Statement of Faith

Introduction

The New Covenant Bible Church Statement of Faith was composed during the church’s founding in 1984. The founders referred to several sources when they wrote this document. One underlying source was “The Abstract of Principles”; a very conservative and helpful document produced by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1858. You will notice that parts of our Statement of Faith quote The Abstract of Principles word for word.
The elders of New Covenant Bible Church believe that our Statement of Faith is an important document and a good document, but not a perfect document. Over the years we have discovered language that needed updating, Scripture references that were lacking or imprecise, as well as the occasional phrase or two that needed correcting or rewording as the Lord sharpened our theological understanding through His written Word. As such it remains a faithful statement of what we believe Scripture teaches as well as a work in progress.

1. The Bible

The Scripture of the Old and New Testaments are inspired. The word in the New Testament for inspired is "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16). The Scriptures came about not by the impulse of man, but through men being moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God (2 Pet. 1:21). The Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

2. The Trinity

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being (Isa. 48:16).

3. God

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; to Him all creatures owe the highest love reverence and obedience (John 17; 1 Thes. 1:9; Heb. 11:6).

4. Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man, having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin. He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose bodily again the third day, and ascended to His Father at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercessions for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe (Matt. 28:18; John 1:14-18; Acts 1:9-11; 2:36; Eph. 1:22; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 1:1-14; 12:24; Rev. 17:14).

5. Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict him of sin, regenerate the repentant unbeliever, guide the believer into understanding the Holy Scriptures, indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills; that they may minister as Christ would to men. (John 14:15-31; John 16:7-15; Acts 2; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12 2 Cor. 13:14; Ephesians 4:1-12 1 Peter 4:10-11).

6. The Creation

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the creator of all things. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were active in the creation; and God has ordained that all creation shall ultimately belong to the Son. In the final analysis, acceptance of the truth of the absolute creation of all things by God is a matter for faith rather than scientific proof. Genesis 1 is the foundation of any Christian explanation of creation (Gen. 1:26; Heb. 1:2; 11:3).

7. The Fall of Man (Original Sin)

God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin, but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby man’s inherent nature is corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. Adam was the responsible head of the human race, thus his sin is imputed to all. We are born fallen creatures, and we go astray from God from birth (Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45-49; Ps 14:3; 58:3; Isa. 48:8).

8. Sin

Sin is basically disobedience and rebellion against God. Arising from the corruption of the human heart, it is the cause for our deserving God's wrath. Sin is man's greatest problem (1 John 3:4; 5:10, 17; 1 Sam. 15:23; Isa. 1:2).

9. Salvation

The deliverance from the power and dominion of sin, and of this, Jesus Christ is the author (Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12; 16:31; 17:30; Heb. 2:10; 5:9; 7:25; 9:14). It is freely offered to all men, but is conditioned upon repentance and faith in Christ (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation proceeds from the love of God to a sinful humanity and a lost world through Jesus Christ. We believe in the saving power of the Blood of Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness to all who believe on Him with faith. We believe that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which results in salvation of the person. This salvation is entirely by grace of our Lord and not of works. Works are excluded except as a fruit of salvation ( Rom. 4:1-9; 10:9-10; Eph. 1:3-15; Acts 3:19-20).

10. Perseverance of the Saints

It is the duty and privilege of a Christian to continue steadfastly in obedience and fidelity to Christ, this is not in order to inherit eternal life, but to demonstrate love and gratitude to Christ for His great salvation (1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Pet. 1:10; Rev. 3:2). The Christian's fidelity and obedience will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Salvation is not affected by lack of human faithfulness but rewards are. If getting to Heaven depended upon human faithfulness or human merit in any degree, no human being would ever get there or claim merit for entrance. Christ will abundantly reward faithfulness in His redeemed children, but He can never accept their faithfulness as merit for salvation. A true Christian may backslide by losing his spiritual vitality through deliberate disobedience to the Lord. However, through realization, confession and repentance, the believer receives forgiveness and renewed fellowship with Christ and His Church (I John 1:7-9). For that individual, however, who has professed salvation and has shown all the outward signs of faith in Christ and obedience to Him, then loses all interest and even becomes hostile to Christ and His claims, persisting in sin and sinning willfully knowing the truth as it is in Christ and putting to shame the Church, the Word was never grounded or accepted in that heart to the point that it grew and flourished unto salvation (Jer. 3:6-14; Hos. 11:7-12; 1 Jn. 2:19, 24; Mark 4:3-8; Matt. 7:21-23; Rom 9:6-8). This is why we must diligently use the means of grace appointed of God to preserve us in the watchful and steadfast spirit (Matt. 24:13; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Pet. 1:10; Rev. 3:2-3; Eph. 6:13-18; Phil. 2:1-2; Heb. 5:12-14; 6:1).

11. Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone. Believers should seek, as the early disciples did, to practice the separated life from the world and unto Jesus Christ, and to set standards of conduct which shall exalt our Lord and His church (Titus 3:5).

12. Atonement

The atonement is the covering over of sin. In Heb. 2:17; Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn 2:2; 1 Jn 4:10; Matt. 20:23; Mk. 10:30; Lk.2:38; Heb. 9:12 and other passages the doctrine is taught that Christ died to effect reconciliation between God and man and to redeem or ransom men from the penalties and dominion of their sins.. The Scriptures reveal the Atonement to us as an accomplished and completed fact (Heb. 9:13-28). They represent this fact as necessary to human salvation (Lk. 24:40-46,47; Acts 4:12). The death of Jesus was indispensable (John 3:14-15). In the Atoning death of Christ was exhibited not only the holy wrath of God against sin, but quite as much the love of God toward sinful men (Rom. 3:25-26; Rom. 5:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:14-15). However the universality of Atonement does not lead to universal salvation.. The great offer of salvation may be, and often is rejected, and when the rejection is final, the Atonement avails nothing for the sinner (Mk. 16:16; John 3:36; Heb. 10:26-29). The Atonement is the actual objective ground of forgiveness of sins and acceptance with God for all penitent believers (Jn. 3:16; Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14).

13. Repentance

Repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person being by the Holy spirit made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it and self abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3-5; 15:11-32; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 2 Pet. 3:9).

14. Faith

Faith, even saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness (Rom. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 12:2).

15. Justification

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin through the sanctification that Christ has made, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ; they receiving and resting on Him, and His righteousness by faith (Rom. 3:34; 5:1; 4:25; 8:30; 10:10; Gal. 2:16; 3:24).

16. Sanctification

While holiness refers to the sate or condition of Godliness, sanctification describes the act or process by which persons or things are made to partake of this quality. The work of sanctification includes both the human act of consecration and the divine act of cleansing and hallowing. The new birth is not identical with sanctification. The new birth is an instantaneous act; sanctification has a progressive aspect, initiated by regeneration, carried forward by the Holy Spirit and continued until glorification as a process of spiritual maturation. In sanctification, God's will is that sinful attitudes and actions should be put to death in the Christian's life, his nature and character renewed after the image of God in Christ, and his obedience to God increased so that he lives to please God. All these things take place through the power and help of the Holy Spirit as He fills the Believer (1 Cor. 12:13; Heb. 12:14; 13:12-16; 1 Thes. 5:23; Phil. 3:21; Eph. 4:23-24).

17. The Church

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is vested supremely all power for its government. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Body of Believers who have been baptized in the name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are under recognized, delegated authorities, and who assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission and minister as the Holy Spirit leads (1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 5:23-27; 1 Tim. 3:15).

18. Baptism

Water baptism is an act of obedient discipleship, appointed by Christ, administered in the name of the Trinity, which symbolizes repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the confession of His Lordship, admittance into the family of God, entry into all the benefits of His death and resurrection and the desire to live a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12).

19. The Lord's Supper

The Christian sacrament of the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ Himself (Matt. 26:26-28; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:17-20). In the Gospel accounts the bread is His Body and the wine is His Blood, the blood of the new covenant shed for the remission of sins. In I Cor. 11:23-26 it is made clear that both the partaking of the broken bread and the drinking of the wine are for a remembrance. But not only a remembrance, the sacramental meal of the bread and wine becomes a continuing symbol of the Blood and Body of Christ. It looks both ways, to the past in remembrance and to the future in anticipation. The concept of "closed communion", a practice which admits only the enrolled members of a particular group, is foreign to both the spirit and practice of the Christian Church.

