Trinity Bible Church

We Believe

Article one: Scripture

The Bible is the infallible Word of God, the supreme rule for faith and practice.

The sixty-six books of the Old and New testament came from the very mouth (verbal) of God and are without error (plenary) in the originals. Scripture is therefore the unique and final authority for all it affirms, including both belief and behavior.

From these convictions flow the following articles of faith.

Article Two: God

There is one God, infinitely perfect, without change, creator of all yet not created, distinct from His creation yet everywhere perfectly balanced in all His attributes, omniscient over all time, wholly sovereign. He alone is the sole object of worship.

God exists eternally in three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - equal in essence and divine perfection, all three uncreated, executing harmonious offices.

Article Three: God the Son

God the Son is fully God and fully human, without confusion or mixture, the unique and only Son. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died on Calvary's cross as the sacrifice for our sins, was physically raised from the dead as prophesied, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for the saints as the sole mediator between God and man. He will return physically and visibly to the earth. To Him every knee shall bow.

Article Four: God the Holy Spirit

God the Spirit is sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He fully indwells every true believer as a guarantee of his inheritance, guides and empowers them, interceding in accordance with the will of God.

Article Five: Anthropology

(The Doctrine of Man)

Adam and Eve were both created in the image of God, Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from Adams side. They disobeyed God and died, spiritually and physically. Therefore, all people are under God's wrath, sinners by nature and by choice. They are dead in their sins and incapable of pleasing God, totally depraved. Without the direct intervention of God, they will live separated from God, die in their sins, and receive the condemnation that their sin deserves.

Article Six; Soteriology

(The Doctrine of Salvation)

Salvation from sin and access to God is available only through the finished work of Christ on the cross, given by God's grace, mercy, love, and received solely by faith. In conversion, the believer is drawn by God to Himself, redeemed from his sins, declared wholly righteous, born again, made alive in Christ as a new creature, reconciled to God, becomes a child of God, and is filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit through whom he is empowered for a life of obedience.

Article Seven: Sanctification

(The Doctrine of Holiness)

God's will for every believer is his sanctification. It is the necessary and certain fruit of salvation, yet not meritorious (not of our own good works); it is God alone who saves. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, saints are called and enabled to live lives of holiness, "in" but not "of" the world, fully dedicated to Jesus Christ, persevering to the end. Disciples are declared to be sanctified through the finished work of Christ and are also called to become sanctified in the experiences of life.

One of the many results of sanctification is the desire to share the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ with sinners; Witnessing grows out of an awareness of what Christ has done for you.

Article Eight: Ecclesiology

(The Doctrine of the Church)

The church consists of all true disciples of Jesus Christ. All things exist under the supremacy of Christ, and therefore Christ and Christ alone is the head of the church. The local expression of the church is comprised of disciples who are gifted for the work of building up the body of Christ. While different local expressions may have different emphases, all are commanded to make disciples, which includes both evangelism, teaching obedience to all that Christ taught. The church is to be committed to the reading of the Scriptures, the Lord's Table, Baptism, the exhortation to obedience, the teaching of doctrinal truths of Scripture, as well as to all that is necessary for edification of the body, including worship, singing, prayer, and service. All are to be done to the Glory of God.

Article Nine: Eschatology

(The Doctrine of Last Things)

Jesus will return-personally, physically, visibly, suddenly-and all disciples living and dead will be bodily caught up to meet Him at the final judgment, the unrepentant will be raised to the resurrection of judgment and everlasting punishment in Hell. Believers, while already passed from darkness to light, will be raised to the resurrection of life, granted immortality, and will enjoy the everlasting, personal presence of God in His Heavenly Kingdom. God's plan of creation, redemption, and glorification will be complete.

This is the hope for which we long, which helps to motivate us now toward godly living, and which compels us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.

 

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