Statement of Faith
Lone Rock Chapel
Statement of Faith
1. CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURE
A. AS TO ITS INSPIRATION:
We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures both Old and New Testaments. By verbal ⎯ we mean that the original writers were guided by the Holy Spirit in the exact choice of words yet respecting and using the personality, vocabulary, and style of each writer. By plenary ⎯ we mean that this divine, verbal inspiration extends equally and fully to all part of the original autographs, whether historical, poetical, doctrinal, or prophetical in nature, so that every word is both infallible as to truth, and final as to authority. (John 10:35; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; 3:16)
B. AS TO ITS INTERPRETATION:
We believe in the literal method of interpretation, which gives to each word the same exact basic meaning it would have in normal, ordinary, customary usage, whether employed in writing, speaking or thinking. We believe that the literal method is the only sane and safe check on the imaginations of man; that it grounds interpretation in fact; delivers us from both humanism and mysticism; and that this approach does not rule out figures of speech, symbols, allegories and types. We believe the following principles to be prerequisites to proper interpretation of the Scriptures:
• One must be spiritually birthed and have a dependence upon the Person of God the Holy Spirit to guide and direct. (John 16:7-14; I Cor. 2:7-16)
• One must interpret according to:
a. The immediate text.
b. The larger context, such as: the design and scope of the book.
c. And by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
2. CONCERNING THE GODHEAD
A. AS TO THE TRINITY:
We believe that there is only one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, co-eternal, and co-equal, the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence. All three Persons of the Godhead have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfection’s, and are worthy of precisely the same trust, obedience, honor and worship. (Deut. 6:4; I Kings 8:60; Psa. 90:1,2; Isa. 45:5,6; Mt. 3:16,17; 28: 19-20; Mark. 12:29; John 1:1-14; 10:30; 14:10,11; 16-17; Luke 22:20; Acts 5:3,4; II Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:4-6)
B. AS TO GOD THE FATHER:
We believe in the Person of God the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power He concerns Himself personally in the affairs of mankind; He hears and answers prayer. He can be known to the extent that He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and in historical deeds as the Source and Sustainer of life. He is the God of love who has ordered all things to serve His eternal purpose. (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 34:6; 147:5; John 1:3, 3:36, 6:27; Rom 6:1-13; I Cor. 15:2-4; Col. 1:16,17; Heb. 2:14,15; I John 1:5, 2:1,2; Rev. 3:20, 19:6)
C. AS TO GOD THE SON:
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was conceived by the Person of God the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary, and is always at the same time both very God of very God, and very man of very man. We believe that His death on the cross was substitutionary and representative, and a sufficient atonement for the guilt of all mankind. We believe that He was resurrected bodily from the dead, and that He ascended to the right hand of God the Father in place of all authority and power where He now carries on a ministry as Advocate and Intercessor for all who have place their faith in Him. We believe that any and all who call upon Him confessing Him as personal Savior and Lord are immediately justified on the ground of His shed blood, and are forever secure in Him. We believe in His personal, bodily resurrection. (John 1:1, 14, 29; Luke 1:30-35, 24:39; I Tim. 2:6; Rom. 3:25,26; II Cor. 5:14; Heb. 4:14-16, 10:5-14; I Pet. 2:24, 3:18; I John 2:2; I Cor. 15; I Thess. 4:13; Rev. 19)
D. AS TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit and that He is eternally “proceeding” from both God the Father and God the Son. We believe that the Holy Spirit was God the Father’s Agent in the revelation and the inspiration of His Word, the Bible. We believe that it is the Holy Spirit who performs the work of salvation in the heart of the individual thus identifying him with Christ and His Church, and then permanently indwelling the believer bestowing upon him a gift(s) at the moment of salvation. We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit is to convince and convict mankind of sin, righteousness, and judgment to the end that the Trinity might indwell, and set the believer apart to live a godly life. (Gen. 1:2, I Cor. 2:11, 6:19,20; Eph. 4:30, 5:18; John 14:23, 16:7,8,13,14, 15:26; II Pet. 1:21; Acts 5:3,4; Titus 3:5; Rom. 5:5; II Cor. 1:22)
