Articles of Faith +
Statement of Belief
These 9 Articles of Faith do not represent the final authoritative word on biblical doctrine or Christian theology. They reflect the basic tenets of historical, evangelical Christianity.
About God – There is one God the Creator, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).
About the Bible – The Bible is the living, inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God and is the foundation of all Christian doctrine (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
About Jesus Christ – The deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His abiding intercession and His imminent return.
About Salvation – We believe in the spiritually lost condition of all people and the essential need for the “new birth” by faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7).
About Eternity – Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence and man was created to exist forever, either separate from God by sin or in union with God. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. (Dan. 12:2; John 11:25-26; Rev. 21:7,8; I Thes. 4:17).
About the Holy Spirit – We believe in the person and work of the Holy Spirit with His fruits and gifts functioning in the Church (1 Cor. 12:8-10; Heb. 2:3-14). We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life (Gal 5:16). We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a gift available to believers subsequent to the new birth, with the normal initial evidence of speaking in other tongues (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4).
About Healing – The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer (Isa 53:4-5; Matt 8:17).
About communion and baptism – In the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism by full immersion in water for all believers (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 11:23-26).
About the Church – In the church being the body of Christ, and each member being an active part of a local church, fulfilling the Great Commission (Mark 15:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Statement of Belief
At Honor Church, we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and that all scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As a result, any listing of specific beliefs will fall utterly short in that we accept the teaching of the Bible as our primary source of belief.
We believe in God the Father, the maker of heaven and earth, who made all things seen and unseen through His son Jesus Christ, who was with God and was God before He ever came to earth in the flesh and who now sits at the right hand of God in heaven and the Holy Spirit, the promised comforter, guide, spirit of truth and gift of God (Genesis 1:1-2:7; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 16:9; John 14:26; John 16:13; Acts 2:38).
We believe that mankind was made in God’s image, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is defined as breaking God’s law, the penalty of which is death. It is sin that has separated us from God (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 6:23, Isaiah 59:1-2).
God sent Jesus, who was born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, who had the sins of the world laid upon Him through His beating, who died as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of death for the sins of the world that whoever would believe in Jesus would be forgiven and saved. We are reconciled to God by Jesus’ death and saved by His life. Our salvation is not by works, but by grace through faith (John 1:1-14; Matthew 1:18-25; Hebrews 4:14-16; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 9:23-28; Hebrews 10:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 1:7; John 3:16, Romans 5:6-19; Ephesians 2:8-10).
Those who believe in Jesus should confess their sins and recognize that they are in need of His sacrifice for sins, that He died and rose from the dead after three days and that He is now their Lord. As a result of this confession, those who believe in God are called to give their life for Him, to turn from their sinful ways, to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. As a result, those who believe in Jesus are justified and made righteous in the sight of God. Believers in Jesus reckon themselves as dead to sin and alive to God, no more living as slaves to sin, but as slaves to righteousness (1 John 1:8-10; Acts 2:22-39; Ephesians 4:17-5:10; Colossians 3:1-17; Romans 10:8-13; Romans 4:1-8; Romans 4:20-25; Romans 5:1-21; Romans 6:1-23, Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 4:1-3).
Those who believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit are made part of the church of God, the body of Christ. The believers become the children of God by being baptized into His name and receiving His Holy Spirit. As a result, they become brothers to Jesus, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. The individual members and the church as a whole are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God and to serve one another as the Spirit produces fruits and gives spiritual gifts to each member (Romans 8:5-17; Romans 15:13-19; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-20; Acts 1:4-8; Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 2:4; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
Those who believe in Jesus Christ are new creatures, having God’s laws written on their hearts and in their minds, who live a new life of obedience to the teachings and commandments of God. The saints keep the commandments of God, including the two great commandments, the Ten Commandments and the teachings of God contained through the Bible. The essence of this way is love, which is defined as having benevolent care and concern for others. If you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments; this is what matters to God (2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 8:7-12; Matthew 5:1-7:29; Romans 6:15-23; Matthew 19:17; Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-14; Revelation 14:12; 1 John 5:3; 1 John 3:22; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; John 14:15; 1 Corinthians 7:19).
The basic doctrines of the church include repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:9-12; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:36; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-39; John 1:28-33; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 19:5-6; Acts 6:6; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 13:2-3; Daniel 12:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; John 5:25-30; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:1-16; 1 Peter 4:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society (Romans 13:1); and the guarantee of liberty of conscience. This guarantee consists of absolute constraint of the government to the civil realm, not interfering or influencing in the spiritual realm of the church. For the believer to see that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed (Matthew 22:21); except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:29; 4:19-20; Psalms 103:1-5) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth.
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct – Honor Church’s Statement of Beliefs does not exhaust the extent of the church’s beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. At Honor Church, our Pastors hold the interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application in regards to doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline.