Belleview Community Chapel

WHAT WE BELIEVE…

1. OF FAITH IN THE HOLY TRINITY
   There is but one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible. And in unity this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Ex. 15:11; Zech. 14:9; Deut. 4:35, 39; 1 Kings 8:60; Isa. 45:5f; Mk. 12:29-32; Jn. 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Gen. 19:24; 1:1-2; 6:3; Hos. 1:7; Isa.48:16; 9:6; Ps. 2:7; 51:11; Num. 6:24-26; Mt. 3:16f; Jn. 14:16; Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:2;3:18; Rev. 1:4f; 2 Cor. 13:14)
   
2. OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND HIS INCARNATION
   Jesus is the Son of God and of one substance with the Father. He is, therefore, eternal God. He took on man’s nature in the womb of the virgin Mary such that two whole and perfect natures existed, namely God and man. Therefore, Jesus is truly God and truly man. .(Jn.3:13; 17:5, 24; Col. 1:15-23; Phil. 2:5-8; Mt. 28:20; Col. 2:3; Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:34)
   
3. OF THE RESURRECTION AND IMMORTALITY
   We believe in the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body. In other words, we believe life after death is a certainty (Ps.9:17; 31:17; 49:14; Job 14:13; 17:16; Lk. 16:19-31; Acts 2:27, 31; Rev. 1:18). "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" (1 Cor. 15:35) We also believe the Scriptures teach a physical resurrection of the body (Ps. 16:9f; Dan. 12:2; Jn 5:28f; 1 Cor. 15). The Scriptures say less about the bodies of the unsaved, but it is clear that they too will be raised bodily—but to judgment (Jn. 5:28f; Mt. 10:28; Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:12f).
   
4. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
   The Holy Spirit came from the Father and the Son. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would indwell believers (Jn. 14:16). The Holy Spirit is of one substance with the Father and Son, and as such eternal God. He is the administrator of salvation. We believe the Holy Spirit is given to all believers (2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Thess. 4:8; 1 Jn. 4:13), at the moment of salvation (Eph. 1:13), and without the Spirit one is lost (Rom. 8:9).
   
   The filling of the Holy Spirit is quite different from the other ministries of the Spirit. The indwelling and regenerating happen at one time—conversion, while the filling of the Spirit is ongoing (Eph. 5:18). The indwelling Holy Spirit should continually be in control and dominate the believer’s life. This is because the Holy Spirit is the agent in our conviction, regeneration, sanctification and glorification.
   
5. OF THE SUFFIENCIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR SALVATION
   The Scriptures (the sixty-six canonical books of both OT and NT) are the inspired Word of God, complete as God's will for salvation and the final authority in all the areas they discuss.
   Inspiration involves the recording of the truth. We do not believe it was mechanical dictation or haphazard writing. We believe the Spirit of God moved upon the individuals to write the sixty-six books of the Bible, but He also allowed for each one's personality to shine through (Acts 1:16; Heb. 10:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:21). Thus, the Word of God is fully and verbally inspired; it is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16).
   Authority is inherent in the Word of God. Christ and the apostles repeatedly affirm both the truth and the authority of the entire OT, not simply specific parts (Mt. 5:17-18; Lk. 24:25-27, 44; Acts 3:21-24; 28:23-25; 2 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6-11).
   
6. OF ORIGINAL SIN
   We believe that through one sin of one man, sin came into the entire world and with it all the consequences of sin (Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:21f). Thus, the very nature of man is corrupt at birth and inclined to evil. This universality of sin is clearly taught in Scripture (1 Kg. 8:46; Ps. 143:2; Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:10, 12, 23; 1 Jn. 1:8). Because all have sinned, the need for regeneration is also universal (Jn.3:3f; 12:47; Acts 4:12).
   
7. OF FREE WILL
   The condition of man is such that he cannot turn and do acceptable works to God without the grace of God by Christ. Through Jesus Christ the grace of God makes possible what man cannot do for himself. But we do not believe that God’s grace is coercive.
   