3. CONCERNING ANGELS AND SATAN
A. AS TO THEIR ORIGIN:
We believe that God created spirit beings known as angels, most of whom kept their first estate of holiness and who are presently confirmed in that state forever worshipping God and serving His purposes. (Psa. 148:2-5; Mt. 26:53; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:14)
B. AS TO THE FALL OF SOME:
We believe that one of the angels, Lucifer, fell through the sin of pride resulting in rebellion towards God, thereby becoming Satan, and who further influenced a large company of angels to follow him in rebellion, and who thereby became demons and are now confirmed forever in their state of unholiness. (Isa. 14:12-17; Mt. 8:29; I Tim. 3:6; James 2:19; II Peter 2:4)
C. AS TO THE WORK OF SATAN:
We believe the work of Satan and the demons is the attempted subversion and counterfeiting of the work of God. By a subtle suggestion, Satan accomplished the moral fall of the historical Adam and Eve subjecting them, and thus all mankind, to his own power and bondage. Satan continues as the enemy of God and the accuser of God’s redeemed people, and persistently seeks to exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped. Satan is the father of lies and fosters religious movements and systems of belief that are characterized in every case by a denial of the deity of Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His shed blood, and salvation by grace alone through faith alone. We believe that Satan was judged and ultimately defeated at the Cross of Christ. (Gen. 3:1-7; Job 1:12, 2:6; Ezek. 28:13-15; Zech. 3:1,2; John 8:44, 12:31, II Cor. 2:10,11, 4:3,4, 11:13-15; Eph. 2:2, 6:12,16; I Peter 5:8; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 12:10, 19:1-3, 10; 20:10)
4. CONCERNING MANKIND
A. AS TO HIS ORIGINAL NATURE:
We believe that the man Adam was directly and immediately created with the appearance of age and in the image of God, free from sin. By “image” we mean that he was created with the capacity to reflect the perfect will of God. He was created with a rational nature, great intelligence and moral responsibility to God. (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:15-25; I Thess. 5:23; James 3:9)
B. AS TO HIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE:
We believe that man was originally created with the divine intent that he should glorify God, enjoy His fellowship, and fulfill God’s will and purposes on the earth. (Gen. 1:26-31; Isa. 43:7; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11)
C. AS TO HIS SUBSEQUENT SIN:
We believe that the man Adam fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God. The fall of mankind was thus an historical and non-repeatable act, the effects of which have been transmitted to all people of all ages, Adam being the federal head of humanity. (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-19; I Tim. 2:13,14)
D. AS TO HIS PRESENT CONDITION:
We believe that as a consequence of the fall, mankind became subject to the wrath of God, inherently corrupt, and totally depraved, incapable of choosing or doing that, which is acceptable to God. All men are sinners by divine, biblical pronouncement, by nature, and by deed, hopelessly lost and thus face God’s wrath and certain judgment. (Psa. 14:1-3; Jer. 17-19; John 3:36; Rom. 3:23, 6:23; I Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-3; James 2:10; I John 1:8)
5. CONCERNING SALVATION
A. AS TO ITS SOURCE:
We believe that salvation is by the grace of God through individual faith based upon the finished edemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are spiritually birthed, regenerated by God the Holy Spirit, and thereby become the adopted children of God. (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8,9; John 1:12,13, 3:3)
B. AS TO ITS PURPOSE:
We believe the purpose of salvation is that the believer might glorify God in his body through a life of fellowship and service for the Lord. (Rom. 6:13, 12:1,2; I Cor. 6:19,20; Col. 3:17; Rev. 4:11)
C. AS TO ITS SECURITY:
We believe that once salvation has transpired, it is eternal and unchangeable. (Jude 1:24; John 5:24, 10:28; 13:1, 14:16,17; Rom 8:28- 39; I Cor. 6:19; II Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:1,3, 5:11-13, Rev. 3:5)
6. CONCERNING SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification, which is the setting apart of the believer from sin and the setting apart to God, is three-fold:
A. AS TO THE PAST:
We believe that positional sanctification is already complete for every regenerated person because his position toward God the Father is exactly the same as Christ’s position. Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart from sin and to God in the measure in which Christ is set apart from sin and to God. Thus positional sanctification is secure at the moment of faith in Christ. (Rom. 6:1-3; I Cor. 1:2; Gal. 5:22-25; Heb. 10:10, 14)
