WHAT WE BELIEVE

Holy Scripture

We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testament as verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.

(II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21; John 16:12,13)

Trinity

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection’s.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14)

Person and Work of God the Father

We believe in the one God who is our Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect in holiness, love, wisdom, and power, who reveals Himself to us in three eternal distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while maintaining His perfect unity.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 12:13-25; Isaiah 45:5-6, 11-18; I John 4:8; Matthew 28:19-20; II Corinthians 13:14; I Timothy 2:5)

Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.  We believe that He is true God and true man.

(John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35)

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.

(Romans 3:24,25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)

 

We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He ascended to heaven as our High Priest where He is our representative, advocate, and intercessor to God the Father.

(Acts 1:9,10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1,2)

Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person whose ministry is to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ; to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come; regenerate the believing sinner, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ; indwell, seal, and fill the believer for godly living and service. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth.

(John 16:7-15; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13,14; 5:18; Titus 3:5; I John 2:5, 27; John 14:26)

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit provides spiritual gifts for each believer. We encourage all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but is our policy to avoid the public practice of tongues lest it lead to division among the brethren. We also discourage proselytizing in this area.

(I Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4; I Peter 4:10-11 Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-8; I Corinthians 14:1-4, 6-12, 14-17, 22)

Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct creation and though originally in fellowship with his Creator, he personally chose to sin against God, thereby breaking this fellowship with God, and bringing upon himself both spiritual and physical death.  All born since Adam are by nature and choice, sinners who are unable by themselves to restore fellowship with our Holy God, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ is the only way of restoring fellowship and spiritual life to man.

(Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24;  Romans 3:9-25; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)

Salvation

We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation from sin in God's sight, and that this salvation is provided by God's grace as a free gift to all, but must be personally received by personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. All who personally believe and receive Jesus are rightfully called God's children.

(John 1:12-13; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:3, 7; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:14-17; 10:9,10,13)

Eternal Security of the Redeemed

We believe that all the Redeemed are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever.

(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38,39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)

The Two Natures of the Redeemed

We believe that every redeemed person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.

(Romans 6:13; 8:12,13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians. 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16)

Separation

We believe that all the redeemed should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that Scripture clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.

(Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

Missions

We believe that it is the obligation of the redeemed to witness by life and by word to the truth of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all mankind.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:19-20)

The Church

We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior from their sins, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and are united together in the Body of Christ of which Jesus Christ is the Head.  The local church is the visible expression of the true Church and those who are members of the true Church are eligible for membership in the local church.

(Ephesians 1:13-22; Acts 2:37-47; Colossians 3:11)

 

We believe baptism by immersion symbolizes the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial and triumphant resurrection. It is a pledge on the part of the believer that he intends to live a new life in Christ within the context of the community of believers. We believe infants should be dedicated to the Lord by Christian parents, and that baptism is reserved for individuals who have experienced saving faith.

(Romans 6:3-4; Luke 2:27-28)

 

We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the Lord's death and of His promised return. It is to be received in a spirit of self-examination.

(1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

 

We believe that we are to go and grow disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching those disciples to love the Lord God and live for Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and to build community with all disciples of Jesus Christ who are part of His Body.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; John 17:20-23)

 

We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted.

(James 5:13-16)

Satan

We believe in the existence of Satan, the Devil, a real created personal being, whose activities include blinding the lost to their need of salvation, and opposing God's work and people.  He was defeated by Jesus Christ at the cross and through the resurrection, and this victory is applied by the believer through the name and blood of Jesus and the armor of God.  Satan's final doom and destiny will be in the Lake of Fire.

(Matthew 4:1-11, II Corinthians 4:4; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10; Colossians. 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15; Ephesians 6:10-18; Revelation 12:11; James 4:7; Revelation 20:10)

The Second Coming (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 earth, with His saints, to establish His millennial Kingdom.

(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10)

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 25:46; John 5:28,29; 11:25,26; Revelation 20:5,6,12,13)

 

We believe that at death the souls of the redeemed are 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.

(Luke 23:43; Revelation 20:4-6; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16,17)

 

We believe that at death the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire: not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment.

(Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15)  

Definition of Marriage

We believe that the marriage relationship has been established by God as a union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31).  We further hold that, in accordance with Scripture, sexual intimacy and sexual activity is appropriate only within the marriage relationship, between one husband and one wife (I Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4).  We believe God has created two distinct and complimentary genders, male and female, and each person is created in accordance with God’s perfect design (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 19:4).

 

Accordingly, Federated Church of Bondurant accepts the following teachings as being behaviors as contrary to Scripture:

1)    Any sexual intimacy or sexual act between individuals who are not married to one another.

2)    Any marriage or civil union that is not between one man and one woman.

3)    Any attempt to adopt or present as a different gender than that assigned at birth.

4)    Any other activity, teaching, or behavior that is contrary to a Biblical view of marriage, gender, and/or appropriate behavior as outlined in this provision.

 

All members of Federated Church of Bondurant are expected to uphold these beliefs on marriage, gender, sexual intimacy, and appropriate behavior as set forth in this definition.  Our practice is to only allow our facilities to be used for meetings, services, and events that are not contrary to what we believe.