Doctrinal Statement
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible to be the written revelation of God, complete and sufficient in all respects.
We believe the Scriptures to be inspired and therefore fully authoritative in and of themselves; they rely for their authority upon no church, council, or creed, but are authoritative simply because they are the Word of God. The Scriptures, as they embody the very speaking of God, partake of His authority and His power. Because the Scriptures, are in their entirety, the infallible, inerrant, and inspired Word of God, they carry the full weight of God’s authority to which we are obligated to submit.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1–2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7–10; 119:1, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1–32; Matthew 5:17–18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44–46; John 5:39; 16:13–15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25–26; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19–21.
GOD
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. There is one and only one true and living God.
He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is fully omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, not given to learning or “openness”.
To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1–3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6–13; 17:1–8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14–15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
GOD THE SON; JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, having two natures inseparably united in one divine person without confusion, mixture, separation, or division. Each nature retains its own attributes.
In the incarnation, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life among us, was crucified, dead, and buried, rose on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will come again in glory and judgment. He is the only Mediator between God and man.
Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1–12; Matthew 1:18–23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:1–6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1–18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:25–27; 12:44–50; 14:7–11; 16:15–16, 28; 17:1–5, 21–22; 20:1–20, 28; Acts 1:9; 2:22–24; 7:55–56; 9:4–5, 20; Romans 1:3–4; 3:23–26; 5:6–21; 8:1–3, 34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1–8, 24–28; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4–5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7–10; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:13–22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 3:16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:14–15; 7:14–28; 9:12–15, 24–28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21–25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7–9; 3:2; 4:14–15; 5:9; 2 John 7–9; Revelation 1:13–16; 5:9–14; 12:10–11; 13:8; 19:16.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We teach that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He convicts us of sin and regenerates the sinner upon believing in Christ, baptizing the believer into one body of which Christ is the head. He indwells, guides, instructs, fills, comforts, and empowers the believer for godly living and service through individually bestowed spiritual gifts. While the Scriptures do not teach that certain gifts have ceased, it does seem to indicate that their usage would vary according to the need that each gift is designed to meet.
Veritas Bible Church does not encourage the use of the ‘sign gifts’ as a normative pattern in the life of a believer nor do we teach that any gift is required as evidence of salvation, including the gift of tongues. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the perfecting of saints today, and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers. We choose to emphasize the more excellent way of love and zeal for the more edifying gifts.
John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 4:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12
MAN
We believe that man was originally created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners; not only by constraint, but by nature and by choice. Therefore man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse. We believe that, without exception, every human being is totally depraved and needs a Savior. This means that every facet of humanity - emotion, cognition, and volition is infected with and affected by sin. Although man is totally depraved he is not utterly depraved; he is not as bad as he can possibly be. While human beings are born dead in sin, all human beings, regardless of spiritual condition, retain the image of God (Imago Dei) and therefore have intrinsic value, dignity, and worth. Because of this truth- all human life, from conception to natural death, should be valued. This valuation of human life would necessarily preclude abortion, euthanasia, racism, and any form of devaluing of human beings. Such things are sin and must not be tolerated by any society and especially by Christians.
Genesis 1:26–30; 2:5, 7, 18–22; 3:1-6; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3–6; 32:1–5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26–31; Romans 1:19–32; 3:10–19, 23; 5:6, 12,19; 6:6; 7:14–25; 8:14–18, 29; 1 Corinthians 1:21–31; 15:19, 21–22; Ephesians 2:1–22; Colossians 1:21–22; 3:9–11.
SALVATION
We believe that God, in His sovereign grace and mercy, regenerates sinful men by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by any action of their own, bringing them to new life. God grants to them the gifts of faith and repentance, which they then exercise by believing in Christ and turning from their sins in love for God. As a result of this faith, based upon the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God justifies (makes righteous) the one who believes. God’s gift of faith, and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the elect, will result in good works. These good works flow from true, saving faith; they are a necessary result of faith, but are not to be considered necessary to the gaining of justification, which is by God’s grace through faith alone, so that no man can boast.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14–17; 6:2–8; Isaiah 53:4-12 Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21–26; 27:22–28:6; Luke 1:68–69; 2:28–32; John 1:11–14, 29; 3:3–21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28–29; 15:1–16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30–31; 17:30–31; 20:32; Romans 1:16–18; 2:4; 3:23–25; 4:3ff.; 5:8–10; 6:1–23; 8:1–18, 29–30; 10:9–10, 13; 13:11–14; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 30; 6:19–20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22–25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–10; 4:11–16; Philippians 2:12–13; Colossians 1:9–22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 2:1–3; 5:8-9; 9:24–28; 11:1–12:8, 14; James 2:14–26; 1 Peter 1:2–23; 1 John 1:6–2:11; Revelation 21:1–22:5.
HEAVEN AND HELL
We affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 32 section 1-3, which states-
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls (which neither die nor sleep), having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies: and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledges none.
At the last day, those found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
RESURRECTION
We teach the bodily resurrection of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ, His bodily ascension into heaven, and His present life for us as High Priest and Advocate.
Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25, 26
RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the blessed hope that at the end of the age Jesus Christ will return to this earth personally, visibly, physically, and in power and great glory. He will gather His elect, raise the dead, judge the nations, and consummate His kingdom.
We believe that the righteous will enter into the everlasting joy of their Master, and those who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness will be consigned to everlasting conscious misery.
We believe that the end of all things in this age will be the beginning of a never-ending, ever-increasing happiness in the hearts of the redeemed, as God displays more and more of His infinite and inexhaustible greatness and glory for the enjoyment of His people.
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
We teach that there are two ordinances of the church given by Jesus himself; baptism and communion.
We teach that baptism by immersion is the first act of obedience by the followers of Jesus Christ. This baptism publicly identifies the person as both a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the universal body of Christ.
We also teach that communion, or the Lord’s Table, is the second ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for his followers. While we do not believe that there is anything supernatural in the elements of the bread and the wine, we teach that these symbols of the body and blood of Jesus are significant and are something that we do during every Sunday morning gathering, proclaiming the Lord’s death until he returns.
THE CHURCH
Upon accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, all believers therefore become part of His body, the church. There is one Universal Church, composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scriptures command believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances (baptism and communion), fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world in fulfillment of the command of Christ to make disciples of all believers.
Ephesians 5:23; Romans 12:1; Acts 2:42-46; I Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20
Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command there is the local expression of the church – under the care of biblically qualified elders, deacons, and other supportive leadership. Its members are to work together in love and unity, with the ultimate purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:16).
MISSIONS
[Adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 article XI]
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:5–6; Isaiah 6:1–8; Matthew 9:37–38; 10:5–15; 13:18–30, 37–43; 16:19; 22:9–10; 24:14; 28:18–20; Luke 10:1–18; 24:46–53; John 14:11–12; 15:7–8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26–40; 10:42–48; 13:2–3; Romans 10:13–15; Ephesians 3:1–11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1–3; 11:39–12:2; 1 Peter 2:4–10; Revelation 22:17.
CHRISTIAN LIVING
We teach that the Christian life is one of constant growth. When one is born again, we were born into God’s family. It is God’s purpose that one will grow into full stature and become mature in Christ. It would be contrary to the law of God and nature if one were to remain a spiritual infant. The Bible says that we are to grow. It implies steady development, constant enlargement, and increasing wisdom. The term we use is sanctification.
2 Peter 3:18
STATEMENTS AND HELPFUL GUIDES
We affirm the following statements as helpful guides as to what Veritas Bible Church believes and teaches.
Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural, physical death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139).
