Penhold Church of Hope

Statement of Faith

 

Doctrine of God

God is:

  1. A spiritual being 

(John 4:24, Col 1:15, 1 Tim 1:17, Heb 11:27)

  1. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent 

(1 Kings 8:27; Ps 139:7-10; Jer 23:23-24; Mark 10:27; Rom 11:33; Heb 4:13; 1 John 4:8; Rev 1:8, 4:8, 19:6

  1. Eternal and unchanging 

(Ex 3:14; Ps 90:2, 102:25-27; 145:13; Isa 48:12; Mal 3:6; John 8:58; James 1:17; Heb 1:12; Rev 1:8)

  1. Self-sufficient and creator of all things 

(Gen 1:1ff; Ex 3:14; Job 41:11; Isa 40:18ff;  John 5:26; Acts 17:24-25; Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 8:6; Heb 1:8-13, Rev 4:11)

  1. Triune existing as three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in one essence
    1. Unity: Deut 6:4; Isa 45a, 18; Mark 12:29; Rom 3:29-30a; 1 Cor 8:4; 1 Tim 2:5; Jam 2:19
    2. Father: Ps 89:26; Isa 63:16; Matt 16:27, 26:39; John 14:16-17; Gal 4:4-6
    3. Son: John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Col 1:15-19, Phil 2:5-7; Heb 1:1-3a; Rev 1:8
    4. Spirit: Luke 11:13; John 14:26, 15:26; Rom 8:26-27; 1 Cor 6:11
    5. Trinity: Matt 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 14:16-17; Heb 9:13-14; 1 Pet 3:18

God the Father

  1. The Father loves the world and sent the Son to save the world 

(John 1:14, 3:16-17; Rom 5:8; 2 Cor 5:19-21; Eph 2:1-9; 1 John 4:9-10)

  1. The Father raised the Son from the dead and exalted him to glory and power 

(Dan 7:13-14; Matt 28:18-20; John 13:3; 17:1-5; Acts 2:24,36; 10:40; Eph 1:20-22)

  1. The Father, with the Son, sent the Spirit to all believers 

(Luke 24:49; John 14:16,26, 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 6:19; 1 Thes 4:8)

God the Son

  1. The Son, conceived by the Spirit and born to the virgin Mary, was sent by the Father to earth as God Incarnate in the person of Jesus the Messiah 

(Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18ff; Luke 1:26-35; Mark 14:61-62; John 1:14)

  1. The Son is truly God and truly man 

(Isa 7:14, 9:6-7; John 1:1-5,14,18; 17:5; Col 1:19; Phil 2:5-11; 1 Tim 3:16)

  1. The Son, obedient to the Father’s will, lived a sinless life and died on a cross offering atonement for all who believe 

(Isa 53:1ff; Matt 26:38-39; Luke 23:40-41; John 3:14-17; 19:1ff; 20:30-31; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor 5:21; Col 1:19-23a; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22-24; 1 John 2:1-2, 3:5; Rev 1:5)

  1. The Son, by the power of the Father, was resurrected bodily on the third day and ascended to power and glory at the right hand of the Father 

(Luke 24:6-9,45-51; John 2:19-22; 13:1; 16:28; 17:4-5; 20:24-29; Acts 1:2-3,9-11; 2:30-36; 1 Cor 15:3-8; Heb 1:3, 10:11-13, 12:1-2; 1 Pet 3:21-22)

  1. The Son now acts as mediator and high priest between believers and the Father 

(1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 6:19-20; 7:24-8:6; 9:15,24-26)

  1. The Son, according to the time designated by the Father, will return to gather his believers to be with him forever 

(Dan 7:13-14; Matt 24:30-31,36; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:26-28; Heb 9:27-28; Rev 1:7)

God the Holy Spirit

  1. The Holy Spirit, in knowing the mind of God, continues to teach the truth of and to glorify Jesus Christ 

(John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:13-14; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 1 Thes 1:5,6; Heb 2:4, 10:15-17; 1 John 5:27)

  1. The Holy Spirit convicts the unbelieving world of sin, judgment and righteousness 

(John 16:8-11)

  1. The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son, indwells all believers bringing regeneration and empowering believers toward sanctification 

