Damascus Community Church Statement of Faith

From the DCC constitution
May 18, 2004
[ Download Doctrinal Statement Agreement Form]
 
1. Scripture - We believe the original autographs of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God. Our contemporary manuscripts are reliable, and we are using the New King James translation in this constitution. The Scriptures are true being God breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. Their interpretation is found through diligent study and the grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 2:15, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ps 119:160).

2. Concerning God - We believe there is one living and true God, creator and sustainer of all and sovereign over all. He is perfect in all His attributes and worthy of our worship. He is one in essence but triune in nature, eternally existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Gen 1:1-2:25; Isa. 6:3; Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:3).

a. We believe God the Father controls all things according to His good pleasure and perfect will and grace and for His glory. As the absolute and highest ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His Fatherhood involves His relationship to the Son and Holy Spirit within the Trinity; to all mankind as Creator and Lord; and to all who believe in Jesus Christ in an intimate and eternal relationship through redemption and adoption as His own (Ps. 145:8,9; I Cor. 8:6; 1 Chron. 29:11; Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:33; John 1:18; Ephesians 1:3; I Corinthians 11:3; Luke 3:38; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:5-9).

b. We believe that Jesus is Lord and Christ, the eternal Son of God who became man (incarnate) by virgin birth, and yet remains God, therefore fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary death for the sin of all mankind. He was bodily resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He now ministers. He will return at any time now to take His Church out of the world. He is the One through whom the Father will judge all mankind (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Acts 2:36; John 1:1,14; Isaiah 53:5-6; I Peter 3:18; Acts 1:3-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19:11-20; 19:6).

c. We believe the Holy Spirit is at work in the world convicting mankind concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and guiding believers in the truth. He ministers to believers in many ways, including baptizing, indwelling, illuminating, empowering, filling, gifting and producing fruit. With regard to the sign gifts, we believe that biblical speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. With regard to healing, we believe the ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16; 5:18; I Corinthians 12:6-13; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:5-27; Acts 2:6-8; I Corinthians 1:22; 14:21-22).

3. Mankind - We believe that mankind, first male and then female, was directly and immediately created by God in His image, giving human life unique value. Mankind was created to enjoy fellowship with God, glorify Him and be stewards of His earthly creation. The first man, Adam, sinned with the result that the sin nature is inherited by all, therefore all mankind stand condemned before God (Gen 1:26-28, 2:7, 20-23; 1Tim. 2:13; 1 Cor. 10:31, 15:22; Rom 3:23, 5:12, John 3:16-18).

4. Salvation - We believe that salvation is wholly of God, by grace through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8,9). Regarding this salvation, our Lord says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24 NKJV). "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:27-29). "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).

5. Church - We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body - the Church (1 Cor. 12:12,13) of which Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22, 4:15; Col.1:18). a. We believe the Church's purpose is to worship and glorify God (Eph. 3:21) by devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42), by praise (Acts 2:47) by building itself up in the faith (Eph. 4:13-16), by instruction of the Word (2 Tim. 2:2,15, 3:16,17), by fellowship (Acts 2:42; I John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42), and by advancing and communicating the Gospel to the entire world (Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8, 2:42).

b. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23,27, 20:17,28; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; I Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1).

c. We believe that the unity Christ gives us bears witness to His saving and sustaining grace (John 17: 20-21).

d. We believe that the one, supreme authority for the Church is Christ (I Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18), through Whom order, discipline, and worship are established.

e. We believe the disciplining of sinning members of the congregation is in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matt. 18:15-22; Acts 5:lff., I Cor. 5:1:13; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; I Tim. 1:19,20; Titus 1:10-16).

f. We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: water Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, Matthew 28:18-20).

6. Christian Conduct - We believe the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14). Therefore we believe this salvation gives the believer responsibilities in relationship to the three institutions God has established: the family, the state, and the church.

a. The Family - The institution of family has as its foundation the marriage of one man to one woman, as described in Genesis 2:24, "...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This union is intended to be lifelong, as Jesus counseled in Matthew 19:6, "...Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Love, mutual respect and care are to guide family members as they fulfill Biblical responsibilities toward one another. Sexual acts and sexual intimacy are reserved for and appropriate only within this marriage relationship. We believe life begins at conception, and that human life is uniquely sacred. God alone has the prerogative to give and take life (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Exodus 20:14; I Corinthians 6:18; Psalm 139:13- 6; Genesis 9:6; Ephesians 5:21-6:4; I Timothy 5:3-8, Duet 32:39, I Sam. 2:6).

b. The State - God has established governing authorities for the purpose of maintaining order in society and punishing wrongdoers. Submission to such authorities is commanded, and may be set aside only when the command of such authorities is in violation of other Biblical commands (Romans 13:1-7; I Timothy 2:1-4; Acts 5:25-32).

c. The Church - As members of the body of Christ, the Church, we are also members of one another, and are called to mutual love, care and service toward one another. Our purpose is that every believer grows in likeness to Christ, and the service of every member works together toward this end. All of our gifts and resources come from God and belong to Him. The work of the church is financed by the regular, proportional giving of God's people. Believers are to live at peace with one another, and resolve disputes between one another within the fellowship of believers. As witnesses who have experienced life in Christ, all believers are involved in sharing the message of salvation by various means. (Romans 12:3-16; Ephesians 4:7-16; I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 9:6-9; I Corinthians 6:1-8; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 2:3-4)

7. Angelic Beings - We believe that angels, beings of a higher order than mankind, were created to serve God and worship Him. We believe the angel Satan exists and is the author of sin. He rebelled against God, involved other angels in his rebellion, and thus incurred God's judgment. Satan's temptation of Eve led to mankind's choice to sin. (Genesis 3:1-7; Job 1:6-7; Job 38:4-7; Psalm 103:20; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18)

8. Future - We believe Christ is coming soon to take those who are "in Christ", both living and dead, to be with Him. After a seven-year period of tribulation on earth, Jesus will establish His Millennial Kingdom. At the close of that age, opposition will arise, over which God will triumph. The dead will be raised and all unbelievers will be condemned to everlasting death in the lake of fire, along with Satan and his fallen angels. All who have believed will inherit eternal life with God in the new Heaven and earth. (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:36, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, II Peter 3:10- 3, Revelation 12:7-12, Revelation 20, Revelation 21)