What We Beleive

Statement of Faith

Preface

We recognize that the Bible is the very Word of the Living God to man.  Our purpose at Shoe Leather Gospel is to teach the biblical truth that God has "granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him" 

Our Statement of Faith presents our convictions regarding the theological truths of the Bible. They are the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, and they reflect the heart of the teaching at Shoe Leather Gospel.

What is the Bible?

  • We believe that the Bible is God’s written revelation to man and the 66 books of the Bible as given to us through the Holy Spirit constitute the only sufficient, certain, and infallible Words of God.  Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21

Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judge, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ester, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude, Revelation

  • We believe that the Word of God reveals the truths about God’s nature and His attributes, that all scripture is inspired by God, and absolutely inerrant in the original manuscripts, infallible, and God-breathed.  We stand in agreement with The Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 12:6

  • We believe Sola scriptura (by scripture alone) that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21

  • We believe that God brought about His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit moved through the human authors, using their individual personalities and unique styles of writing.  They composed and recorded God’s Word to man without error.  2 Peter 1:20-21 Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16

  • We believe that scripture attest for itself four characteristics or attributes, that of (1) the authority of Scripture; (2) the clarity of Scripture; (3) the necessity of Scripture; and (4) the sufficiency of Scripture:
    • “The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
    • “The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God's help and being willing to follow it.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
    • “The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.” Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
    • “The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God He intended His people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting Him perfectly, and for obeying Him perfectly.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Who is God?

  • We believe that the Lord is our God and that the Lord is one, that God is an infinite, all knowing Spirit, perfect in all His attributes, and one in essence. “God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.”  Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4, John 4:24; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Who is God the Father?

  • We believe that God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity, from whom are all things exist for His glory and for His own purpose and grace.  He is the Creator of all things and called all things into being.  As the only absolute and omnipotent (all powerful) Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption.  Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36

  • We believe that His fatherhood involves both His position within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. God the Father has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. Ephesians 4:6; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Chronicles 29:11

  • We believe in God the Father’s sovereignty He is neither author of nor approver of sin.  Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47; 1 Peter 1:17

  • We believe in Soli Deo Gloria (for the Glory to God alone) that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of mankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory and not their own.  Psalm 50:22; Isaiah 6:3; 43:6–7; Ephesians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; John 17:5; 1 Corinthians 10:31

Who is Jesus Christ?

  • We believe that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine attributes and attest to by Jesus’s own statement “I and the Father are one.”, therefore Jesus is of the same nature as God the Father as confirmed by the Council of Nicea in 325AD and the Council of Constantinople in 381AD John 10:30; 14:9

  • We believe that God the Father created according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by whom all things continue in existence and in operation. John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2
 
  • We believe that the incarnation (God becoming man) Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence. In His incarnation, the eternally existing second Person of the Trinity accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God Man. Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9

  • We believe that Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in united unity.  Micah 5:2; John 5:23; 14:9-10; Colossians 2:9

  • We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born, that He was God incarnate, and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God, redeem men, and have ruling authority over God’s kingdom.  Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1, 9, 14; Psalm 2:7-9; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19

  • We believe in Solus Christus (by Christ alone) that salvation is obtained through the atoning work of Christ alone, apart from individual works, and that Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and that salvation cannot be obtained without Christ.  John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:16-17; 1 John 2:1-2

Who is the Holy Spirit?

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, eternal, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity including intellect, emotions, will, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and truthfulness. In all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son.  1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 12:4-6, 11; Ephesians 4:30; Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:13-14; Romans 15:13; John 16:13; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Jeremiah 31:31 34; Hebrews 9:14; 10:15-17

  • We believe that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation, the incarnation, the written revelation, and the work of salvation.  Genesis 1:2; Matthew 1:18; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 3:5-7

  • We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ, which is His church. The broad scope of His divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers into the image of Christ.  John 14:16-17; 16:7-9; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers believers for service, and seals them until the day of redemption.  1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher, who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God’s revelation, the Bible. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to walk by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and live by the Spirit.  John 16:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 2:20, 27; Galatians 6:16, 18, 25

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church. He does glorify Christ by implementing His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in faith.  John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18

What is the nature of humanity?

