General Statement of Faith

1. We Believe that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and is the final and sole authority for all Christian life and practice. The Holy Spirit guided the writers in all that they wrote. II Tim. 3:16; Deut. 4:2; II Peter 1:20,21; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12; Matt. 5:18; Jeremiah 36:2-4: Rev. 14:13. 

2. We Believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Matt 28:19; I Cor. 8:6; II Cor. 13:14; I Peter 1:2; Eph. 3:9-17. 

3. We Believe in the deity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return in power and glory.  John 1:1; John 1:14; John 10:30; Matt. 1:20; I Tim.3:16.

4. We Believe in the personality and the deity of the Holy Spirit - the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, Who indwells in every true believer and is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him (Christ) and not with ourselves. We acknowledge the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who convicts, regenerates, indwells, enlightens and empowers believers for Godly living. John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:26,27; I Cor. 2:12,14; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 3:16; John 16:13,14.

5. We Believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned in Adam, and that he is now a sinner by nature and by choice. Man must receive a new nature by faith in Jesus Christ, implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God in order to gain eternal salvation. Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 5:12; John 3:3-7; Eph. 2:1-3; John 5:24; Titus 3:5.

6. We Believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any human merit or works, and that through faith in Christ, one passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life. John 5:24; Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 10:9-12. 

7. We Believe that the church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. The church is composed of all those who truly believe in Jesus Christ as personal savior, who are to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," rising above denominational barriers, loving one another and, "holding the truth in love...being held together by that which every joint supplies." Eph. 4:2-6; Eph. 4:15,16; Eph. 2:19-22; Eph.1:22,23; I Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:4,5;  I Cor. 1:10. 

8. We Believe that all true believers are called to a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices, and should abstain from that which would bring reproach upon the name of Christ. Christians are to be "salt and light" in the world. Col. 2:6-8; I Cor. 6:17; I Cor.10:23; I Thess. 5:22; Titus 2:11,12; Eph. 2:10: Matt. 5:13-16. 

9. We Believe in the evangelization of the world, that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel, and to make Christ known to every person. Mark 16:15; II Cor. 5:18,19; Matt. 18:14; Matt. 28:19,20. 

10. We Believe in a literal Heaven and Hell.  We believe in the controlling and greater power of God, but also in the reality and power of Satan, the deceiver. Matt. 6:20; Luke 10:20; Luke23:43; II Cor. 5:1; Il Cor.12:2-4; Rev. 2:7; Prov. 23:13; Matt. 5:29; Matt.10:28; Matt.18:8,9; Matt. 25:28-30,41,46; Gen. 3:1; I Chron. 21:1; John 12:31; Acts 5:3; Acts 26:18; II Cor. 2:11; Eph. 4:27; Eph. 6:11; James 4:7; Rev.12:9; l John 4:4 

11. We Believe in the personal return of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that this second coming of Jesus Christ is the "blessed hope" that is set before us that we are continually looking for. Titus 2:13; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16,17; John 14:1-3.

Social Statement

As recorded in our Statement of Faith, paragraph 1, we believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and is the final authority for all Christian life and practice. Also, paragraph 8 states that we believe that all true believers are called to a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices, and are called to be "salt and light" in the world.

Consequently, we believe that we should take a firm Biblical stand concerning issues in which our society is promoting evil and calling it good. Isaiah 5:20 warns, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil."

Among the issues of concern are:

1. ABORTION: We believe that abortion is the tragic and sinful taking of a human life, and violates the Sixth Commandment,  “Thou shalt not kill (commit murder) (Exodus 20:13).  Jer.1:4,5;  Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:13-17;  Luke 1:15,41,44.
2. EUTHANASIA: We believe that euthanasia and assisting in euthanasia violates the Sixth Commandment (Ex. 20:13), and is contrary to the will of God revealed in the Scriptures. Jer. 7:9; Rom. 1:29; 1 John3:12.                                                                                     
3. HUMAN SEXUALITY: We affirm that God established marriage between man and woman. The Bible sanctions only heterosexual marriage. Any extramarital sexual practice, whether homosexual or heterosexual, is contrary to Biblical morality and is rebellion against God.  Matt.19:4,5; Lev. 18:22-25; Rom.1:24-28; I Cor. 6:9,10; I Tim. 1:9,10.
4. FREEMASONS AND SECRET SOCIETIES: We believe that the teachings and religious practices of Freemasons and other secret societies are not compatible with Biblical Christianity. Any organization that denies that salvation comes exclusively through Jesus Christ denies and violates Scripture. Gal. 1:6-10; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 2:8-9; Eph. 1:7; John 10:7-18.

In summary, we assert and believe that every social issue must be evaluated in the light of Scripture. II Peter 1:3,4.

(The above Statement of Faith and Social Statement is widely accepted and adhered to by many Biblical Christian ministries, including some local ministries such as the Association of Evangelical Pastors, and the Juniata County Released Time Program.  With the extensive Scripture references, it can also be used as a simple study guide for personal study or Bible study groups.)