WHAT WE BELIEVE
What we believe really does matter. But where do our beliefs come from? In our generation, many well-meaning people determine their belief system by asking, “Well, what’s right for us?” or “What works for us?” or even “What makes the greatest number of people happy?”
At St. Paul's Bible Church we have sought to determine our core convictions by asking instead, “What does God say is true? What has God revealed about truth in His Word, the Bible?” In asking these questions, we find ourselves standing on the shoulders of many godly truth-seekers from past generations, especially from that era known as the Reformation.
At St. Paul's Bible Church we have sought to determine our core convictions by asking instead, “What does God say is true? What has God revealed about truth in His Word, the Bible?” In asking these questions, we find ourselves standing on the shoulders of many godly truth-seekers from past generations, especially from that era known as the Reformation.
Statement Of Faith
The Word of God
We believe the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writing and that they are of supreme authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God
We believe in one God (1 Corinthians 8:6), Creator of all things (Revelation 4:11), infinitely perfect (Psalm 18:30) and eternally existing in three persons --- Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man (John 1:1), having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18,23). We believe in His sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21), in His miracles (John 3:2), in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (1 Peter 2:24-25), in His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and in His ascension (Acts 1:9-11) to the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), where He is now our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and Advocate (1 John 2:1).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-9). We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14) and to indwell (1 Corinthians 3:16), guide (Romans 8:14), instruct (John 14:26) and empower the believer for godly living and service (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death (Roman 5:12), but also spiritual death which is separation from God (Romans 6:23), that all human beings are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:10,23) and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed (Ephesians 2:2-3).
Salvation
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe (Romans 3:24-25. Hebrews 9:22). We believe that salvation is entirely of God's grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ and that only those who are born of the Holy Spirit become children of God (John 1:12-13, John 3:5).
The Church
We believe that the church, according to Scripture, is comprised of all persons who, through the saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are thus united together in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23). We believe in the command of our Lord Jesus Christ that the gospel be preached to all the world (Mark 16:15). Believers are to be baptized and in fellowship with one another in worship, edification and service. We believe in the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Last Things
We believe in the personal return to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and in final establishment of His Kingdom in a new creation (Revelation 21:1-4). We believe in the resurrection of both the just (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and the unjust (Acts 24:15). The just are saved unto the resurrection of life (1 Corinthians 15:52-53) and the unjust are lost unto eternal punishment (Revelation 20:6,14-15).
We believe the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writing and that they are of supreme authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God
We believe in one God (1 Corinthians 8:6), Creator of all things (Revelation 4:11), infinitely perfect (Psalm 18:30) and eternally existing in three persons --- Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man (John 1:1), having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18,23). We believe in His sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21), in His miracles (John 3:2), in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (1 Peter 2:24-25), in His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and in His ascension (Acts 1:9-11) to the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), where He is now our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and Advocate (1 John 2:1).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-9). We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14) and to indwell (1 Corinthians 3:16), guide (Romans 8:14), instruct (John 14:26) and empower the believer for godly living and service (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death (Roman 5:12), but also spiritual death which is separation from God (Romans 6:23), that all human beings are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:10,23) and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed (Ephesians 2:2-3).
Salvation
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe (Romans 3:24-25. Hebrews 9:22). We believe that salvation is entirely of God's grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ and that only those who are born of the Holy Spirit become children of God (John 1:12-13, John 3:5).
The Church
We believe that the church, according to Scripture, is comprised of all persons who, through the saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are thus united together in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23). We believe in the command of our Lord Jesus Christ that the gospel be preached to all the world (Mark 16:15). Believers are to be baptized and in fellowship with one another in worship, edification and service. We believe in the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Last Things
We believe in the personal return to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and in final establishment of His Kingdom in a new creation (Revelation 21:1-4). We believe in the resurrection of both the just (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and the unjust (Acts 24:15). The just are saved unto the resurrection of life (1 Corinthians 15:52-53) and the unjust are lost unto eternal punishment (Revelation 20:6,14-15).
