1. GOD ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

There is but one God, the triune God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). He is our holy and perfect creator who transcends our concepts of love, truth and mercy.  He is the maker of heaven and earth. 

2. MAN ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

He made us in His image and likeness, male and female with dignity, value, worth and purpose. He made us to worship and love Him through a precious communion that is unique from all other created beings.

3. SIN ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

However, we (through Adam) chose to sin against Him, to rebel against Him and to disobey Him. When Adam sinned, he immediately died spiritually. His relationship with God was broken and he also began perishing physically. His body began the process of growing old and dying. From that point on, every person born has inherited Adam’s sin nature, ratified his choice to sin by their own actions, and suffered the same consequences of spiritual and physical death.

4. OUR DILEMMA ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

As a result, we are separated from God. Mankind is dead in its sins. Meaning, we could sell our possessions and live an amazing life of good works and still die and go to hell. God is a holy and a just God. So, in order to stand in the presence of God and have fellowship with Him, we would need an absolutely perfect record from the moment we were born, until the moment we die. Thus the dilemma. We don't have that kind of record. If we died and were judged based on our own merit, we would be found wanting. Justice must be satisfied and the only way justice can be satisfied is through the eternal deaths of the individuals that have broken God's law. The gospel points out the dilemma that all of mankind is in. We have sinned against Him. We’ve separated ourselves from Him by our sin. 

5. JESUS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

We could not go to God, so He came to us. This is the very essence of why Jesus (the Messiah) came. The “God-Man” (truly God and truly man), was the object of human and angelic worship while on earth. He forgave sins addressed to him in petitionary prayer, He possessed and displayed all the divine attributes.

The gospel makes these declarations of truth:

-       Jesus deserves the honors only due to God.

-       Jesus shares the attributes that only God can possess.

-       Jesus is given names that can only be given to God.

-       Jesus performs deeds that only God can perform.

-       Jesus possesses a seat on the throne of God.

6. SUBSTITUTION ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

It wasn’t just His life, but 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God treated Jesus as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, hanging on the cross. He was a spotless lamb. He was never, for a split second, a sinner. To put it simply, God punished Jesus as if He lived our lives then turns around and rewards us as if we lived His life. These are the doctrines of justification, substitution, and imputation. Jesus of Nazareth was truly God and truly man. He lived and died a perfect and substitutionary death that we could never accomplish. He paid for every crime we've ever committed or will ever commit against God. When God looked at Christ on the cross, he saw our sin. When He now looks at the children of God, He sees Christ.

7. THE RESURRECTION ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

The Bible records the eye witness testimonies of the apostles and their close comrades. In these accounts, they teach that God raised Christ from the dead, vindicating all the claims that He had made about what His life and His death were about. His resurrection was God's sign that his death was accepted as payment for our sin and that he was "The Word" made flesh.

8. REPENTANCE ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

In His Word, God calls all to repent, to turn from their sins and to trust in Christ as the all sufficient Savior.  

9. CHRIST'S RETURN ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

He is coming again and those who trust in him will enjoy eternity in his kingdom forever; however, to reject this gift of the gospel is to accept the eternal torments of separation from God in hell. This is the good news that we as believers have in the gospel. The story that God is not going to leave this world in the mess that it's currently in. God is going to, as the scriptures say, "make all things new".

10. THE CHRISTIAN MISSION ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

Until then He has commissioned us ( the children of God) with the Holy Spirit to diligently live in and proclaim this amazingly good news. To proclaim that there is a God who passionately, lovingly, continually, and relentlessly pursues us. He ascended into heaven and is alive. He is seated on the throne. Christ is ruling and reigning over all nations, all cultures, all philosophies, all races and all periods of time. 

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

The Doctrine 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 following Doctrine of Faith accurately represents the  teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is understood and accepted by all our members. 

THE BIBLE 

We believe that the Bible (the canon of 66 books in the Old Testament and New Testament) is God’s  Word, that it is fully inspired in the original manuscripts, that the Spirit superintended the human  authors without violating their individual personalities and writing styles, and that it is subsequently  without error and is completely authoritative in all matters of life, faith, and practice. The Bible is the  supreme revelation of the will of God for men and, as such, has been preserved through faithful  translations in many languages, assuring us that we can have absolute confidence in the Word of God.  We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice; therefore, the Bible is not just the  highest authority, it is the sole authority.  

