Introduction
As commissioned by our Lord (Matt. 28:18-20), we strive to build each person in their faith through essential biblical teachings (1 Peter 5:1-4), which will provide solid foundations and discernment for wise and faithful living (2 Tim. 3:16 - 4:5).
Confessions
The Church of Jesus Christ is confessional by nature (Matt. 16:13-20) and spiritual in practice (Rom. 12:1-8). Therefore, the following beliefs are those we stand upon, as they are the time-tested truths Jesus, His apostles, and the Reformers lived and died for.
The Bible
The Holy Bible is God’s inerrant (without original textual error) and infallible (without moral error) Word. Biblical inerrancy is the belief that the Bible "is without error or fault in all its teaching"; or, at least, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact". The doctrine of Scripture’s infallibility is based on an understanding of God’s perfection of character. God’s Word is “perfect, refreshing the soul” (Ps. 19:7) because God Himself is perfect.
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The Bible is a closed canon and there are no new revelations given that are on par with Scripture (Heb. 1:1,2; Rev. 22:18, 19). The Bible is the ultimate authority in doctrine, correction, instruction, and represents God Himself (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). It is sufficient in its authority, exclusive in its morality, and preserved forever (Is. 55:11; Jn. 17:17; Ps. 119:89).
God (the Trinity)
The doctrine of the Trinity means there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). He is fully sovereign and governs every aspect of existence (material and immaterial).
Man, and the Fall
Created in the image of God and given the stewardship of ruling the earth and all living things (Gen. 1:26-28), mankind is God’s crowning achievement. He is a little lower than the angels (Heb. 2:7) yet stands as the apple of God’s eye (Zech. 2:8). He is created from the dust of the ground and endowed with spirit and soul (Gen. 2:7).
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In the Garden of Eden, mankind existed in a state of innocence until they fell; Eve by deception and Adam by deliberately choosing to disobey God (Gen. 3:1-8). Their disobedience introduced sin and death (separation from God) into the world. As a result, every person inherits that spiritual disconnection (Rom. 5:12; Is. 48:8; Ps. 58:3).
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Mankind is now born separated from God, blinded by sin and death, and is incapable of doing anything of spiritual value in God’s eyes (Is. 64:6; Rom. 3:23). All are born “dead in trespasses and sins. . .and [are] by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3). No one can choose God because no one wants God (Rom. 8:7). Our wills are in bondage to sin, rendering us incapable of seeking God. That is the natural state of man.
Salvation
Because all are born dead in sin, no one can choose God. Salvation, therefore, is directly and completely the result of God’s sovereign grace (Jn. 6:44; Rom. 9:16; Eph. 1:4). God chooses whom He wills (Rom. 9:18) and endows them with the gift of faith to believe (Eph. 2:5). Upon being justified by faith and adopted into the household of God (3:28; Eph. 2:19), they are empowered by the Spirit for holy living and kept secure in their relation to God because of Jesus’ eternal Priesthood (1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 7:23-25; 9:11,12). Once a child of God, always a child of God.
The Church
Upon salvation, saints are spiritually united into the ecclesia, the church. They are “baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13) and become “members of the household of God: (Eph. 2:19). They are sealed by the Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21, 22; Eph. 1:13, 14) and begin the three-stage process of their salvation, beginning at justification and carried through sanctification, until they arrive at glorification (Rom. 8:28-30). This process is guaranteed because of what Christ has done at the Cross (Col. 2:11-15) and because of what He’s doing at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 8:1-6; 1 Jn. 2:1).
Composed of individual members, the Church edifies itself through the various functions Christ sovereignly assigned to them (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-26; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10, 11). Spiritual growth and maturity are reached through the process of discipleship, following the examples of Christ and Paul (Lk. 9:23; Jn. 12:24-26; Acts 14:21-23; 20:17-35; 1 Cor. 4:14-17; Phil. 2:19-24). This, we are all commanded to follow (1 Cor. 11:1).
Conclusion
We stand on the Rock of offense (1 Peter 2:8).
We stand on the fundamentals listed above and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 5).
We stand on the shoulders of the Reformers, who valiantly taught and died for these truths.
We stand (Eph. 6:13).