Bibliology (The Scriptures)
Unique Inspiration
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and the New Testaments are God’s only written revelation to man given to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21). This revelation, which we call the Bible, is an objective, propositional revelation (2 Corinthians 1:13), verballyinspired (2 Timothy 3:16) in every word (Matthew 5:18; 24:35), inerrant and infallible in the original documents (John 17:17; Proverbs 30:5). We affirm that the Bible alone constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Interpretation
We believe that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship (2 Peter 1:20-21). The Holy Spirit superintended the human authors in such a way that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing and the circumstances into which they were writing, the human authors
composed and recorded God’s revelation without error in the whole or in the part. We, therefore, believe that the author’s intended meaning of a passage of Scripture is the passage’s true and authoritative interpretation; and that meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently and prayerfully studies under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14-15; 1 John 2:20). The grammatico-historical method enabled by the Spirit is the interpretive method to which we are committed.
Theology Proper (God)
The Trinity
We believe that there is but one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Jeremiah 10:10; Corinthians 8:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), the creator of all things (uncreated; Genesis 1:1-31; John 1:1-3;
Ephesians 3:9) who is eternal (infinite [Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 11:17]), invisible
(immaterial [Romans 1:12: Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17]), immortal (1 Timothy 1:17), and holy
(perfect in all His attributes [Leviticus 11:44-45; Isaiah 6:3]). Scripture confirms God is one and
simultaneously describes God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (triune, i.e., one in essence,
eternally existing in three persons [Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 1:1; 10:30; 2 Corinthians
13:14; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 5:7-8]).
God the Father
Divinity
We believe that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according
to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is the Creator of all things (Genesis
1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9). As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler of the universe, He is sovereign in
creation, providence, judgment and redemption (Psalm 103;19; Romans 11:36). He has decreed for His
own glory all things that come to pass (Ephesians 1:11) and continually upholds, directs, and governs all
creatures and events (1 Chronicles 29:11). In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin
(Habakkuk 1:13), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (1 Peter 1:17;
Revelation 20:12). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would redeem and
effectually call to salvation (Ephesians 1:4-6).
Fatherhood
We believe that God the Father’s fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His
relationship with mankind. In the Trinity, He is expressly the authority to which the Son submits and the
One who the Son exists to please. As Creator He is Father to all men (Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual
Father by adoption only to those who believe (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians
4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9).
God the Son
Divinity
We believe that God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity possesses all the divine excellencies and is
coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9). We affirm that it is by
necessity through the Son that the Father created all things and that it is through Him that all things
continue in existence and in operation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2-3).
Incarnation
We believe that God the Son became incarnate (became man) (John 1:1, 14) in obedience to the Father
to fulfill His will (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 17:4; Hebrews 10:5-10), and that His incarnation was necessary
to reveal the Father, redeem men, and physically rule over God’s millennial kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah
9:6; John 1:29; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 1:18-21). In His incarnation, the eternal
existing Son surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in
degree or kind; moreover, He took on all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the
one and only God-man (Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9).
Death
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood
and sacrificial death on the cross and that His death was voluntary (John 10:15-18), substitutionary
(Romans 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21), propitiatory (Romans 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2), and redemptive (1
Peter 2:24; 3:18). It is through this act that the believing sinner is freed from the punishment, the
penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin; and that he is declared righteous, given
eternal life, and adopted into the family of God.
Resurrection
We believe that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39), God
confirmed the deity of His Son (Romans 1:4), the justification of believers (Romans 4:25), the guarantee
of a future resurrection life for all believers (John 5:26-29; 14:19; Romans 6:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20,
23), and His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:32-36; Romans 8:34), where He now
mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1).
The Church
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of His Body, the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23;
Colossians 1:18), and is the Great Shepherd of our souls (Hebrews 13:20) and the Chief Shepherd above
all human shepherds of the flock, the church (1 Peter 5:4).
Second Coming
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to receive the church, which is His Body, unto Himself at the
rapture, and when He returns with His church in glory, He will establish His millennial kingdom on earth
(Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20) and will reign over the world from the throne of
David (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom God
will judge all mankind, the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-23; Acts 10:42; 17:31), all
whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20:11-15).
God the Holy Spirit
Divinity
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, the third Person of the Trinity, who is eternal,
uncreated (underived), possessing all the attributes of personality (intellect [1 Corinthians 2:10-13],
emotions [Ephesians 4:30], will [I Corinthians 12:11], etc.) and deity (eternality [Hebrews 9:14],
omnipresence [Psalm 139:7-10], omniscience [Isaiah 40:13-14], truthfulness [John 16:13], etc.). In all of
His attributes He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19;
Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is the One who executes the divine
will with respect to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2), the virgin
conception (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35), the written revelation (Jeremiah 31:31 [cf. Hebrews 10:15];
2 Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7).
Regeneration
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign Agent is regeneration, baptizing all
believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs,
empowers them for service (Romans 8:9-14; 15:13) and seals them unto the day of redemption
(Ephesians 1:13). He is the One who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John
16:7-9); and glorifies and Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14) and transforms believers into the image of Christ
(2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
Revelation
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher, who guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13;
2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 2:20, 27). Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
from the moment of salvation, and God commands all those born of the Spirit to be filled with
(controlled by) the Spirit (Romans 8:11-14; Ephesians 5:18).
The Church
We believe that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church. We believe, in this respect, that
God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the edification of the saints today (1
Corinthians 12:4-14) and that the church would grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even
Christ (Ephesians 4:3-16). We affirm that the Holy Spirit is the sovereign God and therefore is not limited
in any way to work as God chooses.
Sanctity of Life
Upholding the sanctity and dignity of life for people of all ages, from conception to natural death, is an
integral part of our purposes. In the Image and Likeness of God Mankind was created in the image and
likeness of God God created man in His own image, after His own likeness, and He gave man dominion
over the earth. Genesis 1:26-27
Life At Conception
Natural life begins at the time of conception in the mother’s womb. God knows us as individuals in our
mother’s womb. In the womb we grow and mature until we are prepared for birth. Before I formed you
in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).
Did not He who made me in the womb make them: Did not the same One fashion us in the womb: Job
31:15 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary; that the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41
Life In The Womb
Terminating life in the womb is not acceptable. In the womb babies are recognized as distinct individuals
who are in the process of development. There they will grow and mature in preparation for birth. As you
do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. Ecclesiastes 11:5. Because he did not kill
me from the womb, That my mother might have been my grave, And her womb always enlarged with
me. Jeremiah 20:17.
Protecting the sanctity of Life
God will deal with those who do their best to protect the sanctity of life. Then the king of Egypt spoke to
the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he
said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it
is a son, then you will kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God,
and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of
Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male
children alive”?
Long Life
It is God’s intention that people live out their full days on this earth, with a full, satisfied lifespan. He
purposes to take care of his sons and daughters in their old age and He intends on us doing the same for
them. He shall call up Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and
honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16 Even to your old
age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and
will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4. Do no cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my
strength fails. Psalm 71:9. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To
declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:14-15.