Statement of Faith

The SFC Statement of Faith

BIBLE: The Bible is God’s infallible written word, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and our supreme authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

GOD: There is one true God, the creator of the universe and of mankind. He eternally exists in the three persons of the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity equally possesses all the attributes of deity (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

JESUS: Jesus Christ is God. He is the eternal and living Word, who became man, being born into this world through the virgin, Mary. Jesus is perfectly God and perfectly human, united as one person. He lived a sinless life. Jesus died on the cross as our substitute, taking upon himself the punishment that we deserve. By his death, Jesus made a once-for-all atonement for sin. We receive forgiveness of sins by turning to Him in faith. He rose from the dead bodily, and ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father. He is the only mediator between man and God (John 10:30; John 1:1-14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).

SECOND COMING: Jesus Christ will come again to the earth—personally, visibly and bodily—to complete and fulfill God’s plan (Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28).

MANKIND: Man is created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God and earned death as a result. All of mankind’s nature is corrupt. It is impossible for any person to make himself acceptable in God’s sight. Every person is in need of regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3).

THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. His fullness, power, and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith. Every believer is called to live a holy and fruitful life by the power of the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:9; John 15:26; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18).

SALVATION: The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s grace. It is not the work, in any degree, of human striving, goodness, or religious activity. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation. As a result, God declares them right in His sight. Each person must be born again of the Holy Spirit and can be assured of his or her salvation immediately upon trusting in Christ as Savior. The Word and the Spirit of God alone are the basis of this assurance (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

THE CHURCH: The visible Church is the gathering of God’s faithful and saved people for the purpose of worship, edification, mission, and use of gifts according to His word. Jesus Christ is the head of his Church. God encourages all of His people to assemble together locally and regularly for worship, participation in Christ’s ordinances, and the ministry of the Word for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-13; Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:4-5).

OUR COMMISSION: Jesus Christ commands all believers to be involved in the making of disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded. His purposes require that all worldly and personal ambitions be subservient to Him. This is true discipleship. Jesus also commissions this body of all believers (the Church of Christ) to operate as one; that is, to work together with united purpose and vision to spread the gospel of Christ to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14).