Our Beliefs

believe

Statement of Faith

We Believe:

1. The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, without error in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Matthew 5:18).

2. The Godhead

We believe in one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; each of Whom is fully and equally God, yet Who executes distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19,20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:5,6; Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1-3; Acts 5:3,4; Genesis 1:1-2, 26; John 14:6; Ephesians 1:9-14; Titus 3:5).

3. The Person and Work of Christ

 We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful mankind.(John 1:1,2,14,18; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:30-35; Eph. 1:7).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice, and He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Isa. 53:5;Romans 3:24,25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as believers’ High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9,10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1,2).

4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God, the third Person of the Trinity, who was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, baptize, sanctify, fill and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ.  We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide (John 14:16-17,26; 15:26,27; 16:8-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26; Titus 3:5).

5. The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God.  We believe that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God.  We believe that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 1:28; 3:10-12; 3:22-23; 5:6; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

 6. Salvation by Grace

We believe that Salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:22).

 7. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

We believe that once a person has become a believer in Christ that his or her salvation is eternally secure and cannot be lost.  We believe this based on the following reasons:

a. This truth is stated clearly and specifically in scripture – “Truly, truly I say unto you, he who hears My word and believes on Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).  See also John 3:16; 10:27-29; Romans 8:1; 31-39; Hebrews 13:5b; 1 John 5:11-13.

b. Salvation is totally of God’s grace, not on any merit or personal works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:2-5).

c. The Holy Spirit is given as our seal until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

d. Salvation is totally a work of God, that began before the foundation of the world, and since He did the work of salvation, He is also able to keep us (John 6:44; 10:27-29; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

8. The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  When Christians meet Jesus face to face, we will have the final victory and the sin nature will no longer be present.  (Romans 6:13; 7:15-25; 8:12; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

 9. Separation

 We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord and that separation from all religious apostasy, all sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God (Romans 12:1,2; 14:13; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-111 Corinthians 5:10-12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

10. Missions

 We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word the truths of the Holy Scripture and seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

11. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

a. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. We believe that all believers have one or more spiritual gifts. All believers are called to use their gifts and all are necessary for the building up of the body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:7-12).

b. We believe that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles, such as gifts of healing, were given to the founders of the early church, yet gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (1 Corinthians 13:8; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4).

c. We believe that God does miracles! We do not believe in one person having a special gift of healing. We believe that God does hear and answer a prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; James 5:14-16; 1 John 5:14-15).

12. The Church

 a. We believe that the church exists in this age in two senses. First, it is the universal church, which is comprised of all born again believers, who are the body and bride of Christ.  Second, it is also the local church, in which the focus of ministry is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:14-15; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15-16; 5:25-27)

b. We believe in two ordinances for the church in this age.  We practice believer’s baptism by immersion and partaking of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Also, upon request, we practice the anointing of the sick by the Elders of the church in accordance with James 5:14-16 (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; James 5:14-16).

 13. Bible Interpretation (Dispensationalism)

We believe in literal Bible interpretation with consideration given to the context of a verse, its grammar, the normal rules and conventions of written language, and the time in history in which it was written.  Though all scripture is profitable, we make a distinction between the ages of Law, Grace (also called the Church Age), and Kingdom (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Romans 6:14; Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-7; Isa. 2:2-4).

14. Angels

 We believe that angels are created beings (not to be worshipped) sent forth as ministering spirits to carry out God’s will and to worship Him (Nehemiah 9:6; Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6,7,13-14; Revelation 5:11-14; 22:8,9).

15. The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan, created as an angel, sinned and led a great company of angels in rebellion against God.  These fallen angels are now called demons.  We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall.  He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-15; Matthew 4:2-11; Revelation 20:10).

16. The Second Advent of Christ (Things to Come!)

Our “blessed hope” is that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming at any time, to take His people up to heaven, and reward them at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  After He comes, there will follow a seven year period called the Tribulation.  At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will come back to earth with His saints and establish His kingdom where He will reign for a thousand years.  After this, God’s people will live with Him for all eternity (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Revelation 3:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Daniel 9:27; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 22:1-5).

17. Eternity

 We believe that at death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrection when Christ comes for His own and they receive a glorified body, when soul and body reunited shall live with Him forever in glory.

By contrast, the souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of their condemnation, and in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (Luke 16:19-26; 23:42,43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 1:23; 3:20,21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).

18. Marriage

 We define marriage as the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one biological man and one biological woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Ephesians 5:31-33)

19. The Sanctity of Human Life

 We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139.)

20. Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct

 The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God which speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Northwest Bible Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Elders are NWBC’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

As adopted September 17, 1978,

Revised January 24, 1988,

Revised August 13, 2000

Revised October 1, 2006

Revised October 7, 2007

Revised October 11, 2009

Revised October 10, 2010

Revised October 11, 2015

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