Doctrinal Statement
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as inspired of God and inerrant in the original writings, and that their teachings and authority are absolute, supreme and final in faith and life. II Peter 1:21; Mark 12:26, 36; Acts 17:2,3; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16,17.
The Triune God
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
John 15:26; 14:26; 16:13-15; Genesis 1:26; II Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19,20.
Sin
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, deserving death, and desperately in need of a Savior. Gen 1:26, 2:17; Psalm 14:1-3; Rom. 3:10-19, 23; 6:23; 5:12; I John 3:8; Eph 2:1-3.
Deity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5-8.
The Blood Atonement
We believe in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man, and that all must be born again through personal faith in His shed blood, or be lost forever. II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:4-9; I Peter 1:18, 19, 23; Romans 3:24, 25; I Peter 1:3-5.
The Resurrection and Exaltation of Jesus Christ
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord and in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and advocate. Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1,2.
The Blessed Hope
We believe in that blessed hope the personal imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory to receive His bride, the church. I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:11; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:11-13.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit; that on the Day of Pentecost He came into the world to abide; that He indwells all regenerate persons; that He instructs, helps, and purifies the Body of Christ; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and that He is the infallible interpreter of the Scriptures. John 14:16,17; 16:7-15; Acts 2:4,5; Romans 8:26, 27.
The Church
We believe that the true Church is the invisible Body of Christ, consisting of all who have been born again and baptized into this one body of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:19-22; I Corinthians 2:10,11.
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace, through faith and not of works; and that this grace of God teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world. Romans 6:11-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:22-24; I Peter 1:14-16; Titus 2:11-14.
Satan
We believe in the personality and reality of Satan.
Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; John 8:44; 12:31; 14:30; Revelation 12:9,10; 20:10.
Heaven and Hell
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; believers destined to eternal conscious bliss with God, unbelievers destined to eternal conscious torment and separation from God. Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8; II Corinthians 5:1-4; Revelation 21:1-4; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43,44.
The Lord’s Day
We believe that the Lord’s Day, the Day of Resurrection, is the first day of the week, and we accept it as our corporate day of worship. Matthew 28:1; John 20:1; Acts 20:6,7; I Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10.
Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. Gen 1:27 Mark 10:6-9 Matt 19:4-6 1 Cor 7:2 Rom 1:26-27 Hebrews 13:4
The Divine Commission
We believe in the Great Commission, which our Lord gave to His disciples for the evangelization of the world; and that this ministry of sharing the gospel of the Grace of God is the primary mission of every believer in the church. Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8.
Note: This doctrinal statement does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Elders will act as Elk Plain Community Church’s interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.