8. OF REPENTANCE & THE SALVATION OF MAN
   Repentance is giving up a wrong way and taking up a right way; that is, a ceasing from sin made possible by the grace of God. We believe it is by grace through faith that justification is declared and realized (Rom. 3:24; 5:1; Tit. 3:7). The Word of God clearly states that an individual must be “born again” before he/she can see God (Jn. 3:3; 1 Jn. 3:1). Only the "new birth," conditioned on faith in Christ's death and resurrection (Jn. 3:14-16; 1 Pet. 1:3), can produce the holiness that God requires within sinners to have and enjoy communion with Him. We believe that the new birth is the gracious work of God in which the moral nature of the repentant believer is quickened and given a new life as a child of God.
   
9. OF SANCTIFICATION
   Sanctification is both an act and a process (Heb. 12:14). The word itself carries the idea of separation to or from something. The believer in this case is separated to God from sin. As an act, sanctification occurs the moment someone believes in Jesus and His work (1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2; Heb. 10:10; Jude 3). Christ is the believer's sanctification in this aspect (Rom. 8:29; Col. 2:10). As a process, sanctification continues throughout the believer's life (Col. 3:8-13). When a believer is totally dedicated to the Lord, the Holy Spirit can work in him/her (Rom. 8:13; 1 Pet. 1:22; Gal. 5:22f), thus allowing for growth in "practical" sanctification (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Thess. 3:12; 2 Cor. 3:8). We believe in the grace of entire sanctification, which is understood to be entire consecration and purity of heart and life (1 Thess. 5:23). However, we do not teach sinless perfection (in the sense that one is free from mistakes and infirmities), but Christian Perfection, defined as purity of heart and life. Both the act and the process need to be taught as there are serious problems when one aspect is emphasized over the other.
   
10. OF GOOD WORKS
    We believe that a believer’s good works, while not sufficient for salvation, are pleasing to God.
    
11. OF THE CHURCH
    The church is created by God and constitutes a group of believers in Jesus Christ who meet together in a local assembly (Acts 8:1; 16:5; Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2). In the early church they came together for worship (Acts 13:2; 1 Cor. 14:26f), fellowship (Acts 2:45-46; 4:31), instruction (Acts 2:42; 11:26; 1 Cor. 4:17), and ministry (Acts 13:2; 15:3) with the result that people were saved (Acts 2:47). However, the Church is broader in its scope than just the local assembly. It encompasses all believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18-20). Christ is the head of the Church, so its direction and purpose should come from Him and His Word (Eph. 1:22-23). The ultimate purposes for the Church are both numerical growth (Mt. 28:19-20) and maturity of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).
    
12. OF DIVINE HEALING
    We believe in divine healing for the body as clearly taught in the Scriptures (James 5:14-16). We believe God also heals through the means of medical science.
    
13. OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
    We believe Christ taught His return would be a literal, physical event (Acts 1:11). The purpose of returning is to take all believers home to be with Him in His Father's house (Jn. 14:1-3). No one knows when it will take place, but everyone is to be prepared at all times (Mt. 24:36, 42; 25:1-13). However, within the large scope of human history, we believe Scripture indicates his return will take place before His millennial reign. His return is the polar star of the Church and the hope of every believer.
    
14. OF FINAL JUDGMENT AND ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
    We do not believe death is to be understood as annihilation. There is life for both the believer and unbeliever (Lk. 16:19-31). Unbelievers will continue in an eternal state of torment, as implied by the often used phrase "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lk. 13:28). In Mt. 25:46, the words "punishment" and "life" are modified by the same word "eternal," showing that both are forever. We believe this torment will be in hell, and that hell is a place of punishment with punishments as pangs of anguish, despair, weeping, etc. (Mk. 9:43-44,47-48; Rev. 14:10; 21:8). The saved, on the other hand, will enjoy an eternal fellowship with Christ (Jn. 14:2), as depicted in His references to banqueting (Mt. 8:11). This eternal fellowship will take place in the new heaven and the new earth (Isa. 65:17).
    
15. OF THE SACRAMENTS
    We believe the Church has two sacrements which Christ has commanded for all to do. They are baptism (Mt. 28:19) and communion (Mt. 26:26-29). We understand baptism to be an outward sign of an inward regeneration. Regarding communion, we agree with the "Memorial" position in that the bread and cup are figurative. They are to be given, taken and eaten by faith. They serve as a continual reminder of the Lord's death (1 Cor. 11:23-26). It is a communion of believers with each other (1 Cor. 10:17) focusing on their common faith in Christ.