Our Statement of Faith

The Bible is our authority for faith and practice. The following are theological statements upon which this church is founded.

ABOUT GOD

We believe in the one true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
 
1. God the Father is the Lord of our existence, the author of creation, and the sustainer of life through the stream of human history. The Father calls us into a personal relationship of faith. 
 
2. God the Son is the reconciler who entered creation, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary as truly Divine and truly human, inaugerated God’s kingdom, modeled the life of obedience to the Father, died for our sins, was resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will return in power and glory. 
 
3. God the Holy Spirit is the advocate who sets us free, empowers, and dwells in us so that we may become children of God. As such, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, calls us to the Savior, cultivates Christian character, and bestows spiritual gifts by which we serve God.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is inspired, “God-breathed,” and the final authority for all of Christian life. It is essential for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that we may be adequately equipped for every good work. The Bible is the written record of God’s revelation to the world.

ABOUT MANKIND

We believe that humans are God’s crowning creation. Humans are “fearfully and wonderfully made” in God’s image, yet each person sins and is thus separated from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and are guilty as sinners in thought, word and deed.

ABOUT SALVATION

We believe in God’s purpose of salvation for all people. Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and arose victoriously from the dead on the third day so that all who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life. All who come by grace through faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and are thus children of God.

ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIVING

We believe in the uniqueness of the Christian lifestyle. Recognizing that we are not our own but are bought with a price, we seek to make Christ supreme in our lives. We live by faith. Attitudes, opinions, ambitions, giftedness and life-choices are to be yielded in submission to God, and guided by God’s Spirit, by Scripture, and by godly wisdom.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

We believe that the church is the Body of Christ. Christians are to be the community of believers who meet regularly for worship, teaching, fellowship, encouragement, service and the discovery and implementation of spiritual gifts. The church exists to glorify God through evangelism and training in discipleship for the building up of the body of Christ and for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in the world.

ABOUT BAPTISM

We believe that baptism is a public declaration of our faith. The biblical testimony of those who profess saving faith in Jesus Christ is water baptism by immersion. All Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion.

ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the Lord’s death and an anticipation of His Second Coming. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is intended for believers who are walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

ABOUT ETERNITY

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. The saved shall be raised to eternal joy; the lost to eternal judgment. In that day, the righteous dead shall be raised and will join with those who remain as they meet the Lord in the air, “and so shall they ever be with the Lord.” *Adapted from First Baptist Church Sioux Falls, our sending church.