Statement of Faith
This Statement of Faith sets forth the basic doctrine which we hold to be foundational truths consistent with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. This statement has been intentionally kept brief and though it does not address all the relevant truths of our faith, it does summarize those deemed most necessary for understanding the doctrinal position of Community Bible Chapel.
THE SCRIPTURES – We believe that the Scriptures contained in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are the revealed Word of God, infallibly given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and inerrant in the original manuscripts. We believe that the Scriptures have been given and supernaturally preserved in order that we may certainly know what we are to believe concerning God and what He requires of us. As such, we consider the Bible alone as our final rule and authority for all matters of faith, life and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:17, 18; Hebrews 1:1, 2; 2 Peter 1:21; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 119
THE GODHEAD – We believe that God is spirit, infinite, eternal, and incomparable in all that He is; and that He is unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. We believe that there is only one living and true God, and that He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our Creator, our Redeemer and our Sanctifier; and these three are one God having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Psalm 90:2; James 1:17
GOD’S PURPOSE AND MAN’S AIM – We believe that God’s ultimate purpose in all that He does is to bring glory to Himself. Therefore, we believe that our one aim in life and death should be to glorify God and enjoy Him forever; and although God teaches us how to glorify Him in the Scriptures, we are able to do so only through the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of His Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 48:11; John. 17:1-5; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 8:8, 9
GOD’S CREATION AND SOVEREIGN RULE – We believe that the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, are the immediate work of God in creation. We also believe that God sovereignly directs and governs all that He has made in all their actions, so that they fulfill the end for which they were created.
Genesis 1:1; Hebrews. 11:3; Matthew 10:29; Revelation 4:11; Daniel 4:35
THE CREATION OF MAN – We believe that God created man in His own image and according to His own likeness; male and female He created them. We believe that mankind was created in order to reflect the image Of God, exercise dominion over the earth, and rule over all the creatures of the earth as stewards of the Most High.
Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 9:6; Job 12:10
THE FALL OF MAN – We believe that it was by Adam’s willful sin against God that man lost his spiritual life and fell into the sin and misery in which we have been born. We believe that, being fallen in Adam, our first father, we are by nature children of wrath, under the condemnation of God and corrupted in body and soul, prone to evil and liable to eternal death; and being dead in our trespasses and sins, we are unable to help ourselves and cannot be delivered from this dreadful state except through the unmerited grace of God our Savior.
Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:6-8; Romans 5:18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:9-19; Romans 6:23
REDEMPTION PLANNED – We believe that God has not left mankind to perish in its sin, but has from all eternity, in grace and mercy, chosen to save unto Himself a people which no man can number. We believe that, because of the great love with which He loved them, He has determined to deliver them out of their sin and misery and transfer them to the kingdom of His beloved Son, so that in the ages to come, He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in Christ Jesus.
Romans 9:14-24; Romans 8:29, 30; Ephesians 1:4, 5; Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:4-7
REDEMPTION ACCOMPLISHED – We believe that God has redeemed His people unto Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ, who was and ever continues to be the eternal Son of God, who took on human flesh and was born of a virgin in order to be made like us in all things and put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. We believe that Jesus Christ bore the penalty for our sins in His body on the cross, and fulfilled in His own person the obedience we owe to the righteousness of God. We believe that, based on His finished work, He now presents us to His Father as His purchased possession, to the praise of the glory of His grace forever.
Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 9:26; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 5:9, 10; Ephesians 1:14
REDEMPTION ASSURED – We believe that Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, died because of our offenses and was raised from the dead because of our justification; and having offered one sacrifice for sin for all time, He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God, where He continually makes intercession for His people. We believe that the Lord Jesus has been given by the Father as Head over all things to the church so that we need fear no evil and may surely know that nothing can snatch us out of His hands and nothing can separate us from His love.