B. AS TO THE PRESENT:
We believe that the saved person retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in the earthly life. Nevertheless, divine provision has been made for victory over the old nature. Therefore, while the standing (position) of the saved in Christ is perfect, his present state (condition) is no more perfect than his experience in daily life. There is, consequently, a progressive sanctification wherein the saved is to “grow in grace”, and to be changed by the power of God the Holy Spirit as He is permitted by the individual to influence and control. (John 17:17,19; 1 Cor. 6:20; II Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:24, 2 Pet. 3:18)
C. AS TO THE FUTURE:
We believe that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state (condition) in Christ as he is now sanctified in his standing (position). This will be reality for the saved either at the moment of his physical death, or if living, at the moment of the Rapture of the Church, when he shall see his Lord and shall be “like Him.” (Eph. 5:25-27; Heb. 9:28, 12:10-14; I John 3:2; Rom. 8:39; II Cor. 3:18)
7. CONCERNING THE CHURCH
A. AS TO ITS NATURE:
We believe that all who have placed their faith in the Person of Jesus Christ accepting His finished work on the Cross, are united together immediately by the Holy Spirit in one spiritual body, the Church Universal, of which Christ is the Head. In addition to the spiritual union which extends to the entirely of the Body of Christ, the earthly members of this body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies. (Mt. 16:18; Act 1:4,5; 2:46,47, 11:15, I Cor. 12:12; Eph. 1:22,23, 2:19-22, 3:4-6, 5:25- 27; Col. 1:18; Heb. 10:25)
B. AS TO ITS MISSION:
We believe that the local church as the body of Christ has one chief mission: that being, the worship and enjoyment of God. The Glory of God and the worship of God is the highest privilege and responsibility of the Church both universal and local. (John 16:13,14; 4:23,24; Acts 2:24; Rev. 4:11, 5:12,13)
The Glory and worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is divinely achieved in the local church gathered together through:
• INSTRUCTION - The central lifeline of the local church is the Word of God. Therefore, one of the prime responsibilities is the nurture of the believer through the instruction of God’s Word, which consists of the sixty-six books of the Bible. (Col. 1:28; Acts 20: 28, 32; II Tim. 3:16,17, 2:2)
• FELLOWSHIP - Since the believer is directed to be a part of a local body and not simply an individual, one of the primary responsibilities of the church is to so order its corporate life that genuine fellowship results among the believers. (Acts 2:42; Phil. 2:1-14; Heb. 10:24,25; I John 1:3)
• EVANGELISM - The last command of our risen Lord was for His followers to make disciples as they permeated the world in a continuous effort to teach mankind to observe all that the Lord commanded. (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Col. 1:28; I Peter 3:15)
C. AS TO ITS ORGANIZATION:
We believe that local assemblies have been given the needed authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which Christ the Head has appointed. (Mt. 18:15-18; Acts 6:1-6; I Cor. 14:40; Eph. 4:11,12; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5)
D. AS TO ITS RELATIONSHIPS:
1. With Regards To Spiritual Gifts - We believe that every member of the Body of Christ has been given at least one spiritual gift at the moment of his conversion according to the sovereign will of God the Holy Spirit. We believe that these gifts are to be developed and used in the local assembly to the end that every believer will progress towards maturity in Christ. Their specific purpose is mutual edification of all the believers, and as such the use of any gift must meet the test of edification. We are totally opposed to any teaching or practice that is divisive, or challenging to the teaching of the believer’s security, or challenging to the teaching of the universal baptism of the Holy Spirit by Christ at the moment of one’s salvation. (I Cor. 1:28, 12:7-11, 14:3-5, 12, 17, 26; Rom. 14:19; Eph. 4:5, 13)
2. With Regards To Ordinances - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ gave two ordinances to His Church to be observed. We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper do not administer special grace to the participant, but are merely representative of and emblematic of spiritual truths. We also believe that the ordinances have no part in the meriting or maintaining of salvation, and are only outward manifestation of an inward condition already accomplished and completed by God the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.
