A 14-Week Series
What We Believe
Our statement of beliefs is not meant to be an exhaustive statement of all doctrine, but rather a summary of the essential elements of the Christian faith laid out in Scripture. The affirmation of this statement holds our fellowship in unity and guards the purity of our church. While a full understanding and the ability to adequately articulate these beliefs are not required, the explicit rejection of any of these beliefs disqualifies one from membership.
The Bible
We believe that all “Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture.
We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings—historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical—as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible (66 books) in the original manuscripts is therefore without error. We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture and that the Canon is closed. We believe that the manuscript evidence we now possess represents fully authoritative copies of the original inerrant documents.
We believe both the Old Testament and New Testament center on the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work. We believe the Bible will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
Matthew 4:19; 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:1-14, 3:21; Exodus 24:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 14:37; Colossians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:89; Acts 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Psalm 119:9, 105; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Revelation 22:18-19
God the Father
We believe that God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, eternally exists in three distinct persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and that these three are one God, having precisely the same essence, and perfect attributes, and are equally worthy of worship and obedience.
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We believe that God is the perfect spiritual being, and every perfect attribute of God is entirely true of each person of the Trinity. We believe that the Triune God is perfectly independent, the eternal source of His being, not dependent on anything outside Himself. The Triune God is perfectly immutable, unchanging in any of His perfect attributes. We believe that the Triune God is perfectly eternal, transcending all limitations of time and space. We believe that the Triune God is perfectly omnipresent, transcending all limitations of space, and yet is present in every point of space with His whole being. We believe that the Triune God is perfectly omniscient, eternally knowing all things possible and actual.
We believe that the Triune God is perfectly omnipotent, able to do anything consistent with His essence. We believe that the Triune God is perfect in holiness, morally and ethically, without any stain of sin. We believe that the Triune God is perfectly true, perfectly gracious, perfectly just, perfectly good, perfect in love, perfect in mercy, and perfect in all His other attributes.
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We believe God the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding from anything. He is the invisible person from whom the Son is eternally begotten and from whom, along with the Son, the Spirit eternally proceeds. We believe the Father, through the Son and the Spirit, created all for His eternal purpose and His own glory. We believe the Father does not allow His sovereign will to be frustrated. We believe that the Father forms all people, just as a potter forms clay, creating us and giving us life. We believe the Father has graciously ordained the redemption of His people and lovingly makes provisions for accomplishing that redemption. We believe that through the Son, the Father judges all men and lays His perfect wrath on the unjust.
John 1:14, 18; 4:24; 14:16; 15:26; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 4:9; Genesis 1:1; Proverbs 16:4; Ephesians 1:3-6; 3:9-11; Psalms 33:8-11; Isaiah 14:27; 46:9-11; Daniel 4:35; Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 29:16; 64:8; Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Mark 13:20; John 17:1-2; Ephesians 1:4-5; Acts 17:31; John 3:36; Ephesians 5:6; Genesis 1:1, John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1-5; Matthew 28:18–19; Mark 12:29; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 20:27-29; Acts 5:3, 4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–5; Revelation 5:11-14; Psalm 90:2; John 5:26; Acts 17:25; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17; Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 32:40; Revelation 1:8; Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Isaiah 46:10; Matthew 6:8; 1 John 3:20; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 19:26; Exodus 15:11; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 4:8; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 86:15; 119:75; 145:3; Jeremiah 33:11; Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 2:7-9; 1 John 4:
God the Son
We believe the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy, and become the Redeemer of a lost world. To this end, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and received a human body and a sinless human nature. We believe that, in His humanity, He became and remained a perfect man, but sinless throughout His life. Yet, He retained His absolute deity along with all His divine perfections, being at the same time fully God and fully man. We believe that, in infinite love for the world, He perfectly accomplished His Father’s will and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb to take away the sin of the world, bearing the holy judgments against sin which the righteousness of God must impose. His death was therefore substitutionary in the most absolute sense—the just for the unjust—and by His death, He became the Savior of the world. We believe that, according to the Scriptures, He arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers. We believe He ascended into heaven in that glorified body, where at the right hand of the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. We believe that He became Head over all things to the church, which is His body, and in this ministry, He never ceases to intercede and advocate for the saved. He also currently dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord. We believe He will come again personally and visibly in power and glory to judge the living and the dead and to consummate His redemptive mission.
Luke 1:30–35; John 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:15; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:40; John 1:1–2, 10:30; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:8; 4:15; Romans 3:23–26; John 1:29; Hebrews 10:5–14; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; John 20:19-20; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49; Philippians 3:20–21; Hebrews 7:23-25; 10:12-14; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:20–23; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1; Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46
God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine third person of the Trinity. We believe He inspired the writers of Scripture. We believe He convicts the world concerning sin, concerning the need for righteousness, and concerning judgment upon the unrighteous. We believe He affects spiritual regeneration. We believe that at the moment of regeneration, He baptizes and indwells every believer into the Body of Christ. His indwelling presence is permanent in the life of every believer. We believe He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His indwelling presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of our eternal inheritance. We believe the Holy Spirit, as our instructor and guide, enables believers to understand His truth. We believe He exalts Christ and guides believers into exalting Christ. We believe He cultivates Christian character and bestows the spiritual gifts by which believers serve God through His church. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, prayer, evangelism, and service.
