The Truth Story statement of faith on the core doctrines of the Christian faith, once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).*
The Bible
We believe the Bible (the 66 books in the Old and New Testaments) to be complete in every respect. The Scriptures are “God-Breathed” and derive their authority from God, not from any church, council, or creed (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible, also called the Word of God, is without error and everything about which it speaks is true (John 17:17). It is also “living and active” and able to pierce into human spirits (Hebrews 4:12). The Scriptures are a reliable “lamp” and a “light” on our earthly pilgrimage (Psalm 119:105). All of our doctrines flow from Christ, through the Word of God (Colossians 2:8).
God
We believe in one eternal, unchanging, and unchangeable God (Psalm 90:2, Malachi 3:6). He is the Creator of all things that exist in the heavens, on earth, and in every unseen realm (Ephesians 3:9). God is unique and unlike anything or anyone else in creation (Jeremiah 10:6). God has all power, all wisdom, and is due all glory, honor, and praise (Revelation 7:12). He revealed himself to Moses as the “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). God causes all things to come to pass and all things will result in the God’s glory in the end (Romans 8:28).
We believe there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). This one God is revealed in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2, John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6). Each Person is completely God while each Person is distinct from the other persons. All Persons have existed eternally in a relationship called “Trinity”.
Humanity
We believe that man, both male and female, was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Man rebelled against His Creator, and fell into sin (Romans 5:12) . As a result, man became spiritually dead, totally unwilling and unable to seek after God (Ephesians 2:1). But God joined a certain people to Christ Jesus to redeem them from their sin and bring glory to Himself (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for this elect people, providing full and complete forgiveness of sins through his death (1 John 2:2, Revelation 5:9). No other work can provide for forgiveness of sins, and no addition can be made to the completed and finished work of Christ (John 14:6, 19:30).
Salvation
We believe that God regenerates sinful men by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:6). This does not by any action of their own, but solely from God’s sovereign will (Romans 9:16). God grants them the gifts of faith and repentance and afterward they exercise by believing in Christ and turning from their sins in love for God (Ephesians 2:8). As a result of this faith, based upon the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God justifies or makes righteous the one who believes (Romans 4:5). God’s gift of faith, and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the elect, results in good works (Ephesians 2:10). These good works flow from true, saving faith; they are a necessary result of faith, but are not to be considered necessary to the gaining of justification, which is by God’s grace through faith alone, so that no man can boast (Ephesians 2:9).
The Church
We believe Jesus Christ established His Church, which is made up of all the chosen people of God (Ephesians 1:4-14). His true Church listens to God’s Word as found in the Bible (John 10:27). All who believe in Christ are placed in His body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). As important as internet ministries can be, there is no substitute for a local church. Each believer should be actively involved in a local fellowship (Hebrews 10:25).
We believe Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). This promise is found throughout the Scriptures (Matthew 24:27, Luke 17:30). Until His return, believers are to live lives that bring glory to God (1 Peter 2:12). The Church is to be busy doing the work of evangelism, discipleship, and proclamation of the pure, uncompromised gospel of Christ found in the Word of God (Matthew 28:19,20).
* The general structure of this Statement of Faith was pulled from Alpha & Omega Ministries. We affirm all the content as our own.
**All Scripture on this website is from the English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.
Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash.
