1. The Word of God:
We believe that the Bible is God’s written revelation to humanity, and thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the complete (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (Jeremiah 23:28-29; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32).
2. The Trinity:
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19-2 0; Ephesians 4:5-6).
3. Salvation through Christ:
We believe in the deity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension into heaven and in His personal future return to the earth.
We believe that the only means of being free from the sins is through faith in the death, resurrection and sacrifice of Jesus Christ followed by repentance of sins (Titus 3:4-7, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 12:1-2).
4. Judgment:
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life (1 Cor 15:20–23), for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment of death and eternal punishment (John 5:28–29).
5. Church Ordinances:
- We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- We believe Christian baptism after salvation is the full immersion of the accountable believer in water into the name of the triune God.
- We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and should be celebrated several times a year until the Lord returns.
- We do not believe these ordinances are necessary unto salvation but are to be done as commanded by God (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
6. Marriage:
We believe in marriage as it is defined by God in scripture (Mark 10:6-9). Therefore the Church of Truth will not perform any marriage ceremonies for atheists, unequally yoked couples (2nd Cor 6:14), or two people of the same sex (Romans 1:26-27).
7. End Times
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be conducted in two stages; Rapture and Revelation
The Rapture of the church will precede seven years of Tribulation followed by the revelation (return) of Christ to set up His kingdom on the earth for 1000 years.
Following the Millennial reign of Christ will be the Great White Throne judgment before a final restoration of a new heaven and earth.
8. Creation
- It is the position of this church that God created and sustains the universe and everything in it. We do not believe in species evolving into other species on a macro level.
9. Women in Ministry
- We believe God has established the husband to be the spiritual head and covering of his wife and children (Ephesians 5:23).
- In accordance with 1st Timothy 3, the church is to be managed in similar fashion to the family. Elders (pastors and overseers) and deacons are to be men who meet the guidelines listed in this scripture reference.
- This church recognizes and welcomes women who are gifted in teaching, leading worship, or edifying the body of believers in many ways as long as it is in line with biblical church authority (1st Timothy 2:12).
10. The Issue of Eternal Security
- We believe in cases of apostasy, such as the example given in Hebrews 6:4-6, a person who is a believer may use their free will to abandon their faith.
- In such a case of apostasy, it is not a punishment from God taking the gift of salvation away as “the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29), but rather the surrender or “walking away” by the former believer from his or her salvation.
- It is not the position of this church to promote the idea of losing one’s salvation due to sinful acts but rather to encourage such a person to come to repentance. Neither is it the church’s position to promote eternal security to a believer in a manner which would take away from any consequence of remaining in their sinful nature.
11. The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit
- We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a person’s born-again conversion into the Body of Christ (Matt 3:11, Acts 8:16). The evidence of a person’s Spirit baptism is the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
- Baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the same as being filled with Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16-17). Baptized means “submerged” which happens on the outside, while “filled” is something that happens on the inside. Although the two are separate events, we believe they can be simultaneous (Acts 10:44-46).
- We believe that Christians should strive to be filled with the Holy Spirit as often as possible in order to be effective in God’s work (Eph 5:18). We do not believe that we remain Spirit-filled every second. For example, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit on different occasions as his ministry opportunities necessitated it (Acts 2:4, 4:8).
12. Spiritual Gifts
- We believe in the possibility that all Spiritual gifts listed in the Bible are available today. We also believe those gifts are certainly not used today to the extent that they were in the 1st century. Hebrews 2:2-3 makes it clear that signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts were given by the Holy Spirit to confirm the new covenant message of Jesus and the apostles. These signs and gifts were essential for new believers to know that the message of salvation was truly from God, and not from false teaching. The early church didn’t have the benefit of New Testament scriptures as we do, and thus they had to rely on prophesy, tongues, and interpretation more.
- For this reason, we would ask that any speaking of tongues or that any hyper-charismatic activity would be done privately and quietly in conjunction with church order described in 1st Corinthians 14:33.
13. Discrimination
- We believe the church members should love all people, welcome them, and treat them with dignity regardless of their faith, race, appearance, financial status, age, or gender, and regardless of what sins they may be involved in.
- At the same time, we are a church that believes in accountability, and we will love people enough to encourage repentance, and to live a life of purity and Biblical Truth.
- The Church of Truth will not support or encourage sinful behavior in any way.
- Therefore any of our building’s rental units, or any use of the church facilities, or any marriages performed, or any use of church funds must never be used in a way that promotes sinful behavior. Anything questionable will require church board approval.
We were created to live forever – but God lets us choose where!