Our Beliefs
This page represents the general Statement of Faith for Study-Grow-Know Ministries, a non-profit 501(c)(3) ministry established to help people grow through knowledge of God’s Word. We endeavor to educate and equip Christians to be more effective in outreach to the lost of this world. We do this by highlighting theological, prophetic, current social, and political issues from a conservative biblical perspective.
This statement of faith is not to be considered exhaustive and is not open to debate or discussion. Individuals who do not agree with aspects of the following statement of faith are encouraged to seek other sources, groups, or organizations with which they do agree.
Section 1: Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. Since the Scriptures are God-breathed in the original manuscripts, inspiration extends to the very words of the Bible so that the entire Bible, and only the Bible, is the Word of God. As such, the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and our only rule of faith and practice. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; Rev. 22:18-19)
Section 2: God
We believe in the one true and only living God, eternally existing as one God, yet three in His persons. (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; John 1:29-34; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 8:6)
- God the Father
We believe that God the Father is the head in His relationship within the Trinity and in His relationship with those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior; that He orders all things after the counsel of His own will and in so doing concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; that He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; and that He is the object of our worship and praise. (Ps. 65:2; 139:1-24; 147:5; Matt. 5:45; 6:24-34; John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5) - God the Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, without sin, and is very God and very man. He, the only begotten Son of God, is not a lesser god, but is coequal and co-eternal with the Father; we believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that He is God manifest in the flesh; that He was sent by the Father for the purpose of being the perfect sinless sacrifice for the sins of all mankind; that He died in our stead, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, thereby gaining victory over death for us; that He is the object of our faith; that He is the only way to the Father; that He is our Great High Priest and that every born again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest; that He could come at any moment for the saints; that He will reign as King of Kings on earth for one thousand years; and that He will judge evil works of darkness at the end of time. (Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-4; 3:13-17; 14:6; Acts 16:31; I Cor. 15:1-4; 55-57; Gal. 3:26-29; Col. 1:16-17; I Thess. 4:13-5:11; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; Rev. 20:4-6; 11-15) - God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, coequal with the Father and Son and of the same nature; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He bears witness to the truth; that He is the agent of the new birth; that He baptizes all true believers at the moment of regeneration into the body of Christ, indwelling and sanctifying all of them, sealing and thus securing them until the day of redemption; that He endues, guides, teaches, and helps believers; and that it is the privilege and duty of the saved to be filled with the Spirit, the evidences of this being love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; that in relation to the evil world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. (Matt. 28:19; John 3:5-7; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 2:18)We believe that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to each believer, bestowing them as He chooses for the perfecting of the saints and the work of the ministry. We believe that sign gifts such as speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, as well as healings and working of miracles by individuals, ceased upon the completion of the canon of Scripture, and that the truth of one’s message is authenticated by its conformity to Scripture. (John 16:1-15; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:18)
Section 3: Creation
We believe that the biblical account of the creation of the world in six literal 24-hour days is the only faithful interpretation of the origin of the world; we choose to accept the biblical record of the direct acts of God without the involvement of any evolutionary process. (Gen. 1:2; John 1:3-10; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3)
Section 4: Mankind
We believe that man was created in innocence and in the image of God. However, in Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and passed to all mankind destroying man’s relationship with God and resulting in death. Thus, all are sinners by nature and by choice, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse, and deserve eternal punishment in Hell. (Gen. 1-3; Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; John 6:44; Rom. 3:10-12, 23; 5:12; 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 4:19)
Section 5: Sin
We believe that sin is the transgression of the Law of God; we believe that all men are sinners; that sin separates man from God; that there is no cleansing and forgiveness of sin apart from the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and man’s repentance. (Luke 24:46-47; Rom. 3:10-26; 7:23-24; I John 3:4)
Section 6: Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace and through faith alone in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that all who receive Him as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become children of God. (Isa. 53:4-12; John 1:29; Eph. 2:8-9; I John 2:2)
A. Regeneration
When an individual responds in faith to the Gospel, repents of his sin, and turns to Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit causes a spiritual change by which that individual is freed from the guilt and penalty of his inherently sinful nature, receives the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, and thus is born into God’s family. Regeneration is an instantaneous and miraculous work of God which involves an illumination of the mind, a conviction of heart, a response of faith, and a change in the will, resulting in a new nature and a new relationship with God. (John 1:12; 3:3-7, 16; Acts 2:38; 17:30; Rom. 3:21-28; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23)