  • We believe that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God.  Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9

  • We believe that God’s intention in creating man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world.  Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11

  • We believe that in Adam’s sin of disobedience of the revealed will of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God. Man was hopelessly lost. Man’s salvation is wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8

  • We believe that because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception due to the virgin. All men are thus sinners by nature.  Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12

What is the significance of the crucifixion and resurrection?

  • We believe that the crucifixion and resurrection was the atoning work of Christ, performed during His life and death to earn our salvation.  This was required by a loving God and a God that required justice.  God sent Jesus to be a propitiation, a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath so that God could become “propitious” or of favorably disposed towards those that believed in His Son, Jesus Christ.  John 3:16; Romans 3:25-26

  • We believe in the consequent absolute necessity of the atonement.  God’s plan of redemption states that since "it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins", a better sacrifice is required Only the blood of Christ, that is, His death, would be able really to take away sins. There was no other way for God to save us than for Christ to die in our place.  Matthew 26:39; Luke 24:25-27; Romans 3:26; Hebrews 9:23-26; 10:4

  • We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross and that His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive.  John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24

  • We believe that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now mediates as our Advocate and High Priest.  Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Romans 4:25; 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1

  • We believe that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers.  John 5:26-29; 14:19; Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23

  • We believe that though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. Jesus stated that His blood of the new covenant was poured out for the many for the forgiveness of sin, that He lays down His life for the sheep, and not the goats.  When Jesus prayed to the father, He did not pray on behalf of the world, but for those that the Father have given Him.  Further in the prophecy of Isaiah, Jesus bore the sins of the many, not the all.  Matthew 25:32-33; 26:28; John 10:11, 15; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27; Isaiah 53:12

How does a person become a Christian?

  • We believe in Sola gratia (by grace alone) that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works.  Based on the teachings of scriptures, there is an Order of Salvation as follows: John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19
Election (God’s choice of people to be saved)
We believe that election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure.  Unconditional Election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. This is a great mystery.
Romans 8:28-30; 9:22-23; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17

The Gospel Call (proclaiming the message of the gospel)
We believe that an effective calling is an act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which He summons people to Himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith. This is the irresistible grace of God.
Romans 1:6-7; 8:29-30; 9:16; 1 Peter 2:9; 5:10; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Acts 2:29; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:3

Regeneration (being born again)
We believe that regeneration is a supernatural and secret work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God, when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God. This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Such a conformity is ultimately fulfilled in the believer’s glorification at Christ’s coming.
John 3:3-7; 5:24; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10; 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3

Conversion (faith and repentance) Sola fide
We believe that Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.  This faith is summed up in Sola fide (by faith alone), true saving faith includes knowledge, approval, and personal trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
John 1:12; 3:16; 6:37; 7:37; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
 
Justification (right legal standing) Sola gratia
We believe that justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which He thinks (or imputes) our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and He declares us to be righteous in His sight.
Romans 2:4; 3:20, 26; 4:6; 8:33; 10:9-10; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Isaiah 55:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 12:3;  2 Corinthians 4:5; 5:21; 7:10; Philippians 2:11; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24

Adoption (membership in God’s family)
We believe that adoption is an act of God whereby He makes us members of His family.  As adopted children, we enter into a new relationship with God. Though we were chosen before the foundation of the world we lived as an enemy of God up to the moment of our salvation.  At our regeneration and conversion, we were adopted into God’s family through Jesus Christ. We have a new identity—the sons and daughters of God. The eternal God is our Father.
Ephesians 1:4–5; 2:1–2; 1 John 3:1–2

Sanctification (right conduct of life)
We believe that sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.  Sanctification is our internal condition that throughout this life, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to become more Christ like.
Matthews 5:48; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Perseverance (remaining a Christian)
The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again.
John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 6:15-22; 8:1, 31-39; 13:13-14; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; Titus 2:11-14

Death (going to be with the Lord)
We believe that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (soul or spirit), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, that there is a separation of soul and body and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture which initiates the first resurrection, when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4-6; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54;

Glorification (receiving a resurrection body)
We believe that glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own.
Romans 8:17; 8:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; John 5:28-29; 6:39-40

How does a person grow as a Christian?

