The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Old Testament and New Testament of the Holy Scriptures is the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God.  Though it was written by men, it is a supernatural book and its true Author is the Holy Spirit.  With the end of the Book of the Revelation, God finished His revelation to man.  For textual reasons we believe the King James Version of the Bible to be the perfect, preserved words of God (John 6:63; II Timothy 3:16 – 17; II Peter 1:20 – 21; Psalm 12:6, 7). 

The Holy Trinity

We believe the eternal Godhead is revealed in Scripture as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Godhead is equal in the divine attributes of God, functioning separately, while existing as one God (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26; John 4:24; 1 John 5:7). 

The Son of God 

We believe Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Godhead, is the eternal Son of God.  He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, as the Father’s only begotten Son, the Redeemer of sinful man (Luke 1:30 - 55; John 1:1 – 15; Philippians 2:5 – 8; 1Timothy 3:16; Gal.4:4, 5).

We further believe that the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied His Father’s righteous demand for a blood sacrifice by His shed blood and death on the cross.  He was buried and literally was raised from the dead on the third day; ascended to Heaven, where He is exalted at the Father’s right hand.  He has a ministry as the Believer’s High Priest and Advocate (Acts 2:18 - 36; Rom. 3:24 - 25; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3 – 5; Acts 1:9 - 10; Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1 - 2). 

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, is eternal and equal in the divine attributes of God.  He is the Agent in spiritual regeneration and true Teacher of the Scriptures. While His work is to convince unbelievers of sin and righteousness, His primary ministry in this dispensation is to glorify the Son, seal and fill the saved child of God to fulfill the will of God (John 16:13, 14; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13, 4:31, 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27). 

Man

We believe that man was created innocent as a triune being (spirit, soul and body); but he willfully sinned against God’s command.  The consequence was spiritual and physical death.  All men since Adam’s fall have inherited a sinful nature.  Because of his fallen nature, man is incapable of meriting redemption and unable to earn righteousness in God’s sight (Gen. 1:26 - 27; Rom. 3:22 – 23, 5:12, 6:23; Eph. 2:1 - 3; 1 John 3:4). 

Salvation

Because the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood and died on a cross, the Father accepted His atoning, substitutionary work for sinners.  We believe that a sinner can be saved from the penalty and power of sin by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Father accepts the sinner when the sinner accepts His Son by faith.  The saved sinner has eternal life, forgiveness of all sins and is sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7, 2:8 - 10; 1 Pet. 1:18 - 19). 

The Church

We believe the church is the body and espoused bride of Christ, composed of born again sinners (1 Cor. 12:12 - 14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22 – 23, 5:25 - 27).

We also believe the local church is an assembly of born again, baptized believers in a particular location. It has two offices—pastor and deacons, both held by men.  Only qualified, God-called men are candidates for licensing to preach the Gospel ordination.  Its members voluntarily unite for the purposes of edification, exhortation, evangelism and fellowship (1 Tim.3:1 - 13; Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28, 32; 1 Tim. 3:1 - 13; Titus 1:5 - 11). 

We believe in the autonomy of the local church under the headship of Christ; it is free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1 - 4; 15:19 - 31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4 - 7, 13; 1 Peter 5:14).

We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are the two Scriptural ordinances for the church (Matt. 28:19 - 20; Acts 2:41, 42; 18:18; Acts 8:38; 1 Cor. 11:23 - 26). 

The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that "blessed hope," the personal, imminent return of Christ,Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period.  At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel (Ps. 89:3 - 4; Dan. 2:31 - 45; Zech. 14:4 - 11; 1 Thess. 1: 10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11 - 16; 20:1 - 6). 

End Times

We believe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be in two stages.  First, He will return invisibly to call out His bride before the Tribulation.  The unbelieving world will face the seven-year Tribulation.  At the close of the Tribulation, He will visibly return to the earth to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 24:29 - 42; I Thessalonians 4:16 - 18; 1 Corinthians 15:42 - 58; 2 Corinthians 5; Revelation 19:11 - 20:13; Revelation 20-22). 

The Devil, or Satan

We believe that Lucifer was a created spiritual being but lost his position through pride.  He is the enemy of God and His children.  Though he is powerful, he does not possess the attributes of God.  He is the tempter and deceiver who works subtly to steal, kill and destroy.  His final destination is the lake of fire (Job 1:6 - 7; Isa. 14:12 - 17; Matt. 4:2, 11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10). 

Creation

We believe that God brought into existence the universe as a direct result of His omnipotent power in six literal, 24-hour periods.  We believe the theory of evolution is anti-God (Genesis 1 - 2; Ex. 20:11). 

Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained civil government as His ministers for the protection of law-keepers and the punishment of law-breakers.  Each person is subject to these human authorities; the civil authorities are accountable to God for equitable justice (Rom. 13:1 - 7; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13 - 14). 

The Christian Home

We believe God ordained the home to be the foundation and training ground for the happiness of its members, the worship of God and the perpetuation of the Christian faith (Deut. 6:3 – 9; Eph. 5:22 - 24). 

Morality-Human Sexuality

We believe that God has established parameters for the health and happiness of people by restricting any form of sex between non-married couples, restricting any form of sex with same-gender couples, and restricting any form of sex with non-humans. Scripture is clear that any deviation from normal sexual relations between a husband  and his wife, such as homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are wicked perversions of what is holy before God (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8, 9; Lev. 18:1 - 30; Rom 1: 26 - 29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1 - 8; Heb. 13:4).

We believe that the marriage relationship between one man and one woman is the only union God will bless (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7: 10; Eph. 5:22 - 23).

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal before the Lord. God’s plan is for the man to lead the home and the church.  (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8 - 15; 3:4 - 5, 12). 

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life.  Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that condones abortions due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14 - 16: Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15 - 18; Luke 1:44). 

Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians are restricted from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes.  Rather, the church is equipped to reconcile personal disputes between its members. We also believe it is proper that a Christian seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company if the claim is without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1 - 8; Eph. 4:31 - 32). 

Missions

We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matt. 28:19 - 20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46 - 48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20). 

Stewardship

We believe God has entrusted each Christian with His wealth to financially support his family and his local church, consistently giving in a proportionate manner of his income.  We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9 - 10; Acts 4:34 - 37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:12; 2 Cor. 9:6 - 7; 2 Cor. 9:7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17 - 18; 1 John 3:17).

This statement of faith does not exhaust the totality of our faith.  The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.  All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with this statement of faith.

Should you need clarification of any part of the church’s statement of faith, you are welcomed to contact us at ibckc@yahoo.com.