20. The Lord's Day

The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion.

21. Evangelism & Missions

The church must have a true deep and real passion for lost souls and make every effort to bring every person into a personal salvation relationship with Jesus Christ (Lk. 4:18-19). We are to see ourselves as workers together with God, understanding what is His work in bringing a person to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and what is our part. We are to make disciples of all nations. The Bible presents many motives for supporting and engaging in missionary work, prominent among which are concern for God's glory, obedience to our Lord's commission, the desperate need of men without Christ, the adequacy and purpose of the Atonement and the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19-30; Acts 1:8). We are to support missionary work wholeheartedly and generously, by finance and prayer, as part of our worship of God (1 Thes. 2:8; 1 Cor. 9:4-14; Heb. 13:16; Phil. 4:15; Acts 13:2).

22. Stewardship

There should be no question but that God is the Owner of Heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19). In order that we might remember that God is the Owner; He has ordained adoration, praise, worship and the offering of gifts. God desires that each one of His children should learn the meaning of stewardship. A steward is one handles the wealth or possessions of One greater and richer than the steward Himself. God is the Creator and rightful Owner of all material wealth in the universe. He allows man to gather some about him for his use in this world, yet He does not intend that man should allow his affections to go out to these things in such a way that the person forgets his Maker. God demands a stewardship of time and life, but He also demands it of material possessions as well.

23. The Tithe and Offerings

The basic Biblical provision in stewardship is the paying of tithes, or a tenth of the increase one receives (Gen.14:20; 28:22). God commanded that the tithe be regarded as holy (Lev. 27:30). Tithing became the touchstone of stewardship and blessing in the Old Testament. The principle of giving has not been rescinded in the New Testament, and it presupposes that our giving will often more than equal the tithe because of the inward compulsion of the Holy Spirit moving us to respond to the generosity of God with similar generosity (2 Cor. 9:7-13; Eph. 4:28). This is God's plan of finance for His work and we believe that it is a joy for His children to acknowledge His Lordship in this manner (2 Cor. 8:7-9).

24. Providence

God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

25. Election

Election means first, that God is sovereign, free to do whatever He chooses to do, and secondly that salvation is by His grace and Power alone. Scripture teaches that believers are saved by the Power of God through faith. Scripture also teaches that God has foreordained that believers will be saved. Scripture does not suggest however, that He similarly foreordains some to damnation (Ryrie). Man's true destiny is to be conformed "To the image of His Son," (Rom. 8:29) but only those who respond in faith to the gospel call are among the elect. The elect, so defined, are predestined to be saved, and not by their own efforts, but by the power of God.

26. The Rapture

We believe that the Lord Jesus will come again; that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede those that are asleep in Christ Jesus but that we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).

27. The Second Coming

Christ's glory will be seen, and the resurrection of the dead and the transformation of all believers will take place. The judgment will follow, with the final division of all men and women, either to being with Christ forever or to suffering the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord. The end of all things as wee know them will come, and the Father will be glorified in it all (Matt. 25:31; Mk. 13:26; Rev. 1:7; Phil. 3:21; 2:9-11; Lk. 12:4-48; 1 Cor. 15:24).

28. The Judgment

Christ will be the Judge and all will appear before Him. The perfect justice of God and the undeniable guilt of all men and women will be plain beyond dispute. Those justified through faith in Christ will be acquitted from the guilt of sin and will receive rewards according to their faithfulness; the unbelieving will receive their final condemnation (Heb. 9:27; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 5:1).

29. Resurrection of the Body

All will rise from the dead, believers to the resurrection of life, and unbelievers to the resurrection to judgment. Christ's resurrection will be the pattern of the believer's. This will be a bodily resurrection (1 Cor. 15:23; 12-13; Jn. 5:28-29; Jn. 6:40; Lk. 24:39-43; Jn. 14:1-6; Rom. 8:34).