ANTIOCH'S BIBLICAL GUIDANCE

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Statement of Faith

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In setting forth this Doctrinal Statement, we by no means set aside or undervalue any of the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments.  It is the responsibility of each Christian to learn, believe, and live every doctrine taught in God's Word.  As stated in Matthew 4:4 But He answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  We are to observe and do all things Christ has commanded us ("teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20).  We do consider the knowledge, belief, and acceptance of the truth as set forth in this doctrinal statement to be essential to sound faith and practice.

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Section 1: The Holy Scriptures

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We believe that the Bible is, in its entirety, the verbally inspired Word of God.  It is God's revelation to man, inerrant as originally written by Spirit-controlled men.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

 

Section 2: The Godhead (Trinity)

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We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 1:2)

 

God the Father

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We believe God the Father is absolutely holy and self-existent.  He is the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth. He is worthy of all praise and glory.

(Exodus 15:11; Psalm 90:2; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6.

 

God the Son

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We believe that Jesus Christ eternally existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit conceived and He was born of the virgin Mary.  (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25)

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We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.  We believe He arose bodily from the dead on the third day in the same body in which He suffered and died. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:15)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord who ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.  His birth life and resurrection has procured for every believer eternal redemption, eternal salvation, and everlasting life. (Mark 16:19; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9.

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God the Holy Spirit

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We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person.  He was active in the creation of all things. We believe that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled.  He convicts the world of sin.  He permanently dwells in the Church and the body of each believer. (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28: 19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1 :35; Luke 24:49; John 3:5-7; 14:16, 1 7,26; John 16:7-15; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16)

 

Section 3: The Devil (Satan)

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We believe that Satan is a personal being, the author of sin, a fallen angel, prince of demons, the unholy god of this age, the great enticer and deceiver, the adversary of Christ and His people.  The accuser of the brethren, and the ruler of all the powers of darkness. He is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19;1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10 Revelation 20:10)

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Section 4: The Creation

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We believe in the Genesis account of creation as being a literal, historical account of the direct and immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process.  Man, spirit, soul, and body, were created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all of mankind are descendants from the historical Adam and Eve.  (Genesis 1 and 2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16.)

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Section 5: Marriage and Family

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We believe that the term 'marriage' has only one meaning: A lifelong covenant, sanctioned by God, that joins one man and one woman, who were each born as a man and a woman, in a single, exclusive union, as spoken and described by God in Scripture.  We believe that God's design for the family starts with marriage. (Genesis 2:18-25; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1, Corinthians 7:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

We further believe the wedding ceremony is an act of worship before God where one man and one woman are joined in holy matrimony. We believe that God instituted the family for the well-being of mankind and designed it to be a unit of order and blessing.  We also believe that the husband is to be the spiritual head of the home and, together with his wife, has the responsibility to bring up their children in the caring guidance, counsel, and discipline of the Lord. We believe that God's design for the family is modeled in the leadership of the church. (Ephesians 5:21-6:4)

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Section 6: The Fall of Man

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We believe that man was created innocent, in the image of God, and under His law; Adam fell from his sinless state by voluntary transgression and all mankind sinned in him.  The consequence of that sin causes all mankind to be partakers of Adam's fallen nature. We are sinners by nature and by conduct. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-6; Romans 1:18, 32; Romans 3:10-19)

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Section 7: The Atonement for Sin

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We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the intervention of the Son of God.  Christ freely took upon Himself our sinful nature, yet was without sin and was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place.  Christ, the Lord, bore our sin in His own body on the cross. (Isaiah 53:4-7; Acts 4:12; Acts 15:11; 1 Corinthians 15:3)

 

Section 8: Resurrection and Priesthood

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We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and in His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest. (Mark 16:6; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 5:9-10; Hebrews 12:2)

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Section 9: Grace and the New Creation

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We believe, that in order to be saved, sinners must be "born again". The new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus.  The new birth of eternal life is a free gift of God. Evidence of our new creation appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.  It is bestowed solely through the Redeemer's shed blood and not because of any works we have done.  (John 3:3-8; Acts 16:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9)

Section 10: Faith and Salvation

We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition for salvation. (John 3:15; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9)

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Section 11: Separation and Sanctification

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We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, and that the Scriptures clearly teach nonconformity to the world for every believer.  It is clearly commanded of God that all believers should live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to be holy as He is holy. (Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30;  2 Corinthians 3:18; 2

Corinthians 6:14-17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

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Section 12: Child Dedication

We believe in the dedication of children, a ceremony in which the parents, and all those in attendance affirm that their lives will be an example of Christ for the child to follow.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 1Samuel 12:11, Psalm 127:3, Matthew 19:14, Luke 2:22)

 

Section 13: The Church

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We believe that the Church, which is the Body of Christ, was begun on the Day of Pentecost.  Being one body unites believers to each other and to Christ.  The Church's purpose of existence is to evangelize the world and complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ.  We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all mankind.  The one and only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:13-16; Ephesians 3:1-6; Colossians 1:18)

 

Section 14: Ordinances

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Baptism

We believe in water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit for all who have made a profession of faith in Christ.  Sprinkling or pouring may be used a a mode for baptism for those physically unable to be immersed. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12).

 

The Lord's Supper

We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper to commemorate His death until He comes again.  It is to be observed often, not only as a memorial of the body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ ,but also as a remembrance of his life on earth.  (Matthew 26:17-29; Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-33)

 

Section 15: The Eternal State of the Saved and The Lost

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all mankind: the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6; Revelation 20:12-15)

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