Statement Of Faith

Scripture We believe the Scriptures in their entirely, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, and that they are infallibly and uniquely authoritative and free from error of any sort in all matters with which they deal, including moral and theological as well as scientific and historical. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21, Matthew 5:18)

Creation We believe that the account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events of the origin and history of life, mankind, the Earth and the universe. All things in the universe were created and made by God in the six literal days of the Creation Week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual; thus all theories of origins or development that involve evolution in any form are false. The various original life forms, including mankind, were made by direct creative acts of God.

The Trinity We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Jesus Christ We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very man (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14, 9:16). We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:14; Romans 4:25). We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and His personal, literal, and bodily coming again the second time for the Church (John 1 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Salvation by Grace through Faith We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12, 22; Romans 5:1 1).

Water Baptism We belleve in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ (Matthew 28;19, Acts 2:37-39; 19: 1-6).

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; 8;14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:1 4-15) and that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

Regeneration We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world, perfecting holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).

Communion We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord's Supper, for believers (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).

The Family We believe in the sanctity of marriage as established by the Holy Scriptures, that God created marriage, and that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman for a lifetime. We believe that children are a blessing from God, and their lives should be treated with inherent value and dignity from the moment of conception. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Ephesians 5:22-33).

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).

Eternal Life We believe in eternal life for believers and eternal punishment for unbelievers. We believe in a literal Heaven and Hell. The Bible teaches that Heaven is a definite place reserved for the saved who will spend eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven. Heaven Is where God's immediate presence is manifested, where the angels are, and where the redeemed shall ultimately be, from where Christ descended and ascended again, where He makes intercession for the saints, and from where He shall come to judge. Hell is an eternal reality for those who die in their sin. The Bible describes Hell as a place of fire and torment for the unsaved, the place of eternal punishment. (Mark 9:43-58; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; John 5:24, 3:16, 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 21:1-2; Matthew 5:22: 29-30; 23:33; 25:41; Revelation 19:20; 20: 10-15; 21:1-8; Luke 13:27-28; 16:19-31; Il Corinthians 5:1, 12:2-4; | Peter 1:3-5).

Statement on Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) members and the community, it is imperative that all church members agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16, 1 Thess 5:22.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3: 19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD).

Statement on Sexual Lifestyle and Identity

SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) sincerely held religious belief is that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as either male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one's sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) expects members to maintain a lifestyle based on biblical standards of moral conduct. Moral misconduct, which violates the bona fide occupational qualification for employees to be Christian role models, includes, but is not limited to, promiscuity, homosexual behavior and/or sexual orientation, bisexuality, polygamy, transgender identity, or any other violation of the unique roles of male and female. (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27-28; 15:19; Romans 1:21-27: 1 Corinthians 6.9-20).

SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) will at all times interact with members of the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) community according to their sex. A member of the church community who wishes to express a gender other than his or her sex is understood to be rejecting the truth and the image of God within that person. Biblical Christianity requires the body of Christ to compassionately dwell in the truth and assist those we love in doing the same (Ephesians 4: 15)

A member of the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) community who openly and unrepentantly rejects their sex, is rejecting the image of God within that person-behavior that dishonors the Holy Trinity and the Word of God. Such behavior constitutes a person's failure to adhere to his/her commitment to abide by the behavioral standards established by SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) which is cause for terminating his/her privilege of membership in the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) community.

To preserve the function and integrity of SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) and to provide a biblical role model to members of the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) community and the community-at-large, it is imperative that all members of the SLAVIC CHURCH (NAME TBD) community agree to and abide by this policy.

Statement on Creation

Creationism is the stated view of the church regarding the origin of the universe.

The following tenets are affirmed regarding Genesis 1-11: The Scriptures and hence Genesis 1-11 are the inerrant and infallible Word of God. The text in Genesis 1-11 is to be taken as authoritative, historical, chronological and narrative, and not to be interpreted as myth or allegory. Il Timothy 3:16-17; ll Peter 1:20-21; Exodus 20.8-11; Hebrews 4:3-4; Mark 10:5-9).

The Bible teaches that creation was supernaturally brought into being without any evolutionary process needed or implied. (Genesis 1:1,3,16,21,25,27, 2:3; Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 33:6-9; 148:1-6; Mark 10:5-9).

The idea of adaptation within species is consistent with Biblical context, but the Bible clearly excludes macroevolution. (Genesis 1:11,12,21-25).

Adam and Eve were specially created by God in His image as actual human beings, the parents of all humanity; hence they are not products of lower forms of life ie., hominids, ape. (Genesis 1:26-31).

An actual, historical fall of Adam and Eve brought all humanity and the world into a state of sin, misery, and subjection to pain and suffering. (Genesis 3)

God promises in His Word the provision of a Redeemer. (Genesis 3:15)