Statement of Faith
The following Statement of Faith expresses Equip Rock Ministry's basic core beliefs in thirteen areas.
Equip Rock Ministry, recognizing the authority of God’s word, has carefully considered and adopted the following Statement of Faith. These Biblical references in their entirety are an essential component of this Statement as they undergird each of the following beliefs.
The Godhead -
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:18-19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
The Bible -
We believe the 66 books of the Protestant Bible as originally given by God, are divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority and sufficient in all matters of Christian doctrine, faith and life (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Jude 3).
The Person and Work of Christ -
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, was buried and rose bodily from the dead. Further, He ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 1:37; John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 1:9-11; 4:10-12; Romans 1:4; 3:24-25; 5:8-10; 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:3; 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 7:24-25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit -
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, convict people of sin, righteousness and judgement, regenerate the believing sinner, and at the point of conversion, baptize those who believe into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit then indwells, guides, instructs, sovereignly gifts Christians for the common good of the church and empowers the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:7, 11-13, 18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).
Angels, Fallen and Unfallen -
We believe that God created spirit beings known as Angels. We believe the Bible teaches that Satan is a personal angelic being, the highest of all angelic creatures. Satan sinned through pride and with him other angels, known also as demons, joined Satan’s rebellion against God. Satan through his revolt became the author of sin. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and humankind and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10).
Creation and Fall of Humankind -
We believe that humankind was created male and female in the image and likeness of God. The first human beings, Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying a direct command of God, and as a consequence every person is spiritually lost or dead. Each person is born with a sinful nature and needs the miracle of new birth before he/she can enter the Kingdom of God (Gen 1:25-27; 2:15-17; John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 10:27-29; Acts 10:43; Tit 3:4-7).
Sanctity of Human Life
We believe in the sanctity, significance and sacredness of human life. Male and female are equally created in the image of God and are precious to Him. This sets human life apart from other biological life and that warrants its special protection regardless of circumstance or condition (Gen. 1:26-28; 5:1-3; 9:6; Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; 19:11-13; Psa. 8:4-9; Job 38:1-40:24;1 Cor. 6:19-20; 11:7; Jas. 3:9-10).
Salvation -
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. His shed blood and His resurrection provide the only means of eternal salvation, and salvation is offered as a free gift of God. Only through repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can an individual be forgiven, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and thus become an eternal child of God. We believe that all who are born of God show their faith to be genuine by holiness of life and good works (Luke 24:47; John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 10:27-29; Acts 10:43; Romans 5:12, 17; Ephesians 1:7-8; 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-15).
Christian Living -
We believe that our faith in Christ is to result in a godly life style. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and action. (Matthew 26:28; Luke 24:47; Galatians 5:19-26; Ephesians 4:25-5:21; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; James 1:26-27; 1 John 3:14-18).
Morality and Marriage -
We believe that the sexual morality as prescribed in the Bible is the standard Christians are called to adopt. We believe that God only sanctifies heterosexual marriages and condemns a wide range of sexual misconduct including: adultery; evil desires; fornication; homosexuality; lust; orgies and a wide range of other specific sexual sins (Gen 1:25-27; 2:23; Matt 5:27-28; 19:3-6; Rom 1:24-28; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4; 1 Tim 1:10; Jude 7).
The Church -
We believe the true universal Church is a spiritual entity composed of all individuals who have genuinely repented of their sin, who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been forgiven, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and are united together in the Body of Christ of which Christ is Head. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
We believe God has called individual Christians to meet together in local, autonomous congregation. These local churches are to be bases of evangelistic outreach, submit to Christ as Lord and Head of the Church, be guided by a recognized group of elders, acknowledge a gifted ministry, baptize converts, join together for prayer, worship, teaching, exhortation, fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and take up offerings in order to support those who: minister the Word of God; preach the Gospel; are involved in mission; and assist Christians who have financial or distinctive needs (Acts 2:42-47; 11:27-30; 12:45; 20:7,17-38; 1 Cor 8:1-14; 12:1-28; 2 Cor 8:1-9:15; Rom 12:1-16; Eph 1:22-23; 4:11-16; Phil 1:1; 4:15-18; Tit 1:5; 1 Pet 5:1-4).
We believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one scriptural church are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. (Acts 14:23, 27; 15:19-31; 20:17,28; 1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 11:18-20; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; Heb. 10:25).
Ordinances of the Church -
We believe the Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, believer's baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and spiritual nourish the believer.
Believer's baptism is to follow personal repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Such baptism is an acted parable of a Christian's death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It is an outward sign of an inward divine work (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 35-39; 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-4; 10:9-10; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21).
The Lord's Supper is also called in the Bible, the Breaking of Bread, or the Communion. Communion is a time of worship, a celebration of the redemptive activity of God through Christ. It is a remembrance of Christ, a proclamation of His death, and a meal anticipating of the Return of Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-33).
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ -
We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and the establishing of His Kingdom on earth. This coming is to be expected at any time and, as our blessed hope, motivates the Christian to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (Daniel 9:27; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 6:1-19:21; 20:1-3).
The Resurrection of the Believer and Unbeliever -
We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 20:11-15).
Dr Keith Graham
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