WE BELIEVE

the holy scriptures

we believe that the bible is god’s written revelation to man, given to us by the holy spirit (1corinthians 2:7 142 peter 1:20 21).

we believe that the bible is an objective, propositional revelation (1 thessalonians 2:131 corinthians 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 timothy 3:16), absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and god breathed.

god

we believe that there is one living and true god (deuteronomy 6:4isaiah 45:5 71 corinthians 8:4), an infinite, all knowing spirit (john 4:24), perfect in all his attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three persons—father, son, and holy spirit (matthew 28:192 corinthians 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience.

man

we believe that man was directly and immediately created by god in his image and likeness. man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self determination, and moral responsibility to god (genesis 2:715 25james 3:9).

we believe that in adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and word of god, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of god; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to god apart from divine grace. with no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. man’s salvation is thereby wholly of god’s grace through the redemptive work of our lord jesus christ (genesis 2:16 173:1 19john 3:36romans 3:236:231 corinthians 2:14ephesians 2:1 31 timothy 2:13 141 john 1:8).

we believe that because all men were in adam, a nature corrupted by adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, jesus christ being the only exception. all men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration (psalm 14:1 3jeremiah 17:9romans 3:9 18235:1012).

salvation

we believe that salvation is wholly of god by grace on the basis of the redemption of jesus christ, the merit of his shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (john 1:12ephesians 1:72:8 101 peter 1:18 19).

regeneration

we believe that regeneration is a supernatural work of the holy spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given (john 3:3 7titus 3:5). it is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the holy spirit through the instrumentality of the word of god (john 5:24), when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the holy spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (1 corinthians 6:19 20ephesians 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the holy spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the word of god (ephesians 5:17 21philippians 2:12bcolossians 3:162 peter 1:4 10).

election

we believe that election is the act of god by which, before the foundation of the world, he chose in christ those whom he graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (romans 8:28 30ephesians 1:4 112 thessalonians 2:132 timothy 2:101 peter 1:1 2).

we believe that sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust christ as savior and lord (ezekiel 18:233233:11john 3:18 19365:40romans 9:22 232 thessalonians 2:10 12revelation 22:17). nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what god determines. all whom the father calls to himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the father will receive (john 6:37 4044acts 13:48james 4:8).

we believe that the unmerited favor that god grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own part nor to god’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of his sovereign grace and mercy (ephesians 1:4 7titus 3:4 71 peter 1:2).

justification

we believe that justification before god is an act of god (romans 8:33) by which he declares righteous those who, through faith in christ, repent of their sins (luke 13:3acts 2:383:1911:18romans 2:42 corinthians 7:10isaiah 55:6 7) and confess him as sovereign lord (romans 10:9 101 corinthians 12:32 corinthians 4:5philippians 2:11). this righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man (romans 3:204:6) and involves the imputation of our sins to christ (colossians 2:141 peter 2:24) and the imputation of christ’s righteousness to us (1 corinthians 1:302 corinthians 5:21). by this means god is enabled to “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in jesus” (romans 3:26).

sanctification

we believe that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto god by justification and is therefore declared to be holy and is therefore identified as a saint. this sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. this sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition (acts 20:321 corinthians 1:2306:112 thessalonians 2:13hebrews 2:113:110:101413:121 peter 1:2).

we believe that there is also by the work of the holy spirit a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification. through obedience to the word of god and the empowering of the holy spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of god, becoming more and more like our lord jesus christ (john 17:17,19romans 6:1 222 corinthians 3:181 thessalonians 4:3 45:23).

security

we believe that all the redeemed once saved are kept by god’s power and are thus secure in christ forever (john 5:246:37 4010:27 30romans 5:9 108:131 391 corinthians 1:4 8ephesians 4:30hebrews 7:2513:51 peter 1:5jude 24).

we believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of god’s word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (romans 6:15 2213:13 14galatians 5:1325 26titus 2:11 14).

separation

we believe that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout the old and new testaments, and that the scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days apostasy and worldliness shall increase (2 corinthians 6:14-7:12 timothy 3:1 5).