Prov 30:5-6, Jn 17:17, II Peter 1:19-21, Heb 1:1-2, II Sam 23:2, Acts 1:16, II Thes 3:17, Mt 5:18, Jn  10:35, II Tim 3:16, Mt 5:18, Jn 10:35, II Tim 3:16, 6Acts 17:11, I Cor 10:6-12, Eph 6:17, II Tim 3:15- 17, Jn 4:1. 

THE TRIUNE GOD 

We believe that there is only one living and true God who is an eternal, self-existing, perfect Spirit. He  is a personal Being and the Creator and Upholder of the universe. Though one God, He exists in three  Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These Persons are equal in essence and in every  divine perfection, but each has His own distinct work to perform.  

A. Father: We believe in God the Father: the first Person of the Trinity, an infinite, personal spirit, and  perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, justice, and love. We believe that He infallibly knows all, that He  concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer according to His  will, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 

B. Son: We believe in Jesus Christ: the Second Person of the Trinity, that He was conceived of the  Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, truly God and truly man, genuinely tempted, lived a sinless life, suffered  and died as the only acceptable substitute for the sins of man, rose again from the dead in bodily form,  and ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. We believe that in heaven  He continues His priestly work as intercessor for the saints, and that at the end of the age He will return  to the earth to reign as King over the new creation. 

C. Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit: the third Person of the Trinity, that He is the divine agent  in creation, revelation, and redemption; that He convicts the world of sin, restrains evil, regenerates  those who believe, and indwells, seals, gifts, empowers, guides, teaches, and sanctifies all who become  the children of God through Christ; that He enables individual members of the body of Christ to be  used in the Church. 

Mark 12:29; John 1:1, 4; 4:24; 5:23; 10:20; Matt. 28:18, 20; Acts 5:3, 4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1, 3; 1:8;  Rev. 1:4-6;17:11; Gen. 1:26; 3:22; Is. 44:6; 48:16; 61:1; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 1:17; Phil. 2:5-6; Ps. 110:1

pg. 5

MANKIND 

We believe that humanity was created for God, by God, and in God’s own image, but that in Adam’s  sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal  death, which is separation from God. All humans are now sinners (by nature and conduct) and are  justly under divine condemnation. Humanity fell through disobedience, incurring both physical and  spiritual death. Human beings are totally depraved and, of themselves, utterly unable to remedy their lost condition because they are dead in their trespasses and sins. 

Gen 1:27,31, 2:16-17, Eccl 7:29, Gen 3:6-7, Rom 5:12,19, Pr 51:5, Is 53:6, Rom 3:9-18, 23, 5:15-19,  James 2:10, Jn 3:36, Rom 1:20. 

THE TERMS OF SALVATION  

We believe that salvation is offered freely to all people by the Gospel. Christ died for everyone that  would believe in Him and, by His death, they are given salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ  alone. It is initiated by God and is accomplished by grace apart from any human works. God  commands all persons to repent and believe. All who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are forgiven,  regenerated, justified and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to them. They are given  spiritual life (sanctification) which is demonstrated by a pattern of growth in grace, faith, and obedience  till death. 

I Jn 2:20; I Tim 4:10; II Peter 2:1; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6; II Tim 1:9; Jh 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom 5:1;  Eph 1:7; I Peter 1:23. 

THE CHURCH 

We believe the universal church of Christ consists of the whole number of the redeemed, that have  been, are, or will be gathered together as the spouse, the body, the temple, and the fulness of Christ  Jesus, its head. The universal church is not identifiable by one specific denomination or communion but  is instead created by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit by grace through faith in the hearts of those  who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this way, the universal church is invisible. 

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a local congregation of baptized believers, associated by  covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His  word; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only  scriptural officers are Bishops/Elders/Pastors, and Deacons/Deaconesses, whose qualifications, claims,  and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.  

Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacramental ordinances of positive and sovereign institution,  appointed by the Lord Jesus, to be continued in his church to the end of the world. These holy  appointments are to be administered by pastor/elders who are qualified and thereunto called, according  to the commission of Christ. 

