HIGHER GROUND CHURCH Statement of Faith 08/15/2018

Scripture: The is God's written revelation (Psalm 19; 119). It is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), and is inerrant (Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5) in the original manuscripts. Scripture is entirely sufficient: it teaches, reproves, corrects and trains in righteousness that God’s people may be complete (1 Thessalonians. 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16).

God: God is holy (Revelation 4:8; :16). He is independent (Acts 17:24-25), unchanging (Numbers 23:19), eternal (Psalm 90:2), everywhere present (Jeremiah 23:23-24), all powerful (Isaiah. 46:9-10), and all knowing (Psalm 139:1-6). He is wise (Proverbs 1:7), and loving (1 John 4:8-10). God, while one, exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Philippians 1:2; John 1:1, 14; Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:16-20)

Jesus Christ: Scripture affirms both the deity and humanity of Christ. Being man, Jesus had a body and mind (Luke 2:52; 1 John 1:1-3), and experienced emotions (Matthew 26:38); John 11:35; 13:21). He was tempted in all ways (Hebrews 7:26), and victoriously triumphed over temptation (Luke 4:1-12). Jesus’ divinity is seen in his being called God (John 1:1-3; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-6; :15-20; Titus 2:13) and Lord (Luke 2:11; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Peter 3:15). He forgave sin (Mark 2:6-10), demonstrated his omniscience (Mark 2:8; John 1:48; John 4:17-18), and omnipotence (Matthew 8:23-34; 14:14-21; John 11:43-44)

Jesus lived a sinless, perfect life, fulfilling the law (Matthew 3:15; 5:17-18; Galatians 4:4-5). He earned righteousness (Romans 5:18-19; 8:3-4; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 5:9). Through his crucifixion, Jesus became a propitiation (Isaiah 53:10; Romans 3:25-26; :17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). His perfect righteousness is credited to those who repent and trust in him, and their sins were placed upon him (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22-24). In his resurrection, Jesus triumphed over death and the grave and he now presently rules from heaven (Daniel 7:13-14), serving as man’s advocate (1 John 2:1).

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal spiritual force. Being the third person of the Trinity, he speaks (Acts 1:16;8:29;10:19 11:12; 13:2; 28:5); can be lied to (Acts 5:3), can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), teaches (John 14:26) and witnesses (John 15:26). He regenerates people (Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 3:5-8), points believers towards and glorifies Christ (John 16:7-15), indwells them (:11; :19) conforms them to Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-18), leads in holiness (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16-18), gives assurance (Romans 8:16) and gifts them to build up one another (Romans 12:3-8; ; Ephesians 4:11).

Mankind and Sin: Of all creation, humanity alone bears God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28; 5:3; 9:6). As such, he is his unique, highest creation. Man can reason, feel, and rules the created world as God’s co-regent (Genesis 1:28; 2:19-20; Psalm 8:6-8). Because of the Fall of Man (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21), every person is born with a sin nature (Psalm 14:3; 51:5; 58:3; Ephesians 2:3). Sin has distorted every aspect of man: his heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23), mind (Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 4:4), conscience (Romans 1:17- 18), will (John 8:34; Romans 8:7) and loves (Isaiah 30:9-10; John 3:19). Every person sins (Psalm 14:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Because of his sin, man is separated from God (Romans 5:10; 8:7; Ephesians 4:18) and is under his wrath (Romans 1:18; 2:5). He is in need of a savior.

Salvation: Before the foundation of the world, based upon his foreknowledge (Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 1:2) God elected individuals to salvation (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-7). Because men are dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), God initiates and guarantees salvation. He draws individuals to himself (John 6:44; 6:63) and gives them life (Ephesians 2:4-10). Regeneration, being born again (John 3:4-8), is his washing of an individual (1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5) and giving them a new heart (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Those who are truly regenerate, persevere in their faith. Salvation cannot be lost (John 6:39; 10:7-28; Romans 8:29- 30, 38-39).

The Gospel: Mere belief in the facts of Christ’s work, saves no one (Matthew 7:21-23; 13:1-30, 47-50; John 6:1-71; James 2:14-26). The Gospel call to follow Christ is a call to die to self (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20). Genuine salvation requires both faith and repentance (Mark 1:14-15; Acts 20:21). Saving faith means to to be convinced of or to trust in Christ alone for salvation (Acts 16:31). Repentance means to change one’s mind—acknowledging that one is a sinner, and is rightly condemned before a holy God. True repentance is validated in a changed life (Luke 3:8-14). To become a Christian is to submit to the lordship of Christ (Romans 10:9), and to become a slave of Christ (:6; 1 Peter 2:16).

The Church: Jesus Christ founded the church and promised to build it (Matthew 16:13-20; Acts 4:11-12; :11; 1 Peter 2:6-7). The church officially began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41). The purposes of the church are to glorify God (Ephesians 1:5-6; 3:10-11, 20-21), to edify his people (Ephesians 4:12-16; :26; 1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to testify his Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). The marks of a true church are the right preaching of the Gospel (1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-4;) and the proper administration of the ordinances: Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:28; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12) and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 11:25-41). The church is led by a plurality of male (1 Corinthians 14:33-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-15) elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5).

Sanctification: The goal for every believer is to become more like Christ (:11; 1 John 2:6). Increased holiness flows from union with Christ. (Romans 6:1-14). Genuine Christians will become more like Christ (Romans 8:29). God’s grace trains Christians in holiness (1 Timothy 4:7-8; Titus 2:11-13). Sanctification, the progressive growth of becoming like Christ, is accomplished by looking at Christ (Romans 13:14; 2 Corinthians 3:8; Colossians 3:10). Sanctification is accomplished by the work of the Christian and the Holy Spirit who gives both the desire and means to holiness (Philippians 2:12-13).

Ungodliness, in its essence, is prizing and exchanging pleasure in God for lesser things (Jeremiah 2:12-13; Romans 1:18-23). Because Christians are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), they experience true joy in renewed affections. Life with God is immensely satisfying (Psalm 16:11; 37:4; 42:1-2). God invites Christians to find their satisfaction—pleasure, enjoyment, fulfillment—in him (Psalm 34:8; 37:4; Isaiah 55:1-3).

Family: Marriage is the complimentary union between one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Husbands are to self sacrificially love their wives (Ephesians 5:25) and gently meet their needs (Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7). Fathers are responsible to lead (:3; Ephesians 5:23), provide for (2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8), and shepherd their families (Ephesians 6:4). Wives submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24), and manage the home (Proverbs 31; 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:14). Children are to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-2).