WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament), to be the inspired Word of God, completely true in all it affirms and without error as originally written. It is the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all people, sufficient and authoritative for faith and life, and that there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
Psalm 119:9,105; Matthew 5:17-18; John 10:34-36; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:15-16 *
2. GOD
We believe in one God, who has revealed Himself in the Bible, in nature, and in man’s conscience as the Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge; existing eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By His sovereign power God continues to sustain His creation, and by His providence He orders the affairs of men and nations according to His wise, eternal plan. He is infinite in His wisdom, unchangeable in His attributes, righteous and loving in all His ways.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:3-14*
3. HUMAN BEINGS
We believe that human beings were created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, they rebelled against God and were alienated from Him. As a result all human beings became guilty before God, subject to sin’s power, inclined toward disobedience to God’s moral law, and unable to please God apart from His saving grace.
Genesis 1:26-27; 3; Psalms 8; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18-3:23; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-5*
4. JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God, who became fully human by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men and women by dying on the cross as their substitute, and rose bodily from the grave, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust Him alone. He achieved victory over death and the powers of evil, and ascended into heaven where, as the only mediator between God and humanity, He continually intercedes for His people.
Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-3,14,18; 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 20-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John 2:1-2*
5. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, who applies the saving work of Jesus Christ to sinful human beings. During this age the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict, regenerate, indwell, guide, instruct, empower, and uniquely gift the believer for godly living and service, so that the church is built up.
John 14:15-31; 16:8-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 12:4-26; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18; Titus 3:5*
6. SALVATION
We believe that the central purpose of God’s revelation in the Bible is to call human beings into fellowship with Himself. Salvation is deliverance from alienation, guilt, bondage, and death, as well as restoration to fellowship, righteousness, freedom, and life for all who trust in Jesus Christ. It originates and is sustained by God’s sovereign and loving grace, is based on Christ’s saving work, is received by faith alone, and is expressed in a lifetime of developing holiness, obedience, and love.
Romans 3:21-31; 5:1-2; 6:23; 8:1-17; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:1-10*
7. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, the community of all believers who are united to Christ and to one another by the Holy Spirit. The Church is called to worship God and to demonstrate His gracious character in the world by proclaiming the gospel, making disciples from all nations, observing baptism and the Lord’s Supper, maintaining the unity and purity of the body, and seeking to apply the truths of Scripture to the needs of people.
Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; John 17:20-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:1-16
8. LAST THINGS
We believe that Christ will return at the close of this age to raise the dead, judge all people, and consummate His kingdom. Unbelievers will be separated from God and experience everlasting conscious torment in hell. Believers will be received into heaven and will experience everlasting life and fellowship with God.
Mathew 13:39-42; 24:36-44; Luke 21:25-35; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:11-15; 21:1-5*
9. FAITH AND PRACTICE
We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what the Bible teaches. “The Chapel” recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where the Bible is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension.
* Scripture references are not intended to be exhaustive but to serve as representative texts to support the preceding statement.
© 2021 The Chapel