1 Cor 1:1-3; Matt 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; 1 Cor 4:17; 1 Cor 14:23; 1 Tim 3:5; Acts  2:41-42; 2 Cor 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 5:12-13; 1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 3:6; Rom 16:17-20; 1 Cor 11:23-24;  Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor 2:17; 1 Cor 4:17; Matt 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; 1 John 4:21;  John 14:21; 1 Thess 4:2; 2 John 6; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:7; 1 Cor 14:12; Phil 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; 1  Tim 3; Titus 1; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 4:1; Matt. 28:19–20; 1 Cor. 11:26

pg. 6

A CHRISTIAN SABBATH (THE LORD’S DAY)  

We believe the divine law teaches that one day in seven be set apart for personal and corporate worship and  communion with God. Due to the fact that the early New Testament Church was given to the pattern of Sunday  worship as a result of the resurrection, Sunday has been accepted as the main day of worship for this  congregation. 

Exod. 20:8; 1 Cor. 16:1–2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10

GIVING  

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to themselves, is  encouraged to financially support their local Church. Every believer should give offerings sacrificially  and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel.  We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift  has been made.  

Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. We  believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position and value before God, but that God has  ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home. The man is to be the  loving leader of the home as husband and father and is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. The  woman is to be the wife and mother in the home and is to submit herself to the shepherding leadership  of her husband as the Church submits to the headship of Christ. This submission does not include  following her husband into sin or submitting herself to sinful or dangerous circumstances such as abuse  or mistreatment. Both the husband and the wife are called to prefer one another, mutually submit to  each other’s needs, and to defer to one another as often as is possible, for the glory of God, as siblings  in Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord and the parents are responsible for teaching their  children the gospel and living out the faith they profess by teaching spiritual and moral values and  leading them through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline. The children are  admonished to obey their parents as unto the Lord for this is right. This obedience does not include sin  or dangerous circumstances such as abuse or mistreatment. 

Gen. 1:26–28; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12; Gen. 1:26-28; Ex.  20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21- 33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7. 

GENDER ROLES AND THE CHURCH 

We believe that God wonderfully creates each person as male or female and that these two distinct,  complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. In the same way that the world is  incomplete without both sexes reflecting the image of God, so also is the Church incomplete without  the involvement and inclusion of both men and women in her ranks. The Scriptures indicate that the  office of elder/pastor has specifically been entrusted to qualified men as seen in the epistle to Timothy  and Titus. Since the primary sin of Adam in the garden was the abdication of his priestly duties, the  reassumption of these duties by men follows logically as a sign of God’s recreative activity in the  church. Excluding the office of elder/pastor, women are seen in scripture as being affirmed and vested  with value and significance both by Jesus and His apostles. This affirming New Testament culture includes the office of deaconess and other important functions in the church (i.e., teacher, missionary,  office holder, representative, member, etc.) This is given to us in the example of Euodia and Syntyche  who stood by Paul's side in the Gospel (Acts 18:18-19) and the prominent ministry of Priscilla and  Phoebe in Rom 16:1. 

Eph 5:21-33, Col 3:18-19, I Cor 11:3, I Tim2:11-15, 3:1-13, I Cor 14:33-34, Titus 2:3-5, Phil 4:3; Gen.  1:26–28, 2:4–25, 9:1; Mal. 2:15

LOVE 

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also  toward both those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions.  We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the  stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving  personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we  are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions.  

Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2  Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18

We believe in what we call meaningful membership. We believe that the specific covenant that a local church enters into with one another in membership is a biblical, real, vibrant, and meaningful relationship. Inside this relationship is community, confession, unity, love, protection, benevolence, and the sharing of grace and truth. When an individual enters into this covenant community at Immanuel by joining our membership, this is the covenant we have written to express this bond we share:

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and having been baptized in obedience to the Lord, we do now, in the presence of God and this our church, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the Gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain personal relationships with our Lord; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our friends and acquaintances; to walk righteously in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior; to avoid all wrongful communication; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the instruction of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we are moved from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other Bible-believing church where we can continue to grow in Christ and serve fellow believers.