Beliefs

NEW GLARUS BIBLE CHURCH
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT     

June 2, 2024 


  1. We believe that the very words of the original writings of the Bible were inspired by God, and that the Bible is the complete and authoritative Word of God.  It is the only safe guide for faith and conduct. 

 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21


  1. We believe in the eternal existence of one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in purpose but three in personality and all three persons have all the attributes of God and His personality.  Matthew 28:18-19.  2 Corinthians 13:14


  1. We believe in the virgin birth, the substitutionary death and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This coming of Christ will happen at a time known only to God the Father. Jesus’ return demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic mission. Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 27:45-50, Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Matthew 24:30-31,36, 42


  1. We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society.  For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female. Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6


  1. We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and humanity; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that Adam and Eve were created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all people are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race.      Genesis 1; 2; Colossians 1:16-17; 

John 1:3


  1. We believe that all men in their natural state are dead in trespasses and sins, alienated from God, and in need of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:18; John 3:18, 36


  1. We believe that salvation is available to sinners entirely apart from their own works of righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.  Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5


  1. We believe that every person who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior has a perfect standing before God, because his sins have all been borne by Christ on the cross, and the perfect righteousness of Christ has been imputed to him.  Romans 3:21-28, 5:1; Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 2:10


  1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent in the New Birth; that He indwells, seals, teaches, guides, helps, and sanctifies the believer.  We believe that the Spirit of baptism takes place in the life of every believer at the moment of salvation.  The filling of the Holy Spirit will be evidenced through a holy life and not through a demonstration of “revelatory gifts”. Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 4:30; John 14:26; Romans 8:14, 26-27; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1Cor.14:26-28,39-40


  1. We believe that every truly born-again Christian is secure in Christ and will never fall from God’s saving grace. John 10:28,29; Romans 8:28,29


  1. We believe that there are two different classes of people, the saved and the lost; that eternal destiny is sealed at death, that the saved will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ while the lost will be eternally separated from God in conscious torment in hell.  1 Corinthians 1:18; Luke 19:10, 16:19-31


  1. We believe that Scriptural water baptism is an immersion in water on confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Although not necessary for salvation, it is an expression of identification with Jesus Christ.  Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41, 8:36-38


  1. We believe in observance of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Christ’s death.  It is only for saved people living in obedient fellowship with the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:23-29


  1. We believe that there is a real spirit personality known as the devil and Satan who is the adversary of God and man.  He and vast numbers of demons under his dominion are exercising an influence over the lost and even over Christians who give place to him.  Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 5:1-18; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:2


  1. We believe that every saved person has been identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension and ought, therefore, to live a holy life.   Romans 6:1-14


  1. We believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and that bearing witness to the Savior is one of the best evidences of a work of grace in their life. Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15


  1. We believe the members of the local assembly to be baptized believers who are walking in fellowship with the Lord. One of the identifying marks of being a part of the fellowship will be regular attendance of church gatherings. Hebrews 10:25


  1. We believe a Christian, as a new creature in Christ, cannot be a pledged member of the Masons or such secret societies which in themselves are a man-made religion denying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe believers should put worldliness behind them, as they strive to live a sanctified life. 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Timothy 2:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 5:17


  1. We believe that every child of God should practice compassion, forbearance, and patience. Forgiving and forgetting any wrongs done against him, refraining from all gossip and unkind criticism, and always seeking to help the weak and to correct the erring. His conduct should be honest and above reproach at all times. Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:12-14, 4:5; 1 Peter 4:8; Galatians 6:1;   

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12


  1. We believe that the Lord’s work should be supported by His people as He prospers them, and that every Christian should willingly assume responsibilities for service in the local assembly as the Lord directs. 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Gal. 6:6


  1. We believe that the assembly is to exercise discipline over its members according to the pattern set forth in the Scripture, and that every believer within the assembly should willingly submit himself to that discipline. Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Values Statement


#1. We are a Bible Centered Church.  We will put a premium on knowing God’s Word, believing it is only through this knowledge that we can attain a proper relationship with God and an understanding of life.  We believe that biblical teaching, study and practice bring about life changes reflected in our daily living.


#2. We are an Evangelical Church. We hold to the fundamentals of the faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, that salvation from sin comes only through personal faith in His death and resurrection.  We seek to bridge the life of our church with the life of our community because we believe that lost people matter to God.  


#3. We are a Christ Centered Church.  Everything we do will be done to honor God and show that he is sovereign in all of the world. Our worship of God will be Christ centered, inspiring, in spirit and in truth.  It will communicate the supremacy of God in all of life. Our worship will be God exalting, fervent, biblical, and authentic.

 

#4. We are a Grace Oriented Church.  Knowing God saves us by His unmerited favor and fully accepts us by His grace, we will live by grace and show grace to one another.  We will encourage one another to live in obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit and not impose legalism.


#5. We are a Community Church.  We believe authentic community matters to God. We will break bread together. We will seek to foster harmonious, loving relationships that accomplish God’s will in the world.  We will bear each other’s burdens and encourage one another during the trials of life.  We will live life together and celebrate life together. 


#6. We are a Family Oriented Church. We believe that family is the primary context for teaching biblical truth and godly behavior.  We strive to provide an environment which ministers to all generations and strengthens and encourages healthy marriages and healthy families.  We seek to minister to the youngest and the oldest and to those who are single and to those who are married. 

 

#7.  We are a Disciple Making Church. We believe that the responsibility of the church is to intentionally make disciples of all ages.  We seek to provide opportunities for all believers to grow in maturity in Christ.


#8. We are a Ministry Oriented Church. We believe every Christian has been given spiritual gifts and has a responsibility to use these gifts for the building up of the church.  We will seek to provide opportunities for all believers to develop and use their gifts.

  

#9.  We are a Praying Church.  We believe that God answers prayer and that we need to be praying for one another and for the mission of our church in our community and in the world.  We understand that there are things that we cannot do and that only God can do, therefore, we pray with one another and for one another.


#10. We are a Missions Focused Church.  We believe that we are called to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.  Therefore, we support many missionaries both domestic and abroad and engage in missions projects as much as we are able concerning the life stage of our church.