Our Doctrinal Statement

Discover the Gospel has as its doctrinal basis, what we believe to be the historic, biblical faith of the Prophets and the Apostles. These proofs are greatly expanded upon and cataloged in both the Westminster and Baptist confessions of faith.

1. We believe in full and verbal inspiration of scripture as contained in both the Old and New Testaments and these alone comprise the complete Word of God; We hold them to be flawless and without error; wholly reliable for faith and doctrine in their original autographs. They are God’s final authority on all matters concerning faith and practice of the church and regarding all personal and social conduct of His saints before the world.

2. We believe in the Trinity. The One true and living God eternally existing as three distinct Persons. Perfect in unity, inexpressibly good, being infinite in all their attributes and worthy of all honor, love and obedience. This concept is referred to as Godhead. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit eternally co-equal and co-existent; corporately executing all their good pleasure over creation and redemption.

 

3. We believe in the unquestionable deity of God the Father; Supreme arbiter of Justice, holding the cup of His wrath up to the lips of Christ Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, without apology, for the sins of His elect; Faithfully and without respect of persons executing justice upon the soul of the Lord Jesus, for the due penalty of our sins, until He was satisfied thus securing salvation.

4.  The unquestionable deity of God the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His real and perfect manhood, the authority of His teaching and the infallibility of all His utterances. The perfection of His personal holiness. His substitutionary death on the cross being the full, sufficient and only possible atonement for sins. His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven and His present priestly intercession for His saints. We also affirm His personal return in glory to gather His saints and judge the world.

5.  We believe in the unquestionable deity of God the Holy Spirit and His exclusive work in our regeneration and sanctification, and in His ministering to us a true understanding of the Scriptures by leading “the elect” into all truth, while passing over all others; and so giving them alone saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, we affirm the Holy Spirit’s work in our ongoing transformation in to the image of Jesus.

6. We believe in the total depravity of mankind, which, as a consequence of the rebellion of Adam & Eve, lead to the fall of all mankind from our original state of perfection, in which we were created. This resulted in the universal condemnation of all mankind. Deliverance from this condemned state is now only possible through adoption through the  divine work of regeneration, apart from imperfect good works.

7.  We believe in the sovereignty of God over salvation; without respect or regard for our works - good or evil.  Salvation is therefore only granted by His free and unmerited favor. The recipients of this free and unmerited favor are called “the elect.” These fortunate souls were predestined to this salvation before the foundations of the world; even before Adam & Eve committed their first sin.

 

8. We believe that the salvation of “the elect” is therefore not by their own free will, but rather in spite of it! It comes as a result of the God’s irresistible grace and power overwhelming them, and ultimately sealing them through the work of the Holy Spirit.

9. We believe that a sinner’s justification is by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay their entire sin debt; making them sinless and perfect again in the eyes of God.

 

10. We believe in the perseverance saints in holiness and faith. The “elect” are fortunate souls who were chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, so that not one of them shall perish but have everlasting life. Thus, all true Christians are kept by the power of God, not their own ability to believe or maintain holiness.

 

11.  We believe in imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory to judge the believing and the unbelieving. In the resurrection of our physical bodies. The eternal blessedness in Heaven of those who put their faith in Christ. The full, conscious eternal punishment in Hell of those who chose to defy His command to repent.

 

12. We believe that God has given all authority and power to Christ, to be the Head of the Church and Chief Shepherd of our souls; ruling and reigning through word and His elders, who by the Holy Spirit and obedient submission, feed the sheep.

 

13.  We believe in the ordinance of baptism as it was instituted by Christ Himself, by immersion and to be administered exclusively to those who are born again. Baptism is an act obedient worship to bear witness to His already accomplished work on the cross. This sacrament in-no-way adds to, aids or otherwise improves upon a person's standing before God.

14.  We believe in the observance of the Lord's Supper as a reminder that Christ is the Lord of our sin and as such met and satisfied the justice of the Father. Although we are guilty of many things we are not beholden to Satan or man. The bread and wine represent an ever ready feast of forgiveness and a revisiting of the feast we first ate the morning we were first born again.

 

15.  We believe in the observance of the Sabbath day. That it is to be kept holy; a solemn reminder of the morning of our salvation. A revisiting of our awakening, when we  first rested from our own good works as a means of making ourselves acceptable to God and instead trusted in the works of Christ for our perfection.