The purpose of this statement of faith is to provide our present members and all future members with our interpretation of the major doctrines of the Holy Scriptures. It is important for all present members, as well as all new members, to know what our church believes and practices in daily Christian living. In order for spiritual unity and doctrinal purity to exist in a local body of believers, the members of the body must be in agreement on the major doctrines of the Holy Scriptures.
The Scriptures
We accept the Holy Bible as our creed. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired Word of God. We accept the Holy Scriptures as the final authority for faith and life. We believe they are inerrant in the original writings, complete revelation of the will of God to man and it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:17-18; I Peter 1:23; John 17:17; Revelation 22:18-19; Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:89)
The One True God
We believe there is one and only one true and living God, and infinite Spirit, and the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth. We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections. (Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:2-3; Psalms 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 1:1-14; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; I Timothy 1:17)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and of the same nature. We also believe that He lived as a human being having experienced physical growth, fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain and death. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, received a human body, and a sinless nature. He is our savior from sin, creator of the universe, our intercessor, our mediator, and our High Priest. (John 3:16; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 7:25; I Timothy 2-5; Hebrews 4:14-16; John 1:14; Matthew 22:26; Philippians 2:7; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues with power, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (Genesis 1:1-3; John 14:16-17; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 26-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14)
The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son (born of man). (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; Psalms 2:7; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47; Hebrews 2:14)
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression of God’s law Adam fell from his sinless and happy state; that all men sinned in him and as a consequence all are born sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under condemnation without excuse or defense; that because of man’s fallen nature he is unable to do anything that would merit salvation on the basis of his own works. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-6; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:20, 28, 32; 5:12, 19; Romans 3:10-19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12; Romans 3:22-23)
The Devil
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil; that he was created by God as an angel, but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator; that he became the unholy god of this age and the ruler of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire; that he is man’s great tempter, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the lord of the antichrist. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ephesians 2:2; Ezekiel 28:6-7; I Peter 5:8; Jude 6; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 12:1-10; 19-20; 20:1-3, 10)
Atonement & Resurrection
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Matthew 28:6-7; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 3:24-25; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; I Peter 1:3, 5; 2:24)
The Salvation of Man
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace, plus nothing and minus nothing; that it is received by personal faith in Christ’s atoning work; that we are chosen to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the truth; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the duty of all men to accept Christ; that nothing prevents man from receiving salvation except his own depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; and that it is the blood of Christ that washes away all sin. (II Thessalonians 2:13; I John 1:7; Romans 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:18, 36; Colossians 1:14; John 3:1-7; Romans 3:24; Romans 5:1, 8-9)
Believer's Assurance
We believe that all the redeemed are kept by the power of God through faith and are thus secure in Christ apart from any works on our part. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5)
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. We believe the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. We believe that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and the authority of the evangelists, pastors, and teachers became established. We believe that God does answer the prayer of faith in accord with His own will for the sick and afflicted. (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:1 to 14:40; II Corinthians 12:1-14; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:7-8)
The Ordinances
We believe the two ordinances of the church are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper; that these ordinances are not to be regarded as a means of salvation nor as a means of grace by which special merit is obtained for salvation. We believe that water baptism is a command of the Lord to be followed by all born again believers; that only believers are to be baptized; that it has nothing to do with one’s salvation, but with one’s obedience to Christ; that it shows forth in a solemn and beautiful picture our identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior; that is also shows forth in a symbolic way or death to the old sinful life and our resurrection to a new life in Christ; that it is to be performed under the authority of the local church; and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; Colossians 2:12 We believe the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes again; that it would be observed by all believers who are walking in fellowship with Him; that it should be preceded by solemn self-examination; that it is for believers only; that it should not be observed by one who is not walking with Christ (one who is living in sin, refuses to repent, or one who refuses believer’s baptism); that believers from other churches may join us in our celebration, and that the Lord’s Supper be conducted under the authority of the local church. We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be observed at least quarterly and at other appropriate times as deemed beneficial for our edification. (Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
The Local Church
We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of baptized, born-again believers, associated by a church covenant, a statement of faith, and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons, who qualification, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. The true mission of the church is the winning of the lost, the edification of the believers, and the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry. The local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and the method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:1-6; 4:11; 5:23-24; Matthew 28:19-20; Jude 3-4; I Corinthians 12:4, 8-13; 6:1-3; 5:11-13; 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:23-24; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 3:1-13; I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 14:23; 6:5-6; 15:13-18; 15:22-23; 20:17-28)
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of God’s Word; that it is the duty and privilege of the church to take the Word of God to all the world, using missionaries, missionary agencies, and other means that God may make available so long as each is in full agreement with our statement of faith; that it is the responsibility of the church to pray for laborers to be sent to the mission fields, to support them financially, and to pray for their ministry and their safety. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Matthew 9:36-38; II Corinthians 5:19-20; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 6:18-20; II Thessalonians 3:1-2)
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the One we ultimately answer to as taught in the Scriptures. (Exodus 18:21-22; II Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7)
Separation
We believe that all the saved are responsible to live godly, consistent Christian lives without bringing reproach upon their Savior and Lord and their church; that the Scriptures plainly teach that those who are born again should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14—7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
The Advent of Christ
We believe in the “Blessed Hope”, the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to the earth with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 3:10; I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Zechariah 14:4, 11)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men – the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:26; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5, 6, 12, 13)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death absent from the body and present with the Lord, where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:35-54; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the second resurrection with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels – not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15)
Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation; that it is to be accepted literally; that the creation took place in six 24-hour days; that man was created directly by God in His own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly; that God’s established law was that they should be forth only “after their kind”; and that Adam and Eve were the first parents of the entire human race. (Genesis 1:1-2; 11; 24-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; 17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6; John 1:3)
Marriage We believe that the Bible teaches that God established marriage as only between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5), and that all sexual conduct outside the bonds of marriage is sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) with fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality and bestiality all being described by God as abominations (Leviticus 18:6-30). We further believe that the physical condition in which a person is born, including their gender, is established by God (Exodus 4:11; John 9:3), therefore claims of innate sexual confusion are false and transvestism and its related perversions including sex change operations are abominations before God (Deuteronomy 22:5). We further believe that declaring God’s word and warning people of the temporal and eternal consequences of their sins, including sexual perversions, is an act of loving concern. God’s word remains true and His prohibitions, including those on sexual perversions and immoralities, cannot be satisfied or amended by any human government authority.
This statement of faith was adopted on August 23, 1987. Medina Federated Church Hudson, MI