity. He is also fully human who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, shed His blood & died as the finished offering for sin; was resurrected from the grave, and ascended into Heaven. He is both fully God and fully man. He is thus authorized and qualified to save His people from their sin. One day, He will return personally, physically, and visibly to the earth to gather these people: His church, His sheep, and His bride. In perfect righteousness He will judge the quick and the dead.
(Matt 1:21; Lk 1:30 - 35; John 1:1-5, 12, 14,16; Acts 1:9 – 11, 2:22 – 26, 4:10, 10:38 - 43; 2Cor 5:21; Eph 3:8 – 12; 1Tim 2:5; 2Tim 4:1; 1Pet 4:5; Rev 3:21, 20:11-15)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is sent from the Father by the Son to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He regenerates, baptizes, permanently indwells, and seals those who trust in Christ. He empowers them for witness, service, holiness, repentance, and understanding of the truth as the visible body of Christ.
(Jn 3:7 – 8; 16:8 – 15; Rom 8:23; James 1:18)
Creation
The Triune God created out of nothing the worlds and all that is in them, both visible and invisible, including principalities, powers, angels, and spiritual hosts. According to Scripture, the physical universe was made in six days. During this, Man (Adam) was originally created by God from the ground and woman (Eve) from the man. They carried the image of God in them and existed in the relationship of marriage and family as vice-regent caregivers over the earth.
(Gen 1 & 2; Eph 3:9, 6:12)
Salvation
Through Adam’s disobedience sin entered the human race and incurred the penalty of death, both physically and spiritually. Sin is the breaking of God’s laws and rebellion to the Creator. Sin has invaded all our faculties, actions, attitudes, and relationships to such extent that we are unable to save ourselves. We cannot even comprehend salvation without the light of Scripture by the power of the Holy Spirit through the application of the shed blood of Christ for our sin. Thus, salvation is all of God without human merit; and, all to the praise of the name of Christ. Scripture testifies to this in such terms as: unlimited free grace, Election, and human accountability. Therefore, there is no other name under Heaven whereby man and woman may be saved except through the name of Jesus Christ. In appreciation of this sovereign grace, by Him we offer our praise, thanksgiving, and all good.
(Ez 18:4, 20; Is 64:6; Rom 5:12; 1Jn 3:4; Jer 13:23; Rom 3:9 – 20; Acts 4:10 – 12; Eph 2: 8 – 10; Rom 9:11, 11:5 – 6; Heb 13:12 - 16)
Church
As God created Adam and Eve in relationship; so, He re-creates us spiritually in relationship. We have become a family and a body in relationship called, “The Church” to which Christ is the Head. The Bible commands us, “To stir up love and NOT to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” Heb 10:24 & 25
Entrance into this Church is by testimony of:
1. Repentance toward God - (A desire to turn from sin towards God even within a seemingly inability to do so; however, at the least starting with a sorrow for sin and a plea for forgiveness.) Mk 1:14 & 15; Acts 17:30; 20:21
2. Faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ -(A trusting in what Jesus has done for us as our confidence to enter God’s presence and blessing.) Acts 20:21; Eph 3:12
3. Born again by the “Baptism” of the Holy Spirit –(This is demonstrated by receiving the Word and confessing Christ verbally and symbolically in obedience to “Water Baptism” by immersion as a visible testimony thereto.) John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38, 41; Eph 4:4-6; 1Pet 1:23
4. Frequent “Filling” of the Holy Spirit – (This is demonstrated with power in a continuing commitment to:
A. One another by living out our Church Core Values and Care Grouping.
B. Agreement to the doctrinal statement.
C. Fellowship at the Lord’s Supper.
D. Personal spiritual growth bringing blessings to our families, places of employment, neighborhoods, and recreation activities.)
(Acts 2:4 - 12, 4:8, 31, 9:17, 13:9; Gal 3:27; Eph 5:18 – 21)
Meeting Places - Care Groups - Events
