At the heart of all things is our belief in the truth of God’s Word, which believers in Christ should cherish and proclaim together. This Truth is the only infallible rule of faith, practice, beliefs, conduct, and witness, and it agrees completely with the Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God the Father (Jhn. 4:24). Further, our statement of faith makes explicit what is foundational to our doctrinal commitments–the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the primary passion and driving influence of a believers life, praise, worship, and service to God. It affirms the glorious sovereignty of God over all things, including the redemption of sinners, and the work of the Spirit in the lives of those called to believe.
- The Scriptures
God and Revelation
Our eternal, transcendent, all-glorious God, who forever exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is by His very nature a communicative being (Gen. 1:3; Jhn. 1:1, 17:5; Heb. 3:7). He both creates (Gen. 1; Psa. 33:9, 147:18, 148:5; Col. 1:15-17; Her. 11:3) and governs (Psa. 29; Lam. 3:37-38; Isa. 46:8-11; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3) through His words and has graciously revealed Himself (Deut. 29:29; 1 Sa. 3:21) to humanity (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:15-17) in order to commune with us (Act. 17:24-27). He has revealed Himself through creation and providence in ways plain to all people, leaving no one without a testimony of Himself (Gen. 3:8-9; Psa. 19:1-5; Hos. 2:20; Jhn. 10:14-15; Act. 14:17; Rom. 1:19-21). He also revealed Himself through specific words, that we might come to a fuller knowledge of His character and will (Psa. 19:7-11), learning what is necessary for salvation and life (2 Ti. 3:15-17; 2 Pe. 1:3-4). Through the medium of human language (Exo. 32:16; Heb. 1:1-2), which is suitable and adequate for communication with those who bear His Image, God has preserved in Holy Scripture the only authoritative and complete revelation of Himself for all humanity (Rev. 22:18-19).
The Origin of Scripture
All of Scripture is breathed out by God (2 Ti. 3:16; 1 Th. 2:13), being accurately delivered through various human authors by the inspiration and sovereign agency of the Holy Spirit (2 Pe. 1:19-21). We, therefore, receive the sixty-six (66) books of the Old and New Testaments as the perfect, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. With the fullness of revelation given in Christ and His completed redemptive work, no new normative revelation will or need be given until Christ returns (Heb. 1:1-2; Rev. 22:18-19). In the origin (e.g., original, firsthand) manuscripts, the whole of Scripture (and, the extent of its parts) is inerrant—without error in that which it affirms (Psa. 119:160; Pro. 30:5-6; Jhn. 10:35). And, because we believe there is one divine and holy Author of all Scripture, we are able to arrive confidently at a harmonious, doctrinally unified understanding of the whole when we receive it according to His terms, His definitions, and through His lens of inspiration. Furthermore, we believe God, in his loving providence, predetermined to preserve his Word as pure and trustworthy throughout history (Psa. 12:6-7; Mar. 13:31) as he guided the early church in discerning and identifying the canon of Scripture He solely inspired.
The Attributes of Scripture
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The Reception of Scripture
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