we believe that out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of god granted to us and because our glorious god is so worthy of our total consecration, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to god and so as not to bring reproach upon our lord and savior. we also believe that separation from all religious apostasy and worldly and sinful practices is commanded of us by god (romans 12:1 21 corinthians 5:9 132 corinthians 6:14-7:11 john 2:15 172 john 9 11).

we believe that we should be separated unto our lord jesus christ (2 thessalonians 1:11 12hebrews 12:1 2) and affirm that the christian life is a life of obedient righteousness that reflects the teaching of the beatitudes (matthew 5:2 12) and a continual pursuit of holiness (romans 12:122 corinthians 7:1hebrews 12:14titus 2:11 141 john 3:1 10).

the church

we believe that all who place their faith in jesus christ are immediately placed by the holy spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 corinthians 12:12 13), the bride of christ (2 corinthians 11:2ephesians 5:23 32revelation 19:7 8), of which christ is the head (ephesians 1:224:15colossians 1:18).

we believe that the formation of the church, the body of christ, began on the day of pentecost (acts 2:1 2138 47) and will be completed at the coming of christ for his own at the rapture (1 corinthians 15:51 521 thessalonians 4:13 18).

we believe that the church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by christ, made up of all born again believers in this present age (ephesians 2:11 3:6). the church is distinct from israel (1 corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age (ephesians 3:1 65:32).

we believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the new testament scriptures (acts 14:232720:1728galatians 1:2philippians 1:11 thessalonians 1:12 thessalonians 1:1) and that the members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 corinthians 11:18 20hebrews 10:25).

we believe that the one supreme authority for the church is christ (1 corinthians 11:3ephesians 1:22colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through his sovereignty as found in the scriptures. the biblically designated officers serving under christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor teachers; acts 20:28ephesians 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 timothy 3:1 13titus 1:5 91 peter 5:1 5). we teach that these leaders lead or rule as servants of christ (1 timothy 5:17 22) and have his authority in directing the church. the congregation is to submit to their leadership (hebrews 13:717).

we believe that there were two kinds of gifts given the early church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles’ message (hebrews 2:3 42 corinthians 12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. with the new testament revelation now complete, scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man’s message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 corinthians 13:8 12). miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited by satan so as to deceive even believers (1 corinthians 13:13-14:12revelation 13:13 14). the only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (romans 12:6 8). we believe that no one possesses the gift of healing today but that god does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with his own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted (luke 18:1 6john 5:7 92 corinthians 12:6 10james 5:13 161 john 5:14 15).

we believe that the lord’s supper is the commemoration and proclamation of his death until he comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self examination (1 corinthians 11:28 32). we also believe that whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of christ, the lord’s supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with his people (1 corinthians 10:16).

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    September 6, 2013 / 7:37 am

    Love this! Can I place it on my blog?

  2. October 27, 2014 / 12:53 am

    I cannot even begin to tell you how refreshing it is to see another blogger that has the same beliefs as me! Sometimes I feel like I am the only one out there. So encouraging! 🙂

  3. aleandtere
    Author
    October 27, 2014 / 10:43 am

    Mikela, Thank you for your kind words. I too find it refreshing to meet other believers!

  4. February 12, 2015 / 2:49 pm

    This is great! Thank you for sharing and being open & honest about it!

  5. aleandtere
    Author
    June 3, 2016 / 11:15 am

    Yes of course!

  6. aleandtere
    Author
    June 3, 2016 / 11:15 am

    Thank you Cambria for your kind words!

  7. July 14, 2016 / 12:20 am

    Hello! This is my first time on your blog and I just want to say this took my breath away. For years I have been struggling to figure out more about the Lord and my relationship with Him. I feel lost in where to begin, but for the first time when reading this you have written, I’m starting to understand a lot more than I ever have. Thank you…thank you again!

  8. Teresa
    Author
    July 27, 2016 / 11:00 am

    Brittney,
    Thank you for leaving this comment. I sent you an email. Please let me know if you’ve received it, I would love to stay in touch!

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