What We Believe

Committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

The statement of faith must be affirmed to be a member of Maranatha Bible Church.

  1. The Bible is God’s inspired and only written revelation to man. It is true, authoritative, sufficient, and without error. (Psalm 119:89; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

  2. There is only one true God, Creator of heaven and earth. God has all power and authority and is in control of all things. God exists as three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)

  3. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, born of a virgin, and is both fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered his life as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. He was crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and will return to this earth. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1, 14; 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Acts 1:11; Luke 24:1-53)

  4. The Holy Spirit is God. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He indwells the believer at the time of salvation, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ, and equips the believer with spiritual gifts. He is the seal and guarantee of our inheritance in Christ. He guides teaches and empowers the believer who is submitted to God’s authority. (John 15:26, 16:8, 3:3-6, 14:16-17, 14:26)

  5. All people are created in the image of God. Because of Adam’s sin, all people are sinful by nature and by choice. Apart from forgiveness of sins through Christ, all are lost and enemies of God. (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-6; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)

  6. Salvation rests solely on the work of God’s grace. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and not by our own works. Christ’s death is the only acceptable payment for sin. All who genuinely believe in Christ are born again and have become the children of God. We are now blameless in the eyes of God because of the perfect life and work of Christ on the cross. (Romans 3:23-26; 4:1-3; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6)

  7. All who truly believe in Jesus Christ will experience eternal life and fellowship with Christ. All who do not truly believe in Jesus Christ will experience the wrath of God and eternal punishment. (Luke 16:19-31, 23:43; Revelation 20:11-15)

  8. Marriage is the original and foundational institution of human society, established by God as a one-flesh, covenantal union between a man and a woman that is life-long (until separated by death), exclusive (monogamous and faithful), and it is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18, 21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Galatians 5:16-21)