(Luke 11:13; John 7:39, 15:26, 16:7; Acts 1:8, 2:4,33; Rom 5:5, 15:13,16; 1 Cor 12:3; Eph 1:13, 4:30; Tit 3:5)

Doctrine of Man

  1. Man, both male and female, is created by God in his image 

(Gen 1:26-27; 5:1-2; 9:6-7; 1 Cor 11:7; 15:49; Eph 4:24; Jam 3:9)

  1. Man consists of an embodied soul/spirit 

(Gen 2:7; Zech 12:1; Matt 10:28; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Thes 5:23; Heb 4:12; Jam 2:26)

  1. Man, as created in God’s image, has inherent value from conception

(Gen 9:6-7; Ps 139:13-16; Jer 1:4-5; Matt 6:25-32; 7:9-11; Luke 12:6-7; 1 Cor 6:19-20)

  1. Man’s purpose and joy is to glorify and serve God 

(Ps 16:11; Isa 43:7; Jer 32:38-39; Matt 5:14-16; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph 2:10; Col 1:9-12; Heb 13:20-21; 1 Pet 2:11-12; Rev 4:11)

  1. Man, due to sin through disobedience to God, caused death to enter the world and became separated from God 

(Gen 2:17; 3; Rom 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Eph 4:17-18; Jam 1:15; 1 Pet 1:18; Rev 21:8)

  1. Man, in the fallen state, follows the inherited sinful nature 

(Gen 6:5; 8:21; Ps 51:5; Prov 20:9; Ecc 7:29; Isa 53:6; Jer 17:9; Matt 15:18-19; Rom 1:18ff; 5:12-19; 1 Cor 15:21-22; Eph 2:1-3)

  1. Man is only redeemed through acceptance of Christ’s atoning sacrifice 

(Gen 3:15; Isa 53; John 14:6; Rom 5:8-11; 1 Cor 15:17; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Eph 1:4-8; 2:8-9; 1 Tim 1:15-16; 1 Pet 3:18)

Doctrine of Scripture

The Scriptures are: 

  1. Composed of 66 books comprising the Old and New Testament 

(Deut 11:18-20; Matt 5:17-18; Luke 16:16-17; John 10:4, 27; Acts 24:14; Rom 3:31; Gal 3:17-24; 1 Tim 5:18; 2 Pet 3:15-16)

  1. Written by human authors inspired by the Holy Spirit both in its entirety and in its specific words as written in the original manuscripts 

(2 Sam 23:3; Neh 9:20; Acts 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21) 

  1. Inerrant in all matters it addresses 

(Num 23:19; Prov 30:5; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:17-18)

  1. Authoritative as it is God’s words

(Deut 11:18-20; 18:18-20; Isa 40:8; Jer 1:9; Luke 21:33; 1 Pet 1:25)

  1. Necessary to reveal God’s will and redemptive work 

(Rom 10:13-17; 16:25-26; Gal 3:8; 1 Tim 2:5-7; Heb 11:13)

  1. Sufficient for all beliefs regarding God, salvation, faith and practice 

(Deut 4:2; 8:3; 29:29; Ps 119:11, 97-99; Matt 4:4; Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:14-17; James 1:18; 1 Pet 1:23; Rev 22:18-19)

  1. Centred on the redemptive life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ 

(Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45; 5:39, 45-46; Acts 2:14ff 3:18, 24-25; Rom 10:4; Gal 3:17-24; Heb 10:3-12)

Doctrine of Salvation

  1. Man has sinned and rebelled against God and is deserving of death

(Gen 3; Ecc 7:20; Isa 53:6; Rom 3:9-20, 23; 6:23; 11:23; Gal 3:22; 1 Jn 1:8-10)

  1. God, out of love for the world, sent his Son to die voluntarily suffering the punishment we deserve

(Isa 53:4-6; Mark 10:45; John 3:16-17; 10:14-15, 17-18; Rom 5:8;  Eph 2:4-5; 5:2; Phil 2:7-8; 1 Tim 2:5-6; Tit 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18-20; 1 John 4:10)

  1. Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection provides expiation (atonement for sin) and propitiation (satisfaction of God’s justice) due for our sin 

(Isa 53:5; Rom 3:25; 5:9; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Eph 5:2; Heb 2:17; 7:25-27; 9:25-26; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:10)

