BELIEFS
St. Paul’s Bible Church Doctrinal Statement
The Word of God (Hermeneutics)
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 (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), 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 (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, John 3:5).
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). 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 (Eschatology)
We believe in the personal return to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 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 (1Thessalonians 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).
Definition of the Christian life and Christian Character
We believe that when a person becomes a Christian, a dramatic change has occurred. Having the power of sin and death broken by Christ, the Christian is enabled to freely live for God (Galatians 5:1). The Christian is not controlled by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). This new life will be marked by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the pursuit of godly character as described in the Scriptures; including fidelity in heterosexual marriage (Hebrews 13:4, Romans 1:27), serving God instead of money (Matthew 6:24) and to conform our attitudes to the humility of Christ (Philippians 2:5). No Christian will be sinless (1 John 1:8) until they receive the crown of righteousness in heaven (2 Timothy 4:8), but every Christian will be growing in godliness by the power of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22).
Those who profess Jesus Christ as Savior will continually strive to resist temptation while confessing and repenting of any known sin in their lives. When necessary, the Church will discipline sin with the goal of healing and restoration. Anyone claiming to be a Christian while living a lifestyle of sin will not be accepted into the membership of St. Paul’s Bible Church (Matthew 18:15-17).