Summary of Our Beliefs

God values truth! That statement should need little defense. Jesus, in His High Priestly prayer to the Father, petitioned the Father to “sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) The Lord understood the absolute necessity of truth and requested the Father to use truth to set apart His disciples for the purpose of bringing Him glory. Christian leaders are commanded by God to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). The careful attention to biblical detail in this doctrinal statement is presented to our local church with joy and great anticipation. John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4) This summary statement of faith is created to be the guide of what we teach at Hope Bible Church. It represents the consensus of opinion and conviction of the elders of the church concerning what the Scriptures teach. It is provided for the general instruction, unity, and guidance of our people concerning those articles of faith taught in the Scriptures.

Our full statement of faith is posted here: “What We Teach”.

Basic Doctrines of the Christian Faith

• Every word of the Bible is inspired by God and is without error, so that the Bible is the only infallible rule for faith and Christian practice.
• There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• God created everything out of nothing.
• God is the one Supreme Ruler in the universe.
• Jesus Christ is fully God – the second person of the Trinity.
• Jesus Christ is fully man – the unique God-Man.
• God has supernaturally performed many miracles as recorded in the Bible including the virgin birth of Christ.
• Jesus Christ never sinned; He lived a sinlessly perfect life.
• Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.
• Jesus Christ was bodily resurrected from the grave, and is now living victoriously over death.
• Jesus Christ will bodily come again.

• The Holy Spirit is fully God – the third person of the Trinity. He is a person, not an impersonal force or power.
• Every human being has sinned, and apart from Christ is unfit for heaven.
• Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
• Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and men.
• The Holy Spirit indwells all those who place their faith in Christ for salvation.
• Every believer needs to live a Christ-like life in the power of the Holy Spirit, turning away from sin, and showing love and goodness.
• Every believer is commanded to learn the word of God, to pray, to worship, to witness about his faith, to fulfill family duties, and to fellowship with other believers.
• Satan, demons, and angels are real spiritual creatures.
• Heaven and hell are real places. Each person will spend eternity either in the Kingdom of Heaven or in hell.