Immanuel Bible Church
Article III: Church Covenant
Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, joyfully covenant with one another as one body in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, according to the principles of Scripture.
We promise to support this local body of believers by giving priority to faithfully worshiping together, to seek to discover and actively use our spiritual gifts, to financially support this ministry and to be faithful in praying for this local Church.
Our desire is to grow in our Christian life so that we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. We also covenant to be consistent in personal and family worship, to witness to the lost, and to live a life in anticipation of the return of Christ.
According to the principles of Scripture, we will endeavor to love others as Christ has loved us, to pray for one another, to seek to encourage one another in Christian living and to be willing to reconcile with others according to the principles of Scripture.
Article V: Articles of Faith
Section 1: The Bible
We believe that the Bible as originally written was verbally and plenarily inspired by God and was written by men who were controlled by the Holy Spirit, and therefore presents truth without any admixture of error; and that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of Christian Faith, conduct, and Church government. II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-20
Section 2: The True God
We believe:
- that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, the maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; John 4:24, Psalm 147:5, Psalm 83:18, Hebrews 3:4, Romans 1:20, Jeremiah 10:10, Isaiah 45:21-22
- inexpressibly glorious in holiness; Exodus 15:11, Isaiah 6:3, I Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 4:6-8
- and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; Mark 12:30, Revelation 4:11, Matthew 10:37, Jeremiah 2:12-13
- that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Matthew 28:19, John 15:26, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, I John 5:7, II Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 3:16-17, Luke 1:35
- equal in every divine perfection; John 10:30, 5:7, 14:23, 17:5, 10, Acts 5:3-4, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 2:10,11, Philippians 2:5-6
- executing distinct but no small office in the work of redemption. Ephesians 2:18, II Corinthians 13:14, Revelation 1:4-5, 2:7, Ephesians 1:3-14
Section 3: The Personality of the Holy Spirit
We believe:
- in the personality of the Holy Spirit and that He regenerates, indwells, energizes, and empowers us to Godly living and spiritual service,
- and that the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the moment of faith in Jesus Christ, and is also privileged and commanded to be filled with the Spirit. John 14:16-17,26, John 16: 7-15, John 15:26, Acts 16:6-7, Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 5:1-11,13:2-4, I Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19-20, Ephesians 4:30, 5:18.
Section 4: The Devil or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, who is the enemy of God and the Saints; the unholy god of this age; leader of the powers of darkness; and that he is destined to the judgment of the Lake of Fire. Matthew 4:1-3, II Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:10
Section 5: Creation
We teach the days of creation in the Genesis account of creation to be six normal 24 hour days; and that the earth, animal, plant life, and man came into existence as a direct creation of God and not by any process of evolution. Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1-14, Psalm 104:2, Isaiah 48:13, John 1:3
We teach the flood account describes a worldwide catastrophic event of judgment that destroyed all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven except those saved on the ark. Genesis 7:1,4,17-23
Section 6: The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless state, in consequence of which, all mankind is born with a depraved and sinful nature, thus becoming sinners, and therefore under wrath and condemnation of God, without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6, Psalm 51:5, John 3:19, Romans 5:12,19
Section 7: The Incarnation
We believe in the incarnation of God, the Son, in the person of Jesus Christ in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin; and that He is both God and Man. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:14
Section 8: Redemption
We believe that Jesus Christ, who had no sin of His own, suffered as the sinner’s substitute, and paid the penalty for sin by His death on the cross, making the way possible for men to be saved and forgiven of sins. Isaiah 53:6, I Corinthians 14:3; 1 Peter 2:21-24
Section 9: Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, men must be born again; that this new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, wrought by the Holy Spirit in the individual instantaneously upon his faith in Christ; and that in the new birth, eternal life is received, and a new nature is imparted to one previously dead in sins. John 3:1-7; II Corinthians 5:17; James 1:18; Ephesians 2:5
Section 10: Salvation
We believe that the salvation of the individual is wholly of God’s grace, free from all human works, merit or religious ceremonies; that it is made possible by the redemptive work of Christ Jesus; and that it is offered as God’s gift to the individual on the one and only condition of faith in Christ. Acts 16:31; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
Section 11: Repentance
We believe that the Scriptures teach that repentance is a voluntary act of the individual, prompted by the Holy Spirit, and preceded by sorrow for sin, in which the individual turns to God from sin. Acts 5:32, 17.30; II Corinthians 7:10; Luke 24:47
