Note: Where there are Creeds or Statements that entirely encapsulate For The Parachurch’s view, there will be a shorter summary statement provided above with a reference to the Creed/Statement.
Doctrine of Scripture
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testament Scriptures are verbally inspired by God, written by man, without error in their original manuscripts, entirely authoritative, self-authenticating, sufficient to conform the man of God into the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that all copies or translations of Scripture are the Word of God to the extent that they faithfully represent the original. We believe no text of Scripture is rightly interpreted unless it is interpreted in light of Christ’s work on earth.1
We hold to the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.
Doctrine of The Trinity
We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, one God in three distinct persons.
We hold to the Athanasian Creed.
Doctrine of Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, begotten not made, who took on human flesh yet was entirely free of sin. Born of the Virgin Mary, he is the Son of God. He died the death mankind deserved to provide atonement for sins and rose three days later, conquering sin and death. He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven and will return again to rule forever.
We hold to the Chalcedonian Creed.
Doctrine of Man
Mankind was created in the image of God, wholly free from sin and suffering, and declared good by God. God created mankind to bring him glory and honor by acting as vice-regents and creating multiplying, image bearing worshippers of him.
However, Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, rebelled against God by disobeying him and consuming the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of this act of rebellion, mankind has been plagued by sin and suffering ever since. All are now born in sin and opposed to God. Without the redeeming work of Christ, mankind has no hope of a restored relationship with God or deliverance from sin.
God in his kindness bestows common grace whereby he restrains sin, shows unmerited favor, and enables sinful man to perform civic righteousness towards their fellow man. This common grace, however, is not to be mistaken as forgiveness, which cannot be achieved without God’s saving grace received through faith.
Doctrine of Justification
We believe sinful man is entirely forgiven of sins and justified before God when they receive the grace of Christ’s work on the cross whereby he paid for sins with the ransom of his life. They receive this grace through faith alone and not by works. Upon receiving this grace, they enter into new life, never again to return to the old.
Doctrine of Sanctification
We believe every Christian has been saved and is being saved. Thus, the Holy Spirit dwells within man and works to conform him into the image of Christ. Sanctification is the process of gradual transformation into the image of Christ, only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with the effort of mankind.
Doctrine of the Church
We believe Christ instituted the Church, declaring her to be the means and end of disciplemaking. We believe the Church Universal is the body of all believers past, present and future who belong to the Kingdom of God. The Church Universal is directly related to the local church, and to be expressed and lived through the local church. One cannot be entirely obedient to the commands of our Lord without joining a local church as a member and being baptized. Therefore, membership and baptism are expected and commanded for those who follow Jesus.
We believe a local church is a group of covenanted believers who regularly gather together to sit under the preaching of God’s Word and exercise the keys of the kingdom, namely, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Doctrine of the Parachurch
We believe the Parachurch exists to support the Church in her mission to make disciples of all nations. As the Church is the means and end of disciplemaking, the Parachurch exists to partner alongside the Church by strengthening, equipping, supporting, and promoting the Church above itself.
Doctrine of the Sacraments
We believe the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 18), reserved for the church and therefore barred from practice in the parachurch.
Doctrine of the End Times
We believe Christ will return at any moment, fully ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven, delivering his people from sin and death once and for all. We believe in the resurrection of the saints and eternal life with our Lord.