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Doctrinal StatementThe Bible: We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired and plenary (2 Tim 3:16) word of God. The Bible is my authority by which we preach, teach, and live our lives.God: We believe in one God who is of only one nature but exists in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in nature, distinct in person, and subordinate in duties (Gen 1:1, John 1, John 16). Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah (Isaiah 53), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 & Matt 1:20-23), who died as a substitute and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), the lost as well as the saved (Heb 2:9). Jesus Christ is fully divine, while at the same time wholly human (John 10:30, John 1:1,14, John 19:28, Heb 2:9). We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; that He ascended bodily into the heavens and acts as our mediator, priest, and advocate (1 Cor 15:12-28, Heb 9:24). Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity (Matt 28:19. John 14:16) whose ministry includes convicting of sin (John 16:8) and sealing the believer (John 14:16, Eph 4:30). Salvation: It is only through God’s grace through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross that man can be saved from eternal punishment. Our works cannot save us nor keep us saved (John 3:16, Eph 2:8-9). Man: We believe that man was created in the image of God (Gen 2:7). He is born into sin as a result of the disobedience of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Rom 3:23, Rom 5:12-21). Because of man’s sin nature he is not capable of righteousness on his own merit (Isa 64:6). Man is only capable of sin and cannot ever be justified according to the law (Rom 3:28). Man has free will and may choose to obey or disobey and suffer the consequences thereof (Gen 2:16-17, Rom 12:1-2). Eternal Security: We believe in the eternal security of the believer in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Salvation is not of works and cannot be kept through our works (Eph 2:8-9). Heaven and Hell: We believe in an everlasting heaven for those in Christ (1 Thess 4:17, 2 Cor 5:8) and the eternal punishment of those not in Christ (Matthew 25:46, Rev 15, Luke 16:23-24). The final judgment of all the unsaved will occur after the millennium at the Great White Throne judgment (Rev 20:15). Satan: We believe that Satan is a real being that possesses personality (Isa 14:12-15). He is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4) and is the father of lies (John 8:44) whose destiny is to be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity (Rev 20:10). The Church: We believe the church is a visible, called out assembly of baptized believers (Acts 2:41-42,47), united together for carrying out the great commission (Acts 5:42). Each New Testament church was established as a local autonomous group (1 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:2, Phil 1:1, Rev 2-3). There are two offices for the church, those of pastor and deacon (Tit 1:5, 1 Tim 3). The ordinances of the church are baptism (Rom 6:3-4, Matt 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23-27). Separation: We believe in personal (1 John 2:15, Rom 12:1-2) and ecclesiastical separation (Acts 2:42-44). Using worldly or questionable methods to win the lost is contrary to scripture and must be avoided (Prov 16:8). Creation: We believe the earth and all creation was created by the act of God in six literal days as described in Genesis. CONTACT IBFT ::::
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