Romans 4:25; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 1:20-22; Romans 8:38, 39
REDEMPTION APPLIED – We believe that the redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ is effectually applied by the Holy Spirit to all whom God has chosen to save. We believe that it is the Spirit who works faith in us through regeneration and thereby unites us to Christ. We believe that the Spirit continues to renew us in this life according to the image of God, and enables us more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness until at last we are received into glory; and abiding in this great hope we strive for holiness in the power of His Spirit.
2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5, 6; Ephesians 2:1-8; 1 John 5:1; Colossians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 4:16
MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE GOSPEL – We believe that God requires of us, under the gospel, that out of a true sense of our sin and misery and an apprehension of His mercy in Christ, we should repent and trust Jesus Christ alone for salvation. We believe that thus being united to Him, we receive pardon for our sins and are accepted as righteous in God’s sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone. Only in this manner do we believe that one may be received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.
Joel 2:13; Acts 26:20; Jeremiah 31:18; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:19; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:7; John 1:12
THE CHURCH – We believe that the church is the body of Christ made up of all true believers and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Head of His church. We believe that God has established His church in the world and endowed it with the ministry of the Word and the holy ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, in order that through these, the riches of His grace in the gospel may be made known to the world, and, by the blessing of Christ and the working of His Holy Spirit, the benefits of redemption may be communicated to His people. We also believe that as members of Christ’s body, we should devote ourselves to the study of God’s Word, to fellowship with the saints, to remembrance through the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer; so that we may be instructed and strengthened in faith, in holiness of life, and in love, and always be ready to give account for the hope that is in us, with gentleness and reverence.
1 Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 28:19f; 1 Corinthians 11:23f; Acts 2:42; 1 Peter 2:1, 2; 1 Timothy 4:6; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 3:15
GREAT COMMISSION – We believe that the Lord Jesus has commissioned His church to proclaim the gospel of God’s grace to all men and make disciples of all nations. We believe that it is our privilege and duty to present Christ Jesus to sinful men in order that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and to serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His church.
Matthew 28:19f; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 1 Corinthians 1:21f
THE CHRISTIAN WALK – We believe that, having been pardoned and accepted for Christ’s sake, it is our duty to walk in the Spirit, doing that which is right, fulfilling the obedience we owe to Christ our King. We believe that we should ever reflect in our life and conduct the perfect example that has been set for us by our Lord, who has died for us and granted to us His Holy Spirit so that we may do the good works which God has prepared beforehand in which we should walk.
Romans 6:1-18; Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16, 17; 1 Peter 2:21; Colossians 1:9, 10; Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:22, 23
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE – We believe, according to the Scriptures, that God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for life, exclusive of all others, not to be separated until death. Any other sexual union between persons, including persons of the same sex, or between persons who have changed their sexual identity is sin and contrary to God’s design. Based upon God’s Word, we believe that unions contrary to God’s design are in violation of the intended purpose of marriage, which is to illustrate the relationship between Christ (the Bridegroom) and the church (His bride). We believe that God does permit divorce and remarriage under certain limited circumstances.
Genesis 2:24-25; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 7:1, 2; Ephesians 5:25-33
THE SECOND COMING – We believe that just as Jesus Christ has once come in grace, so also He is to come a second time in glory, to judge the world in righteousness and assign to each his eternal award, some to everlasting life, others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
2 Thessalonians 1:7f; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:5f; Daniel 12:2
THE CHRISTIAN HOPE – We believe that if we die in Christ, our souls shall be at death made perfect in holiness and go home to the Lord; and when He shall return in His majesty, we shall be raised in glory and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoy-ment of God to all eternity. Encouraged by this blessed hope, we willingly take our part in suffering hardship here as good soldiers of Christ Jesus, being assured that if we die with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
Philippians 1:21f; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:16f; Romans 5:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:3f
For those with questions or comments about our Statement of Faith, please talk to an elder.
And to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority now and forever. Amen.