We believe the Christian life is supernatural and that the Lord continues to perform miracles. We also believe that many current displays of the gift of tongues and other such sign gifts are outside the purpose and guidelines outlined in Scripture for the normative operation of the established local church. Those who believe they possess the gift of tongues and other such sign gifts are welcome, provided they are willing to be a source of unity within our church body. Although we do not control personal, individual interactions with the Lord, the expression of tongues and other sign gifts are not to be overtly expressed at gatherings under the organization and authority of Sovereign Grace Bible Church’s leadership. We believe that Christians are called to seek the Holy Spirit at all times, who will build up the body of Christ for works of service and Godly living.
Matthew 28:18-19; 2 Peter 1:21; John 16:7-11; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5; John 14:16-17; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; John 14:25-26; 16:13; John 16:14-15; Luke 12:11-12; John 4:23-24; Acts 1:8; 4:31; 13:2; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 3:3; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 14; Ephesians 4:12-13; 5:18
God's Sovereignty
in Election
We believe that God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any way to be author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of moral beings.
Isaiah 46:9-11; Proverbs 16:33; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; James 1:13-15
Radical Corruption
We believe God originally created man and woman in His image and free from sin, but they willfully sinned against God and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God, and that, as a consequence, all human beings are born with a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are sinners by choice, and are under condemnation.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:1-7, 19; 6:5, 12; 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9; John 5:24; Romans 3:9-23; 5:12-19; 6:21, 23; 7:13; 8:6-7; 9:22; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; James 1:14-15; 1 John 3:14; Revelation 21:8
Accomplishing Grace
We believe regeneration is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and renewing their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness.
We believe salvation is conditioned upon genuine repentance and faith, which follow God’s gracious drawing of sinners through the gospel. Repentance occurs when a person, being made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin by the Holy Spirit, detests and forsakes it, humbling himself with godly sorrow and self-abhorrence, and endeavors to walk before God so as to please him in all things. Saving faith is the belief on God’s authority, of all that is revealed in His word concerning Christ, and accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life.
Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 3:8-10; Mark 1:15; John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 44, 65; Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 13:38-39; 17:30; 20:21; Romans 2:4-5; 3:21-28; 4:1-5; 4:17- 25; 8:1; 10:3-4, 14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 7:10-11 Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 11:6; James 2:14-26; Ezekiel 36:25-26; John 1:13; 3:3, 5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:1-6; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:1
Complete Atonement
We believe justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction of God’s wrath that Christ has made for the elect, not by anything done by them, but on account of Christ’s obedience, they receive His righteousness by grace alone through faith alone.
John 1:16; Acts 10:43; 13:39; Romans 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 5:1-21; 8:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:7-9; Titus 3:5-6; 19; 1 John 2:12
Enduring Perseverance & Preservation
We believe that those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves, they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Jeremiah 32:40; Matthew 13:20-21; John 8:31; 6:66-69; 10:27-30; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 1:11-14; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:12, 18
Church Membership
& Discipline
Any person professing faith in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, who is in accord with the faith and practice of this church, may be admitted to membership.
Realizing that the Bride of Christ is called to be pure and holy, and realizing that we are called to gently, lovingly, but firmly correct those in error, this church will conduct, when necessary, church discipline as outlined in Scripture.
Such actions would be directed towards any member known to be committing acts of unchristian conduct (according to Scripture) or who consistently upsets the unity of the church, therefore resulting in the defamation of both the Name of Christ and the witness of this church. We believe that church discipline, far from unloving, honors the name of Christ, protects the flock, educates and edifies the body, and ensures purity. We pursue it, hoping that an erring brother or sister in Christ will repent and be restored to proper fellowship with the Lord and this church.
It will be the responsibility of the Board of Elders to follow through on the action of Church Discipline, and the Board will make any recommendation brought before the church concerning an individual member of the Elders.
Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-16; Matthew 18.15-20; 1 Corinthians 5.1-5, 11; Galatians 6.1-5; 1 Timothy 1.20; Titus 3.10-11; 1 Peter 4.10-11, 17
Biblical Elders & Deacons
The Elders shall be men whose lives and characters correspond with Scriptural standards and entirely agree with this church's doctrinal statement. If at any time he departs from these essentials, he automatically disqualifies himself as an Elder.
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Responsibilities of Elders:
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The Elders shall, first and foremost, devote their time to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
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Their duties shall be to share with the Lead Pastor responsibilities for the spiritual welfare of the church, to aid in administering the ordinances, and to exercise general oversight of the policies and work of the church's spiritual life.
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The Elders' duties include protecting the church's doctrine from false teaching and protecting the congregation from false teachers.
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The Elders will also be responsible for mutually encouraging one another in their walks of faith and ministry work.
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The Elders will hold one another accountable in spiritual matters.
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The Elders will oversee all church discipline for church members.
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The Elders are responsible for developing and casting the church's ministry vision, as well as overseeing its execution.
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The Deacons and Deaconesses must be spiritually qualified to hold office. The Deacons and Deaconesses shall be ready to assist the Elders in any service that supports and promotes the ministry of the Word and Prayer, new and existing ministries of the Church, and the care of the congregation's members: working for the unity of the body, supporting the Elders, and aiding the Elders in the visitation needs of the congregation.
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Acts 16:1-4; 4:23; 20:28; Romans 16:1-2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-25; Titus 1:5-9, 11; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17; James 3:1; 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:12
Baptism & The Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. When possible, baptism is an obligatory act of obedience for every believer, wherein a person is immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as a sign of their fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ and the remission of their sins. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is in no sense a sacrifice but was instituted by Christ to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a pledge and renewal of their communion with him and each other. We believe these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:26-29; 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-31; 12:13
Angels, Demons, & the End Times
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We also believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; 25:31-46; Mark 14:62; John 5:28-29; 14:3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 2:6-11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:12-28; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15
