We believe that the Holy Word of God teaches:
1. Verbal Inspiration and authority of the Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible, in its original manuscripts, both Old and New Testaments, is the verbally inspired word of God; infallible, inerrant, and exhaled by God, a perfect guideline of faith and practice for God’s children. 1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:16-21, 2 Timothy3:16-17
We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for the children of God, not lacking any other means by which God speaks to us today, the Scriptures are sufficient to make us complete and equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
We are governed by the Word of God alone; not by feelings, emotions, experiences, traditions, visions, dreams, or practices that are not in agreeance with the Scriptures. 2 Peter 1:19-21, Jeremiah 23:28-29
Any practice or ideology that is to be implemented in the church will be rigorously tested with the Bible, if it does not concur with Scripture, the practice or idea will be immediately discarded, otherwise it will be accepted by the members of the church. Acts 17:11
A correct interpretation of the Scriptures is necessary to uphold any doctrine of the church. Knowing that “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
The members of the church are within complete authority as well as under obligation to ensure that the Bible alone be our only guideline of faith. 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 3:14
2. The Trinity
We believe that God exists eternally in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence and attributes, yet they are distinct in their roles and actions. Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians, 13:14, 1 John 5:7
3. The Father
We believe that God the Father is equal and co-eternal with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, yet he is Father in relation to the Trinity and in his relationship with those that receive Christ Jesus as their Savior.
The Father ordains all things according to the counsel of his own will, and, in so doing, concerns himself personally and mercifully with the affairs of men. Matthew 5:45, 6:24-34, John 14:6,
1 Timothy 2:5
He listens to and answers prayers, it is to Him that we direct our prayers. Psalms 65:2, Matthew 6:9
He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable; and he is the object of our worship and praise. Psalms 139:1-24, 147:5, Malakai 3:6
4. Jesus Christ Our Lord
We believe that God the Son, who has always existed, became man (without losing his divinity) through virgin birth by Mary. John 17:5, Luke 1:34-35
He lived a sinless life and, as the infinite God-man, He took upon himself the sins of men, died in our place, and satisfied the wrath of God for all believers. John 8:46, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isiah 53:6
Furthermore, we believe in the literal and physical resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead. After which he ascended and was exalted to the right hand of the Father as High Priest for the believers.
1 Peter 1:3, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 4:14-16
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement. He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing believers into the body of Christ, dwelling within us and sealing us for the day of redemption. John 16:7-11,
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:13-14
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guides believers into all the truth, and it is the privilege and duty of all believers to be controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Juan 16:13,
1 John 2:27, Romans 8:14, Ephesians 5:18
6. Humanity
We believe that God, Creator of everything, wonderful, incomparable, and immutable, created Adam and Eve as man and woman respectively; two distinct, but complementary, biological genders. We believe that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam’s sin the entire human race fell, inheriting a sinful nature, and was separated from God. Humanity since then is totally depraved and incapable in themselves of rectifying their sinful condition. Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:10-18, 23, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, 12, Romans 1:18-32
We believe that God, through conception, still creates every human being as man or woman, and that these two distinct, yet complementary, biological sexes both individually and together reflect the image of God. We believe that every person should live their life as the sex as which they were conceived. Furthermore, we believe that any conduct with the intention to adopt a different sex as that which was God-given at conception, is immoral and therefore sin. Genesis 1:26-28
We believe that God designed marriage when he brought Adam and Eve together in a one flesh relationship, thus defining biblical marriage as a biologically born man and a biologically born woman, who are united in a single, covenant relationship for life. We believe that divorce violates the original design and decrees of God. Genesis 2:18-25, Malachi 2:10-16, Matthew 19:1-12
We believe that the Word of God explicitly teaches that no one should have sexual intimacy outside of biblical marriage; this is sexual immorality. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including though not exclusively: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, and incest) is sinful and cause for the judgement of God and discipline before the church. Exodus 20:14, 17, 22:19, Leviticus 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16, Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Matthew 18:15-20
Furthermore, we believe that a believer should not marry a non-believer. Those that have come to Christ married should do everything in their power to guide their partner to Christ with their words and actions in love and commitment to their marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:2- 5, 10-16, 1 Peter 3:1, Ephesians 5:22-31, Hebrew 13:4, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6
We believe that God offers forgiveness, redemption, and restoration through Christ Jesus for all those who confess and abandon their sinful life, including patterns of sexual immorality. Psalms 51, Romans 10:9-10
We believe that every individual should be treated with compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity as image bearers of God. Hateful or harassment behavior or attitudes aimed at any individual will be reputed. Such actions are not in agreeance with the Word of God or the doctrine of Semillas de Vida. Matthew 22:37-40
7. Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift from God to man by grace alone and is received by faith alone in the Lord Christ Jesus apart from works. The precious blood of Christ was shed on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. There is no eternal hope outside of the cleansing we obtain through the blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19
8. Eternal Security