Section 12: Justification
We believe that through the saving faith in Christ, we come into spiritual blessing of justification; that justification includes- forgiveness for sin; and that the righteousness is bestowed not in consideration of a meritorious work which we have done, but solely because of and in virtue of the redemptive work of Christ. Romans 3:22, 3:24, 5:9; I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 4:21
Section 13: Security of the Believer
We believe that all who are truly born again are given eternal life, and are kept for all time and eternity by the power of God in virtue of Christ’s redemptive and mediatorial work. John 6:39, 10:28,29; Romans 8:30,38,39; Philippians 1:6
Section 14: Sanctification
We believe in the sanctification of the believer as a sovereign act of God, whereby the believer is separated to God; that this sanctification does not mean an eradication or removal of our original Adamic nature, but rather a separation to a definite position, an expected experience, and final realization of what is now only positionally true. I Corinthians 6:11; I Thessalonians 5:23
Section 15: Local Church
We believe that the local Church is an assembly of those who have confessed faith in Christ and have been baptized by immersion. The Church gathers for public worship and mutual edification through the ministry of the Word of God, and exercise of spiritual gifts.
We believe the mission of the Church is that of bearing faithful testimony concerning the saving power of our crucified and risen Savior.
We further believe the local Church is an independent body, and has the scriptural right to manage its own affairs, elect its own officers, call and ordain its own pastor, and be the sole judge as to the extent of fellowship and cooperation it will extend to other churches, in the spreading of the gospel and contending for the faith. Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Timothy 3:1-15
Section 16: The Body of Christ
We further believe that all believers in the present dispensation are members of the Body of Christ, being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body the moment of faith in Christ. Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 6:15-17, 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-33
Section 17: The Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Scriptures teach that the local Church is given the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that Christian baptism is immersion of believers in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in Christ, and our identification with Christ in death and resurrection to a new life.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service instituted by our Lord to commemorate His death till He comes to earth again. Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-24; Ephesians 4:5
Section 18: Resurrection, Ascension, and Return of Christ
We believe in:
- The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son from the tomb as recorded in the Scriptures. Matthew 28:5-7, Luke 24:39; John 20:27, I Corinthians 15:4
- His heavenly ministry as our High Priest and Intercessor. I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17, 8:6, 9:24
- His ascension to the Father’s right hand. Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11
- His future pre-millennial bodily return. Zachariah 14:4; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28
- We further believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Saints, followed by a time of great trouble and distress upon the earth, the manifestation of a great deceiver whom the unsaved will worship, after which time the Lord will return with His Saints to put down sin, and re-establish the throne of David, and to reign in person for a thousand years as King over all the earth. Matthew 24:4-31; Luke 1:32; Acts 15:16; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 20:4
Section 19: The Two Resurrections – The SAVED and the LOST
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead and, 1.) that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with the transformed, living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and 2.) that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive the final doom. John 5:21-30; Romans 6:23; I Corinthians 15:1-57; II Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 7:9-17, 20:4-6
Section 20: The Everlasting Punishment of the Lost
We believe in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the Lake of Fire. Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:31; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 14:10-11, 19:20, 20:10-15
Section 21: The Everlasting Blessedness of the Saved
We believe in the everlasting, conscious happiness of the saved in Heaven. John 5:25; II Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:21-23; I Thessalonians 4:13-I8; II Timothy 4:6-8
Section 22: Civil Government
- We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of society; that magistrates and rulers are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the Supreme and Highest Ruler of Heaven and earth.
- We further believe that the Jewish race has been chosen of God for a definite mission in the earth and that the Scriptures teach that God has pronounced a blessing on those nations who befriend the Jews, and a curse upon such people who ill-treat them; and that we should pray that God might give the people of our nation and our governmental authorities a disposition of heart to deal kindly and justly with these chosen people. Genesis 12:21,3; Psalms 122:6, Isaiah 2:2,3; Zachariah 8:20; Romans 13:1-7; I Timothy 2:1-4