B. Justification
This is the act of God whereby He declares the sinner to be righteous in His sight. On the basis of the finished work of Christ, God cancels the condemnation of sin by paying its full debt and imputing to the sinner’s account the full righteousness of God in Christ. (Rom. 3:21-28; 4:1-8; 5:1-2; Gal. 2:16)
C. Sanctification
Whereas regeneration is a one-time event in the life of the believer, sanctification is a continuing process by which God gradually transforms the believer into the image of Christ. This process will be completed when believers join Christ in Heaven and are glorified, putting on immortality and being perfected in holiness. (Ps. 19:7-11; John 3:2; 17:17; Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; II Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 John 3:2)
D. Preservation
Since salvation is based solely upon the grace of God and not on the merit of the individual, everyone who truly accepts Christ as Savior is eternally secure in his salvation and is kept by God’s power. Scripture, however, gives a solemn warning to those who profess salvation but whose lives give no evidence of change because of the willful, continual practice of sin. (Matt. 7:19-29; John 5:24; 6:37-39; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38-39; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:3-5; I John 3:7-10)
Section 8: The Church
A. The Church as the Body of Christ
We believe that the church, composed of all who have trusted Christ as Savior since Pentecost, is the body of Christ. Christ Himself is the Head of the Church. This body of saints both visible and those now gathered in Heaven is known as the church universal. (Matt. 16:18-19; Eph. 1:22-23)
B. The Local Church
We believe that the local church is the visible and organized assembly of baptized believers who freely associate together in order to exalt the Lord in worship, evangelize the lost through witness, and edify the saints through teaching, fellowship, and service. The local church has the absolute right of self-government and should be free from the interference of any outside force including that of the government. Jesus Christ is the Head and chief Shepherd. (Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
C. Ordinances of the Church
We believe that Christ instructed the church to observe two ordinances. Both are instituted by God yet neither is designed to commute merit or transmit saving grace; they are both symbolic and commemorative.
Baptism
All who profess faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized by immersion in water as a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord. (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Acts 2:36-41; 8:35-40; Rom. 6:3-4) 5
Communion
Communion is a memorial service in which the unleavened bread and grape juice represent the body and blood of Christ. (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-34)
Section 9: Separation
We believe that Scripture commands God’s people to be holy and separate from all ungodly influences, including sinful practices, disobedient brethren, and false teachers.
- Separation as Individuals
Individual believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit and as such must maintain purity from sin. They are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers nor found to be friends of the world. Believers are to be separated unto Christ and are to abstain from sin, association with or appearance of evil, and doubtful practices. (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17) - Separation as a Local Church
The church as a whole must separate from brethren that walk disorderly as well as individuals or religious organizations who teach false doctrine and attempt to subvert the saints. All associations or fellowships of the church with other organizations should be with like-minded churches and should be informal and non-binding. (Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 2 John 9-11)
Section 10: Last Things
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead – of believers, unto a life of blessedness in Heaven; of unbelievers, unto eternal punishment in Hell. (Dan. 12:2-3; Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; Rev. 20:5-6, 11-15)
We believe that the return of Jesus Christ could occur at any moment. After the rapture of the church to Heaven, the Great Tribulation will take place on earth lasting seven years and the nations will be judged. This time of tribulation will be followed by the coming of Christ to the earth with His church and the establishment of His literal 1000-year millennial reign, fulfilling His promises to the Jew. Following the millennial period, the kingdom of this earth will be delivered over to the Father for all eternity. (Matt. 24:21; 25:1-13; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 19:11-20:6)
Section 11: Election
We believe that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously saves, sanctifies, and glorifies. (John 15:16; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-12; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Tim. 1:8-9; 2 Tim. 2:10; I Peter 1:1-2)
We believe God’s general invitation is to all people, and that all are without excuse. All those who come to Him, by faith, He will not cast out. We teach that sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of individuals to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith, the Father will receive. All those He receives are kept eternally by his power.
This doctrine, a divine mystery, must never diminish the church’s urgency and commission to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all men at all times in all places. Understanding that we are chosen in Christ excludes boasting and promotes humility. (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:39-40; 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; Rom. 9:22-23; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; James 4:8; Rev. 22:17)
Section 13: Authority of the Statement of Faith
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, is binding upon all members, and is the basis for our faith and fellowship.
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