a. Water Baptism. We believe that the ultimate meaning of baptism is: permanent identification with Christ in that the believer is separated from what he was without Christ to what he is now in Christ, partaking as he does in the benefits of the death and resurrection of Christ. We do not subscribe to infant baptism believing that one must be of sufficient age in order to respond intellectually to the massage of salvation. Parents, however, may dedicate their children to the Lord, promising to discipline and instruct them in the Lord. (Rom. 6:3,4,6; Col. 2:12; Eph. 2:4-6, 6:4; Acts 2:38-41, 10:48)
b. The Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s body, which was given for us, and of His blood that was shed on behalf of our sins. There are two requirements that must be met before a person may rightfully partake of the ordinance:
• A person must be spiritually birthed, for one who is not born again in Christ cannot truthfully and effectively give witness to the Lord’s death if one has been unwilling to personally accept the Savior into his life thereby effectuating Christ’s atoning work.
• A Christian must examine himself to determine if he is in fellowship with his Lord and others. If there is unconfessed sin in one’s life, that broken fellowship with the Lord and others will not be conducive for the joy in remembering the forgiveness for our own sin.
We believe that the Lord Himself is the host of the table and not the local church, and as such the Lord’s Supper is open to all believers, regardless of denomination or affiliation. (Luke 22:19,21; I Cor. 10:16, 11:23-30)
8. CONCERNING LAST THINGS
A. AS TO THE INTERMEDIATE STATE:
We believe that at the time of physical death the souls of the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until the first resurrection, that is, their bodily resurrection. We believe that the souls of the unsaved at physical death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the general resurrection, that is, their bodily resurrection unto damnation. (Proverbs 11:7; 14:32, Luke 16:22,23, 23:42; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, John 5:29)
B. AS TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH:
We believe in the bodily coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself both His own who are alive and remain on the earth, and also all who have fallen asleep in Him. At that exact moment, every Church Age believer will be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ.
This event is the “blessed hope” of the Church set before every generation, and we are encouraged to be constantly looking for our Lord’s return. (John 14:1-3; I Cor, 15:51,52; Phil. 3:20; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; I John 3:2)
C. AS TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD:
We believe that the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world of mankind for a period of seven years. These judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ to the earth, His glorious Second Coming, at which time the Old Testament and Tribulation saints will also be raised and the living on earth will be judged. (Dan. 9:27, 12:1; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:15-31, 25:31-46; II Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 6:1-19,21)
D. AS TO THE MILLENNIUM:
We believe that Christ will establish His Messianic Kingdom in which all the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth for a literal one-thousand year period. (Deut. 30:1-10; Isa. 11:1- 6, 65:17-25; Ezk. 37:21-28; Rev. 2:26; 19:11, 14, 20:1-6)
E. AS TO THE ETERNAL STATE:
We believe that at the close of the millennial reign of Christ, the unsaved dead will be resurrected and judged and committed to eternal punishment, and that the saved of all ages will enter The Eternal State of glory in the new heaven and on the new earth with God, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus having fulfilled His redemptive and kingdom missions as the Son of Abraham and the Son of David, Christ the Lord will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father that the Triune Godhead may reign forever in all spheres. (Mark. 9:43-48; I Cor. 15:24-28; II Thess. 1:9; II Peter 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:1-4; 22:5, 11)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
II Timothy 3:16