Through their years of study, training, teaching, and experience, the elders have come to convictions regarding major theological truths of the Bible. Listed below are some of those major truths in a simple and concise form. These are the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, and reflect the heart of the teaching and preaching ministry of the local church.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the written revelation of God, being fully inspired, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed. It is the only authority for all faith and practice (Psalm 19:1-14; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 30:8; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:34-35; John 10:35; John 16:12-13; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Luke 24:27/, 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).
GOD
There is only one true and living God Who is perfect, personal, and infinite, and He exists eternally in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26; Psalm 139:8; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4; John 4:24; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-5; Revelation 1:4-6). God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity. He orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is sovereign in providence and redemption (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:33). He is the sole Creator of the universe, which He accomplished from no pre-existing substance, but by the creative power of His spoken Word (Genesis 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1-3). He is Immutable (Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8), Omnipotent (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 33:6; Romans 4:17; Isaiah 44:24; Hebrews 1:3), Omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:23; Psalm 139:1-24) and Omniscient (Isaiah 40:13; Romans 8:28; Psalm 104:24; Matthew 6:25-33; 1 Corinthians 4:5).
JESUS
Jesus, God the Son, is the second Person of the Trinity, possessing all the divine excellencies and is co-equal with the Father. While completely God, He is true man at the same time (Philippians 2:5-8; Micah 5:2; Colossians 2:9; John 14:9-11; 1 John 5:20; Jude 25). He is the virgin born Son of the living God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-25; Luke 1:26-35), and, while here on earth, was God in human flesh (John 1:1, 3, 14, 18; 1 John 1:3). He lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15) and died on the cross in our place as a sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:8). He rose physically from the grave (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Hebrews 9:24-28), ascended to sit at the right hand of God to intercede on every believer's behalf (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16), and is returning to receive His church and rule and reign forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is a divine Person, eternal (Hebrews 9:14) and co-equal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:2-6). The Holy Spirit:
- Convicts of sin (John 16:8-11)
- Glorifies JESUS CHRIST (John 15:26)
- Regenerates the unsaved (John 3:5-8)
- Indwells the believer (John 14:16-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- Comforts the afflicted (John 14:16, 26)
- Equips the saints with gifts (Romans 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12)
- Sanctifies (Romans 15:16)
- Unifies the body (Ephesians 4:3)
- Assures us of our salvation (1 John 3:24)
- Teaches us the Word of God (John 14:17, 26)
We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And the evidence of His presence in our lives will be the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
MAN
The Bible teaches that man is by nature a sinner (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3). Consequently, he is a member of the fallen race (Romans 5:18-19).
SALVATION
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation does not come as the result of something we have done but rather because of what God has done. It is a free gift that cannot be earned or deserved (Romans 6:23). We receive that "gift" by faith in the Lord JESUS CHRIST at our baptism into union with JESUS.
BAPTISM
The Bible teaches that baptism is the immersion in water of a penitent believer. In the New Testament church, every believer was commanded to be baptized (Acts 2:38). Baptism pictures and embodies the following:
- Cleansing and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16)
- The New Birth (John 3:5)
- Circumcision of the Heart (Colossians 2:11-12)
- The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-5)*
- Salvation (1 Peter 3:21)
*Immersion in water is the only physical act that pictures this so beautifully and accurately. Baptism is not an option for the true believer. It is an acid test of our true faith in the Lord JESUS CHRIST. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:15)
ETERNAL SECURITY
The Bible teaches that once a person is saved he/she is sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and is secure in Christ. The Bible does not teach security in a place called Heaven. (A third of the angels fell from Heaven.) Rather, it teaches security in a person - JESUS CHRIST. JESUS said, "No one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28) However, the Bible does not teach unconditional security. There are Biblical warnings against falling away (see Hebrews 6, for example).
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the body for the accomplishment of the Lord's mandate to the church (1 Corinthians 12:11; 14:26b; Matthew 28:18-20). The exercise or use of any spiritual gift must be operated in accordance with Scriptural principles and under the oversight of the eldership of the local church.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Bible teaches that JESUS established two ordinances: The Lord's Supper (Communion) and Baptism. Only contrite, repentant believers who have carefully examined themselves should partake of this supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). The Bible does not set a prescribed time for observing this supper, but we make it available each Sunday (Acts 20:7), on a weekly basis.
*JESUS simply said, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
The Bible teaches that JESUS will return to earth and gather His church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:11-13). This will occur at a time when no one expects it (2 Peter 3:10). We have the Lord's Word on it (John 14:1-3).
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
The Bible teaches that the local church is to be governed by a plurality of godly leaders called elders (1 Timothy 5:17). The qualifications for these men are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and in Titus 1:6-9. The responsibility of the elders is to shepherd the flock of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-3). The responsibility of the believers is to obey the elders and submit to them in love (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7, 17). Some elders may have the responsibility of preaching and teaching in a local fellowship (1 Timothy 5:17).
THE CHURCH
The Bible teaches that all who place their faith in the Lord JESUS CHRIST are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into one, united spiritual body (1 Corinthians 12:13). The head of this body is JESUS (Ephesians 5:23b; Colossians 1:18). The task of this "body" of believers is to make disciples in all the world by winning the lost to Christ and equipping them for ministry (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:28-29).
WORSHIP AND PRAISE
The Bible teaches that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3). In fact, we are commanded to praise the Lord and to worship Him (Psalm 150). Our worship and praise to God may express itself in many forms: clapping and shouting (Psalm 47:1), singing (Psalm 95:1-2), bowing and kneeling (Psalm 95:6), lifting hands (Psalm 63:4), or even by playing musical instruments (Psalm 150:3-5). Worship is the pouring out of all that we are in adoration to Him for all that He is.
CHURCH DISCIPLINE
The Bible teaches that we are to follow the steps JESUS gave in Matthew 18:15-20 in the case of a brother or sister guilty of sin. All church discipline should be redemptive and restorative in nature (Galatians 6:1-2). Sins such as immorality are to be dealt with lovingly and precisely (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). Believers are instructed in Scripture to judge other believers (1 Corinthians 5:12). And they are to be obedient and submissive to the spiritual leaders God has placed in the church (Hebrews 13:17).
The steps of church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-20 are as follows:
STEP ONE - You have first-hand knowledge of sin in someone's life. You go to that person privately and confront him/her (Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3). If he/she repents, you have won that person back.
If there is no repentance . . .
STEP TWO - You go back and confront the person again with two or three others who have witnessed this sin and can verify it (Matthew 18:16; Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Timothy 5:19). If the person repents, you have won that person back.
If therer is still no repentance . . .
STEP THREE - You take this matter before the leaders of the church (Matthew 18:17; 1 Timothy 5:19-20). If then there is repentance, you have won the person back.
If there is still no repentance . . .
STEP FOUR - You withdraw fellowship from this person (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). If then there is repentance, you have won the person back.
If there is still no repentance . . .
STEP FIVE - Have nothing to do with that person (Romans 16:17-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6). You have done everything you can do. (Ezekiel 33:7-9)