We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8), that there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24), and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), which initiates the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54). We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father, because He cannot overlook the sin of His children. 5:2728; 15:19; 19:49;Mark10:59; Rom. We teach that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. We teach that sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; Romans 9:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17). We believe that the changes in the dispensational dealings of God with people depend on changed conditions or situations in which they are successively found with relation to God, and that these changes are the result of human failures and the judgments of God. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Statement of Faith and Educational Purpose - Wheaton College (John 20:20; Phil. 24:1521; Rev. 6:19; Heb. Statement of Faith | Gateway Church He will thus introduce the millennial age; bind Satan and place him in the abyss; lift the curse that now rests on the whole creation; restore Israel to her own land and give her the realization of Gods covenant promises; and bring the whole world to the knowledge of God. Through sin, and as a consequence ofthatsin,all humanitylosttheirspiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins,andbecame subject to the power of the devil. 8:1923; 11:2527; 1 Tim. As a result, all people are totally unable to please God. Articles of Faith Usage & Questions Download a PDF version God This site uses cookies to provide you with more responsive and personalized service and to collect certain information about your use of the site. (Acts 4:8, 31; Rom. Doctrinal Statement - Grace School of Theology 5:21; Gal. If you have questions about how you can become a Christian, or want help in knowing how to live the Christian life, please get in contact with us. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. We teach that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Romans 4:25; 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1). We teach that, because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adams sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. 11:26), We believe that all believers are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit, that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12). 3:15; Rev. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded Gods Word to man (2 Peter 1:20-21) without error in the whole or in the part (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16). 6:1113; 8:2, 514; Gal. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writingshistorical, poetical, doctrinal, and propheticalas appeared in the original manuscripts. provides unifying language to explain complex doctrinal truths. He is the first cause of everything else. (Heb. 1:12; Heb. We teach 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 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9). 1:46), We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless spiritual beings known as angels; that one, Lucifer, son of the morningthe highest in ranksinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan; that a great company of the angels followed him in his moral fall, some of whom became demons and are active as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes, while others who fell are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. (Isa. We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. God created them male (man) and female (woman). Menandwomenaresexually different but have equal personal dignity. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2), the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), the written revelation (2 Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7). This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). 8:1825; 1 Cor. 1:21), We believe that God is the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of all things visible and invisible, who eternally exists in three Personsthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. 20:13), We believe that at death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence. Such abilities and confirmatory signs, wonders, and miracles, which centered on individual apostles and prophets, ceased with the passing of these foundational offices and the closing of the era of authoritative New Testament revelation. We believe, also, that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying in our place; and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church, nor all the churches that have existed since the days of the apostles can add in the very least degree to the value of the blood or to the merit of the finished work wrought for us by Him who united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity. Join us to study God's Word with our daily devotional. 18:723; 20:1021; Deut. The Spirit had an active role in creation and in the inspiration of the Scriptures. We teach that Jesus Christ will return to receive the church, which is His Body, unto Himself at the rapture, and returning with His church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20). Good works are the proper evidence and fruit of regeneration (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 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 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10). Christs death satisfied the demands of Gods justice and Christs perfect life satisfied the demands of Gods holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:4: Ephesians 4:4-6; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:9-10, 26; Matthew 28:18-19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 4:11, The Bible, including both the Old and the New Testaments, is a divine revelation, the original autographs of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit.1. The Scriptures We teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). 3:22), We believe that when an unregenerate person exercises the faith in Christ that is illustrated and described as such in the New Testament, that person passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life, and from the old creation into the new being justified from all things, accepted before the Father as Christ His Son is accepted, loved as Christ is loved, having their place and portion linked to Him and one with Him forever. (Matt. All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural. We teach that there is but one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), an infinite, all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three PersonsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)each equally deserving worship and obedience. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Doctrinal Statement | Emmaus Bible College All Rights Reserved. We teach 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). 28:1819; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. Miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even believers (1 Corinthians 13:13-14:12; Revelation 13:13-14). To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts. Election. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20). We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom God will judge all mankind (John 5:22-23): As the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), the Head of His Body the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18), and the coming universal King, who will reign on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31-33), He is the final Judge of all who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31). We teach that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost, when He came from the Father as promised by Christ (John 14:16-17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ, which is His church (1 Corinthians 12:13). While God may perform miracles in every age as He wills, the ultimate promise of deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. (Lev. Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. God Is Sovereign Creator. 3:23). To this end He was born of the virgin and received a human body and a sinless human nature. 11:9; Ezek. The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign. We teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. 1:1012; Heb. 4:1318; Titus 2:1114), We believe that the translation of the church will be followed by the fulfillment of Israels seventieth week, during which the church, the body of Christ, will be in heaven. Some men and women are called to remain single; some are called to marriage, which is a one flesh union between one man and one woman intended to end only upon a spouses death. God is triune, one Being eternally existing in three co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; these divine Persons, together possessing the same eternal perfections, work inseparably and harmoniously in creating, sustaining, and redeeming the world. Believers are called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that they will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three personsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36). We affirm our belief in one God, infinite Spirit, creator, and sustainer of all things, who exists eternally in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy . This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world (Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7). Dig deeper with Standing Firm, a resource written by Moody professors that breaks down and expands on 11 theological topics from Moody's doctrinal statement. 3:20; 1 Thess. Sexual Redemption. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation. Are brief, general statements of faith harmful or helpful? Learn how you can know God personally. One Foundation | Grand Canyon University | GCU 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. Therefore, while the standing of believers in Christ is perfect, their present state is no more perfect than their experience in daily life. 26:28; John 3:718; Rom. Sin Demands a Penalty. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. God the Father Believers (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10), Living inhabitants of the earth at His glorious return (Matthew 25:31-46), Unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15).