We believe that everyone who has truly been saved solely through the work of Christ Jesus will never be less than a child of God. John 1:12, 10:27-30, Romans 8:1, 35. The authenticity of one’s conversion experience is manifested by a godly life. Christian liberty and security are never grounds for carnal living. Romans 13:13-14, Galatians 5:13, Titus 2:11-14
9. Heaven and Hell
We believe that heaven is a literal place prepared for born again believers. All those who die in Christ will be immediately and eternally present with him. John 14:1-6, 2 Corinthians 5:8. Hell is literal place of eternal punishment for those that refuse to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Matthew 25:41, Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 21:8
10. The Devil and Demons
We believe that Satan is a fallen angel who is in active opposition to God’s plan in every aspect. Satan is accompanied by an army of evil beings called demons. Their desire is to destroy the homes and churches of believers. Every believer is subject to their attacks, yet victorious through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:11-12, 1 Peter 5:8
11. Creation
We accept the account in Genesis (6 days) as the literal creation, and we believe that man came from direct creation of God and not by any other means of evolution. Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16-17,
John 1:3
12. The Church
We believe in the universal church, the body of Christ, that is made up of all believers from Pentecost to the coming of Christ. The local church is a body of believers, baptized by immersion, who have come together to work, worship, observe the ordinances (baptism and communion) and proclaim the Gospel to the world. Ephesians 4:12-16, Acts 2:41-42, 46- 47, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3-4,
1 Corinthians 11:23-31
13. Baptism and Communion
We believe in baptism for the regenerate by immersion. Baptism is not for salvation but is in obedience to the clear commandment of Christ. It is the public testimony of a personal faith that was placed in Christ. This illustrates the participation of a believer in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and guides us to a new life. Romans 6:1-5, Matthew 28:19-20
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic ordinance, that points to the body of Christ broken for our sins, and his blood poured out for our redemption. It is not an ordinance that saves. This promotes personal sanctification by a regular remembrance of Christ’s death and his future return for his saints. 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
14. Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of all his gifts. The Holy Spirit is who distributes the gifts according to his will, and gives at least one gift to every believer, sometimes more.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
The gifts are given exclusively for the edification of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12-23
Certain gifts are necessary to have active in the church for the edification of the saints, and all believers are called to exercise these gifts, even without having been given the gift specifically. Such gifts are mercy, love, giving, praying, helping, serving, etc.
Other gifts, such as speaking in tongues or the gift of miracles, were gradually used less as the New Testament was completed and its authority established. God is all powerful and can make use of any one of these gifts and/or work miraculously according to his will as he desires, but is not necessary that all believers practice these gifts, and evidentially they are not commonly used correctly today. Many of these gifts were used with a specific purpose during a specific period, for example, to authenticate the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:7-12
Every believer has at least one spiritual gift. Examples could include evangelism, pastoring, teaching, exhortation, words of wisdom, administration, discernment, mercy, helping/serving, or giving. Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
We firmly believe that God hears and answers prayers of faith, in accordance with his will, for the sick and afflicted. John 15:7, James 4:3, 5:14-16
15. Separation of Church and State
We believe in separation of Church and State. The government should not dictate what we believe. We believe that the civil government is given by God for the interests and order of human society. We should pray for those in office, we should honor them consciously, and obey them; however, when the law is in direct opposition to the Gospel and its proclamation, we should obey Christ first above the government. Matthew 22:21, Acts 4:19-20, Romans 13:1-7
16. Separation from the World
While we believe in evangelism, we also believe in separation for God from sin and unrepentant believers. All who are saved should live life in such a way as to not bring reproach on their Savior or their church. We believe in separation from religious apostacy (false teachings, organizations and institutions that uphold false doctrine). 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 16:17-18,
1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 9-11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 5
17. The Future
We believe in the personal, imminent, pre-millennial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for all believers. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18
We believe in a literal millennial kingdom (1000-year reign). Zechariah 14:4-11, Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6
We believe that the souls of believers in the moment of death are absent from the body and immediately present with the Lord. There in conscious joy, they await the first resurrection, when the spirit, soul, and body will reunite to be glorified forever with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:23, Revelation 20:4-6, Philippians 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
We believe that the souls of non-believers remain after the death in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when the spirit, soul, and body is reunited. Luke 16:19-26, Mark 9:43-48
They will appear before the judgement of the Great White Throne and be cast into the lake of fire, not to be eliminated, but to suffer eternal and conscious judgement. Revelation 20:11-15
18. The Inviolability of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred from the moment of conception; and that every human being, regardless of race, sex, age, mental or physical ability, was created in the image of God and therefore valued in the eyes of God, and should be valued by every child of God. Genesis 1:26,
Psalms 139:13, 15-16
We believe that those who are weak, vulnerable, sickly, disabled, unborn, or needy deserve our respect and care. Therefore, we oppose every practice, policy, or procedure that attacks or neglects the right to life given by God to every human being from the moment of conception until natural death occurs. Proverbs 24:11-12, 31:8-9, James 1:27
19. Final Authority in Issues of Belief and Conduct
This statement of faith does not comprise the whole extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority about the truth, morality, and appropriate conduct for humanity, is the ultimate and only source for all that we believe. 2 Peter 1:3