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What We Believe |
Chicago Bible Fellowship believes in the following essential doctrines
God
We believe in one triune God � God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, eternally existing and have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience (John 1:1-4; Mat. 28:19,20; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6). We believe in that, he is
One God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29)
Creator of all things (Rev 4:11)
Holy (Lev 11:44; I Peter 1:16)
Eternal (Ps 90:2)
Omniscient (Ps 139:1-6; Ps 147:5)
Omnipresent (Ps 139:7-12)
Omnipotent (Gen 17:1; Ps 89:6-8)
Living (Jeremiah 10:10)
True (Jeremiah 10:10)
Merciful (Exodus 34:6)
Gracious (Ex 34:6)
Faithful (Exodus 34:6)
Love (I John 4:8)
In whom we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:8)
Judge of world (Psalm 9:8, 1 Pet 1:17)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the total deity of Lord Jesus Christ and in
His eternal existence (Is 9:6; John 1:1,2)
His incarnation in flesh (John 1:14)
His conception of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
His birth of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:34)
His obedient life to God the Father (John 17:4)
His humility even to the death on cross (Phil 2:5-10)
His death as propitiation for all our sins (Rom 3:25)
Sufficiency of his sacrifice for redemption of mankind (Heb 9:11-12)
His resurrection from the dead (Luke 24:46) by God the Father (Acts 2:24, 32)
His
intercession for all saints (Romans 8:34)
Holy Spirit
We believe in the total deity of Holy Spirit and we believe in
His ministry of conviction (John 16:8)
His inspiration of godly men to write the Holy Scriptures (I Peter 1:21).
His teaching of scriptures (John 14:26)
His ministry of comfort (John 14:26; 16:7)
His bringing forth fruit in a believer (Gal 5:22)
His gifts for the edification of Church (I Cor 12,14)
His seal for the believer till the day of redemption (Eph 1:13)
His help
in prayer (Rom 8:26)
Bible
We believe in Biblical Inerrancy, which means bible is a living Word and entire
bible is the Truth, and there is no error. We believe, all scripture is breathed
out by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness: That the man of God may be competent, equipped for
every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We believe what the entire Bible says, both
the Old Testament and the New Testament, that has sixty six books, are all given
by the inspiration of God in the sense that the Holy Spirit guided holy men of
old to speak and write the very words of the Bible; and that His divine
inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all
parts of these books, historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical, and to
the smallest word, provided such word was present in the original manuscripts (2
Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Corinthians. 2:13; Mark 12:26,36; 13:11; Acts 1:16;
2:4).
Sin
We believe that sin is transgression of law (1 John 3:4). We believe that sin is
also ascribed to a person, if he/she denies the moral law (James 4:17). We
believe that man was originally created in the image of God to worship and serve
the God in innocence. But, because of his voluntary disobedience, he fell down
from fellowship with Holy God thus becoming subject to the power of the evil
one. We believe that this fallen nature was depicted in Bible in many terms
viz., �sin� (Rom 6:12, 14), �flesh� (Gal 5:17), �lust� (James 1:14, 1 John
2:16), etc., This fallen human nature was transmitted to all humans, there by
bringing in the need for saving grace that can reconcile fallen man with Holy
God again.
Salvation
We believe in the need for Salvation of lost soul because of the fallen nature.
We believe that human race is already condemned (Rom 3:23, John 3:18) and is in
desperate need of Salvation from wrath of Holy God (Deut 32:35; Rom 4:15; Rom
13:4). We believe that Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to
scriptures, as substitutionary sacrifice, satisfying the need of holiness of
God. We believe that each person who, by faith, believes in Lord Jesus Christ
with repentance and receives him is justified by the blood of Lord Jesus that
was shed on cross. Each person who receives Christ as personal savior is born
again of Holy Spirit (John 3:3) and receives him so that he can indwell in
him/her (Acts 2:38; Rom 8:9) and thereby becoming eternally secure as child of
God (John 1:12, Eph 1:14).
We believe that salvation cannot be obtained in any other name other than that
of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Jonah 2:9).
We believe that works cannot earn salvation, but it is free gift of God by grace
through faith (Eph 2:8).
Church
We believe that church is a body of confessing believers who are chosen of God
the Father, through sanctification of Holy Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling
of blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:2). We believe in all such people forming the
universal body of Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:22, 23) and his temple built with
living stones (1 Pet 2:5). We believe the primary purpose of universal church is
to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:20). We believe in the local body governed by faithful
and responsible elders (1 Tim 3). We believe that the primary goal of local
church is to gather around the Lord�s table, remembering Lord Jesus Christ�s
sacrifice while giving thanks, and for praying, and for exhorting one another in
Apostles� doctrine (Acts 2:42). We believe the primary work of local church is
to perfect one another for edification of body of Christ and to equip for
ministry (Eph 4:12).
Return of Christ
We believe in the physical return of our Lord Jesus Christ to receive his church
(John 14:1-3, I Cor 15:51-57, 1 Thess 4:13-18). We believe in the Judgment of
Christ to reward the believers (2 Cor 5:10). We believe in the physical return
of our Lord Jesus Christ onto earth, along with saints, to establish his Kingdom
for 1000 years (Rev 20:4), after seven years of great tribulation
Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 28, Acts
1:3) according to scriptures by the power of God the Father. We believe in his
appearance to disciples for 40 days before his ascension (1 Cor 15:4-8). We
believe in his ascension (Acts 1:9) and his present life as high priest
interceding for us (1 John 1:7, Heb 7:25).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all dead (Rom 5:29). Those who believe
in Lord Jesus Christ will be resurrected for eternal fellowship with God in his
Kingdom (1 Thess 4:13-18). Those who do not believe in Lord Jesus Christ will be
resurrected for eternal judgment and condemnation in lake of fire (Rev 21:8).