The Tenets of Our Faith

While I typically appreciate the opportunity to share the details of what our family believes in my own words, I could not have authored a more organized and descriptive article than what our local church has published. I am so grateful to be able to share these easy-to-read core beliefs by which we live, love, worship and serve others as we prepare for Christ's return and eternity with Him in His Kingdom.

Shared with passion, love and humility,

Max (Rocky) and Jody Friz

THE WORD OF GOD

WE BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS ARE THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, INERRANT IN THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS, COMPLETE AS A REVELATION OF GOD’S WILL FOR SALVATION, AND THE SUPREME AND FINAL AUTHORITY IN FAITH AND LIFE.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17; 2 PETER 1:19-21

THE TRINITY

WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. EACH OF THESE THREE PERSONS IS FULLY GOD, SHARING THE SAME NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES.

GENESIS 1:26; DEUTERONOMY 6:4; MATTHEW 3:16-17; 28:19

GOD THE FATHER

WE BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, AN INFINITE, PERSONAL SPIRIT, PERFECT IN HOLINESS, WISDOM, POWER, AND LOVE, WE BELIEVE HE CONCERNS HIMSELF MERCIFULLY IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN, HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER, AND SAVES FROM SIN AND DEATH ALL WHO COME TO HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

JOHN 16:23-27; GALATIANS 4:4-6; EPHESIANS 1:3, 17-23

GOD THE SON

WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S ETERNAL SON. HE IS TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN, CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. WE ALSO BELIEVE IN HIS SINLESS LIFE, HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT, HIS BODILY RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN, HIS PRIESTLY INTERCESSION ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS PERSONAL, VISIBLE, PREMILLENIAL RETURN FROM HEAVEN.

MATTHEW 1:18-23; LUKE 24:1-8; JOHN 1:1, 14; ACTS 1:11; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19-21; HEBREWS 4:14-16; 7:24-25; 1 JOHN 2:1; REVELATION 19:20

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

WE BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON AND IS FULLY GOD. HE REGENERATES, BAPTIZES INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST, INDWELLS EVERY BELIEVER, GUIDES AND EMPOWERS BELIEVERS, AND GIVES GIFTS TO ALL BELIEVERS TO BE USED IN MINISTRY SO THAT THE CHURCH FUNCTIONS PROPERLY.

MATTHEW 28:19; JOHN 3:5; 16:13; ACTS 1:8; 5:3-4; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11, 19; 12:4-13; EPHESIANS 3:16; 4:11-16

MAN

WE BELIEVE GOD CREATED MAN, MALE AND FEMALE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND FREE FROM SIN. WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT MAN, BECAUSE OF HIS FALL IN ADAM IS A SINNER BY NATURE AND CHOICE AND IS THEREFORE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, IN NEED OF SALVATION.

GENESIS 1:26-27; 2:7-25; 3:1-19; ROMANS 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23

SALVATION

WE BELIEVE IN SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT THIS SALVATION IS BASED UPON THE SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD, WAS PURCHASED BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS, AND IS RECEIVED BY MAN THROUGH FAITH APART FROM ANY HUMAN MERIT, WORKS, OR RITUAL. SALVATION RESULTS IN RIGHTEOUS LIVING, GOOD WORKS, AND PROPER SOCIAL CONCERN.

JOHN 1:12; 3:3-7; 5:24; EPHESIANS 2:8-10; 1 TIMOTHY 2:5

THE CHURCH

WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH IS THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE HEAD. THE TRUE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF ALL PERSONS WHO THROUGH SAVING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST HAVE BEEN REGENERATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS BODY EXPRESSES ITSELF IN LOCAL ASSEMBLIES WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED UPON A CREDIBLE CONFESSION OF FAITH AND HAVE ASSOCIATED THEMSELVES FOR WORSHIP, EQUIPPING, EVANGELISM AND SERVICE. THE ORDINANCES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH ARE BELIEVER’S BAPTISM BY IMMERSION AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. WE ALSO BELIEVE IN THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF LOCAL CHURCHES AND THE MUTUAL SUBMISSION OF BELIEVERS TO EACH OTHER IN LOVE.

MATTHEW 28:18-20; ACTS 1:8; 2:41-47; EPHESIANS 5:21; COLOSSIANS 1:18; HEBREWS 10:24-25

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

WE BELIEVE THAT EACH LOCAL CHURCH IS SELF-GOVERNING IN FUNCTION AND MUST BE FREE FROM INTERFERENCE BY ANY ECCLESIASTICAL OR POLITICAL AUTHORITY. WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO GOD IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND LIFE, AND THAT EACH SHOULD BE FREE TO WORSHIP GOD ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF HIS CONSCIENCE.

MATTHEW 22:21; ROMANS 13:1; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-6

END TIMES

WE BELIEVE IN THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF THE SAVED AND LOST, THE ETERNAL CONSCIOUS EXISTENCE OF ALL MEN EITHER IN HEAVEN OR HELL, AND IN DIVINE JUDGMENTS, REWARDS, AND PUNISHMENTS.

JOHN 5:29; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15; 15:51-58; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-10; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18; 2 JOHN 1.8; REVELATION 19, 20

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL BELIEVERS MAY BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MAY EXERCISE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.

ACTS 2, 8, 10, 19; 1 CORINTHIANS 12, 13, 14

Downloadable PDF

The Statement of Faith that appears above can be downloaded as a PDF file. To download this file, click here.

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