What we Believe

 

 

 

Scripture

The Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, is the inspired Word of God and without error in the original writing. The Bible was given by God through chosen people. The Bible is the full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice; there are no other writings similarly inspired of God. The Bible’s truth is timeless and speaks to our everyday lives.

Luke 21:33; 24:44; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21

 

God

God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God, full of love and glory.

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14 

 

God the Father

God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the whole flow of human history, according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. While He is fatherly in His attitude toward all, He is Father in truth and in relationship to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 64:8; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21, 22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:3

 

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is fully human and fully divine. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. On the third day God raised Him from the dead and glorified Him to affirm His victory over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will physically return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:4-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

 

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of their need for Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells every Christ-follower and becomes the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom. The Holy Spirit uniquely endows each Christ-follower with gifts for building up the body of Christ, the church. The Holy Spirit also guides Christ-followers in understanding and applying the Bible. The Christ-follower seeks to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:15-18

 

Salvation

Mankind was created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him and to be like Him in character. Although mankind has tremendous potential for good, mankind became alienated from God through sinful disobedience. As a result, mankind is incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through their own effort. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. Salvation is a gift from God available to all who accept Him. Mankind can never atone for their sin by self-improvement or good works. The blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, salvation occurs only when people repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ alone, whose death and resurrection is the only sufficient payment for their sin. This is the finished work of Christ.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59;1-2; Romans 3:23; 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26

 

Eternal Security

Because God gives mankind eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in the salvation for eternity. Salvation is secured by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christ-follower. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

 

The Church

The church is the body of Christ, a community of baptized Christ-followers who have trusted in the finished work of Christ by faith. The purpose of the local church is to glorify God by loving Him and making Him known to the lost world, providing community for Christ-followers, developing gifts and talents of Christ-followers for godly service, and participating in the practice of baptism and Communion. Baptism and Communion are God’s ordinances to be observed by believers in Jesus Christ but are not to be regarded as a means of salvation.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41, 42-47; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:12-13

 

Human Destiny

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind there will be a resurrection of the body. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to eternal separation. Christ-followers will be received into eternal Communion with God to be ever with the Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:16-30; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15

 

Faith and Practice

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. SCC recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in these areas by the Lord to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible. All should refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in this Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension. By adhering to God’s Word and seeking Him, we can best observe His greatest commandments, which are to love Him and others. With regard to the family, we believe marriage is the uniting of one man of birth origin and one woman of birth origin in covenant commitment for a lifetime.

Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; 9; 10:23-11:1; Proverbs 3:5-6; Mark 12:29-31; Romans 12:1-2; Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 5:22-33

 

We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches, and we affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM2K).

Encourage

people to know God and be known.

Equip

people to give their time, talents, and treasures to the Lord and others.

Engage

our neighbors and nations – both verbally and demonstrably – with the good news of Jesus.