Addendum to the Statement of Faith
In addition to the Statement of Faith, which we hold to be foundational, there are a number of convictions, presented herein, which are part of the Chapel’s current position and practice. We acknowledge that there are differences of opinion among Bible-believing Christians regarding some of these convictions; yet, while we have no desire to cause strife or division within the body of Christ, we feel it is important to be faithful to our understanding of Scripture in the conduct of our local church.
ELDER RULE – We believe that a plurality of leaders in the local church is most consistent with biblical precept and example and are therefore governed by a board of Elders consisting of men whom God has raised up from within our body. We believe that the Elders, as undershepherds, are directly accountable to the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, for their stewardship of this local body of believers.
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; 1 Peter 5:1-3; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12
WORSHIP SERVICE – We have an open worship service on Sundays where the entire congregation is actively involved in the worship of God. Men of our body are free to lead us in worship through a praise, a psalm, a hymn, a teaching, an exhortation, or a prayer, as led by the Holy Spirit and according to the guidelines of Scripture. Being led by the Spirit does not preclude individual preparation; and in any case, participation should be orderly, reverent, honoring to God and edifying to the body. Periods of silence which may occur during this service should be viewed as opportunities for individual silent worship and meditation on our Lord.
Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 14:1-33; 1 Corinthians 14:40; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
WOMEN IN THE MEETING OF THE CHURCH -Scripture specifically prohibits women from speaking publicly in the meeting of the church. It also indicates that in any context relating to the church it is inappropriate for women to teach or exercise authority over men. We believe this is a valid precept based on the Scriptural principle of headship. However, this principle does not infer that women have less than equal standing before God or that their role in church life is less valuable than men.
1 Corinthians 14:34, 35; 1 Timothy 2:11, 12; Titus 2:3-5
THE LORD’S SUPPER – We observe the Lord’s Supper as the central part of our worship service every week when we come together as a local church. We understand from Scripture that the Lord’s Supper is a communion for believers whereby we corporately remember the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim His death until He comes. Our invitation to share in this communion is extended to all believers who may be present at the time, without regard to church membership. The elements of this holy supper consist of the unleavened bread and the cup which are divinely appointed symbols representing our Lord’s body and blood which were given for us.
Luke 22:19, 20; Acts 20:7; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
BAPTISM – The New Testament presents Baptism as an act of obedience whereby, upon believing, a person publicly identifies himself with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We therefore believe that baptism should be by immersion, administered only to those who profess faith in Christ, and performed at the earliest opportunity after conversion. We do not practice infant baptism, and it is the Chapel’s position that children should be baptized only as they are able to give evidence of understanding the gospel.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:31-34; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:3-5
CHURCH DISCIPLINE – Scripture calls for us to maintain purity of the church by exercising discipline to reprove and hopefully restore any member who falls into open sin. According to Scripture, when a member of the body sins, he should be confronted, first by the one who has become aware of the sin. If a sin is committed against another in the body, then the one sinned against should go in private and reprove the one who sinned. If anyone is unrepentant or persists in sinful behavior after being confronted, then two or more should go speak to him so that every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, the church should be informed; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, then fellowship should be withdrawn and he should be treated as an unbeliever.
Matthew 18:15-18; Galatians 6:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Timothy 5:19, 20; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 2 Timothy. 2:23-26; Titus 3:9-11
SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Spiritual gifts are enriched capacities for service given in Christ Jesus to believers for the building up of the body of Christ, the church. Our exercise of these spiritual gifts is nothing more or less than Christ ministering through and to His body. These enriched capacities manifest themselves in areas such as teaching, preaching, service, evangelism, helping, mercy, giving, discernment, administration, exhortation, and leadership; all for the work of service, edification, and unity in the body. No one is gifted in all areas, but each believer is gifted in at least one area. The more extraordinary gifts such as miracles, healing, and tongues are not essential for the normal function of the body. Rather, they are sign gifts used by God primarily for purposes of authentication. The manifestation of these particular gifts today should be accepted as genuine only so far as they agree with Scriptural teaching and example, as with any gift.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7; Ephesians 4:7-16; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Corinthians 14:27-33