  1. Salvation is available entirely and solely through God’s grace to all who trust Jesus as Lord and repent of their sin 

(John 1:12-13; 5:24; Rom 3:24, 28; 4:5; 5:1-2, 9; 10:9-10; 1 Cor 15:1-5; Eph 1:7; 2:5, 8-9)

  1. Salvation is evident through a regenerate life enabled and empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit 

(John 6:63; Acts 2:1-5; Rom 5:1-5; Gal 5:16-18, 22-25; Phil 2:12-13; 1 Thes 1:6 1 John 4:13-16)

  1. Salvation includes justification (legal declaration of righteousness), sanctification (maturing into Christlikeness) and glorification (final restored state in God’s presence) 

(Rom 3:21-22; 4:5; 5:1, 19; 8:29-30; 1 Cor 15:42-58; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 4:22-32; 5:1-2; Phil 2:12-13; Col 3:12-17; Tit 2:2-12; 2 Pet 1:5-10)

Doctrine of the Church

  1. The Church consists of all believers saved through Christ.

(1 Cor 10:1-4; 12:12-13; Eph 2:11-18, 21-22; 3:6; Heb 3:6)

  1. Christ is the head of the Church.

(Matt 16:15-18; 1 Cor 3:10-11; 12:27; Eph 1:22-23; 2:19-22; Col 1:18)

  1. The Church is visible as local gatherings of believers for worship, fellowship, edification and discipline.

(Matt 16:19; 18:15-20; Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 12:4-7, 14-26; 14:26; Eph 2:21-22; 3:20-21; 4:1-6, 11-16; 1 Thes 5:11)

  1. The Church’s purpose is to further God’s kingdom as witness to the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ.

(Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Eph 2:21-22; 3:10-12; 1 Tim 3:15; Heb 3:6; 1 Pet 2:4-5, 9, 11ff)

Doctrine of Marriage, Human Sexuality, and Gender

  1. God created two sexes of equal value: male and female

(Gen 1:26-27; 2:7, 21-23; 5:1-2; 9:6; Matt 19:4; Mark 10:6; 1 Cor 11:11-12; Gal 3:28)

  1. Male and female are defined by biological distinctions

(Gen 1:28; 9:7; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-8; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:16-20)

  1. God established marriage as the lifelong union between one man and one woman

(Gen 2:24-25; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:39; Eph 5:28-33)

  1. Marriage, as designed by God, is the only appropriate context for sexual intimacy and the raising of children

(Gen 1:27-28; 18:19; Ex 20:12; Deut 6:6-7; Matt 19:4-6, 9; Mark 10:6-8, 11-12; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 7:1-5; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:20-21; 1 Tim 5:14; Heb 13:4)

  1. Divorce brings reproach to God’s teaching and should be avoided except in extreme circumstances

(Mal 2:14-16; Matt 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:9-12; Luke 16:18; Rom 7:2-4; 1 Cor 6:16-20; 7:10-13, 15-16)

Doctrine of the Ordinances

  1. Jesus, during his earthly ministry, established two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper 

(Matt 26:26-29; 28:19; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 19:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-26)

  1. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, best demonstrated through immersion

(Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:34-39; Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21)

  1. The Lord’s Supper testifies to the body and blood of Jesus’ sacrificial and atoning death for all who believe

(Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:37-41; 16:30-34; 1 Cor 10:16)

Doctrine of End Times

  1. Jesus, at a time appointed by the Father, will physically return to earth to rule and to judge

(Matt 16:27; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36; 25:31-46; John 5:26-27; Acts 1:11 17:31; 1 Cor 15:24-28; 2 Tim 4:1, 8; Rev 21:1-9)

  1. All people will be physically resurrected — the unsaved to eternal punishment separated from the life and goodness of God and the saved to eternal joy in the presence of God

(Matt 25:31-36; John 5:26-29; 14:1-6; Rom 14:9-10; 1 Cor 4:5; 15:35-55; 2 Cor 5:10; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thes 3:14-18; 2 Thes 1:6-10; Heb 9:27-28;  Rev 1:18;  20:11-15; 21:7-8)

  1. God will establish the new heaven and the new earth 

(Isa 65:17-19; 2 Pet 3:7, 10-13; Rev 21:1, 5)