Beliefs

St. Paul’s Bible Church Doctrinal Statement

The Word of God (Hermeneutics)
We believe in the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God, verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writing and that they are of supreme authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

God (Theology)
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 (Christology)
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 (Pneumatology)
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 (Anthropology)
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): and 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). We believe that man obtains salvation and spiritual life only through he regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation (Soteriology)
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).

The Church (Ecclesiology)
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), and that as believers we are to be baptized and in association with one another worship, edification, and service. We believe in the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Last Things (Eschatology)
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 (Thessalonians 4:16-18) and the unjust (Acts 24:15); they who are saved unto the resurrection of life (1 Corinthians 15:52,53) and they who are lost unto the resurrection of the damnation (Revelation 20:6,14,15).

Definition of the Christian life and Christian Character
By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, people who profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will manifest their faith in their thoughts, attitudes, behaviors and desires. Though Christians will continue to experience (and succumb) to temptation, they will experience a life generally marked by perseverance and growth in godliness. Their lives will be marked by the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23a), the pursuit of the virtues and actions commanded in the Scriptures; including fidelity in heterosexual marriage, celibacy in singleness, charity in relationships to neighbors, humility in character, and integrity in actions (e.g. Matt. 28: 18-20; Eph. 4:25-5:2; Phil. 2:1-l1; etc.); and the avoidance of the sins described in the Scriptures, (e.g., I Cor.6:9-1O; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Tim 1:9-11; etc.)

People who profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will continually strive to resist temptation, quickly confess and repent any known sins in their lives, and willingly submit to the discipline of the Church for healing and restoration. People who habitually commit or condone sin will not be accepted into the membership of St. Paul's Bible Church.