  • We believe that sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our lives.  Sanctification is our internal condition that throughout this life, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to become more Christ like.  Matthews 5:48; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23

  • We believe that there are three stages of sanctification;
    • A beginning at Regeneration; where by His mercy, we are washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.  Titus 3:5; 1 John 3:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 20:32
    • Sanctification increased throughout our life as we become more like Christ.  Romans 6:11-13; 6:18-19; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:13-14; 9-13; Hebrews 12:1
    • Sanctification is completed at death for our souls, and when Christ returns for our bodies.  Romans 6:12-13; 1 John 1:8; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 21:27; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 13:23

  • We believe that New Testament outlines our growth in sanctification, in cooperation with in the Holy Spirit by:
    • Bible reading and meditation Psalm 1:2; Matthew. 4:4; 17:17
    • Prayer  Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6
    • Worship  Ephesians 5:18 –20
    • Witnessing  Matthew 28:19 –20
    • Christian fellowship  Hebrews 10:24 –25
    • Self-discipline or self-control  Galatians 5:23; Titus 1:8

What is the church?

  • We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the Head.  1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8; Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18

  • We believe that the mission and power of the church, began on the Day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture.  Acts 2:1-21, 38-47; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
 
  • We believe that the church is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of born-again believers in this present age. The church is distinct from Israel, a mystery not revealed until this age.  Ephesians 2:11, 3:6; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:1-6; 5:32

  • We believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to come together in local assemblies. 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1

  • We believe that the supreme authority for the church is Christ and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders also called bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers; and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications.  1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5

  • We believe that these leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership.  1 Timothy 5:17-22; Hebrews 13:7, 17

  • We believe the importance of discipleship, mutual accountability of all believers to each other, as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture.  Matthew 18:5-22; 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16

  • We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations.  Titus 1:5

  • We believe that it is correct for true churches to cooperate with each other for the spreading of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The elders should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well.  Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4

  • We believe that the purpose of the church is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith, by instruction of the Word, by fellowship, by keeping the ordinances and by spreading the gospel to the entire world.  Ephesians 3:21; 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:38-42, 47; 1 John 1:3; Luke 22:19; Matthew 28:19
 
  • We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
    • We believe Christian baptism by immersion is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer publicly professing their faith and believing loyalty in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ  Acts 2:38-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11
    • We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination, and that whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with His people  1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:28-32

Who are Angles

Holy Angels

  • We believe that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man in this age, they are created to serve God and to worship Him.  Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9

Fallen Angels

  • We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He earned the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, by taking numerous angels with him in his fall and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve.  Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-14; Genesis 3:1-15

  • We believe that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man; the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.  Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; Revelation 12:9-10; 20:10; Romans 16:20; Ezekiel 28:11-19

What does the future hold?

Death

  • We believe that physical death involves no loss of our soul or spirit, that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ.  That there is a separation of soul and body for the redeemed.  That separation will continue until the rapture which initiates the first resurrection, when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.  Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4-6; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21-24; 3:21; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54

  • We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.  John 5:29; 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:13-15

  • We believe that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection, when the soul and the resurrection body will be united. They shall then appear at the Great White Throne judgment and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire, separated from God forever.  Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

The Rapture of the Church

  • We believe that Jesus Christ will return to receive His church unto Himself at the rapture, and returning with His church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth.  Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20

  • We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation to translate His church from this earth and, between this event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according to their works.  Titus 2:13; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Tribulation Period

  • We believe that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world, and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth. At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised, and the living will be judged.  This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.  John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24-27; 12:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46; 2; Revelation 20:4-6

The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign

  • We believe that, after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth. During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth. Prior to the start of the millennial reign the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss.  Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-7; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-27

  • We believe that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience. The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing  Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:22-32; 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-29; Jeremiah 31:31-34

  • We believe that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan.  Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; Revelation 20:7

The Judgment of the Lost

  • We believe that following the release of Satan after the thousand-year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone.  Christ, who is the Judge of all men, will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne judgment.  Revelation 20:7-10; Matthew 25:41; John 5:22

  • We believe that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection where they will receive their judgment, they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.  John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15

Eternity

  • We believe that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers, the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father where the Trinity will reign forever and ever.  2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15, 21-22; 21:2 2 Peter 3:10; Ephesians 5:5 John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28