WHAT WE BELIEVE

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY: The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Church doctrine, practice, policy, and Member discipline, the Lead Pastor is the Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

HOLY BIBLE
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authori­tative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant. (See 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25-26)

TRINITY
There is one God, eternally existent in three per­sons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and coeternal. (See 1 John 5:7; Gen. 1:26; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isa. 9:6)

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second per­son of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed mir­acles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (See John 1:1, 14; 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:16; Isa. 9:6; Phil. 2:5, 6; 1 Tim. 2:5)

VIRGIN BIRTH
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God. (See Matt. 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35; Isa. 7:14)

REDEMPTION
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (See Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)

REGENERATION
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. (See John 6:44, 65; John 3:3; Titus 3:5)

SALVATION
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. (See Eph. 2:8, 9; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Titus 3:5; Rom. 10:9, 10; Acts 16:31; Heb. 9:22)

REPENTANCE
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation. (See Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9)

SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (See 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23-24; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:14-18; Rom. 8:29; 12:1-2; Heb. 2:11; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

JESUS’ BLOOD
The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100 percent sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. (See 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9; Col. 1:20; Rom. 3:10-12,23; 5:9; John 1:29).

JESUS CHRIST INDWELLS ALL BELIEVERS
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried and rose again from the dead. (See John 1:12; 14:17, 23; 15:4; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 3:20).

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension, to empower the Church to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth, cleanse man from his old nature, and conform him to the image of Christ. Subsequent to conversion, it releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by gifts of the Holy Spirit. (See Joel 2:28-29; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5; 2:1­4, 17, 38, 39; 8:14-17; 10:38, 44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6)

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not exhaustive, but include power, tongues, joy, praise, and other inward and outward manifestations of gifts, which may occur in various combina­tions. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in viola­tion of biblical parameters. (See Acts 1:8; 2:4; Heb. 2:4; Rom. 1:11; 12:4-8; Eph. 4:16; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:5-16; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10)

THE CHURCH
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the ful­fillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (See Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)

 Ordinances of the Church

  • Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (See Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38; 10:47, 48)
  • The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of Communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (symbolizing the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (See Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-25)

HEALING OF THE SICK
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign which is to follow believ­ers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (See Ps. 103:2, 3; Isa. 53:5; Matt. 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Cor. 12:9, 28; Rom. 11:29)

GOD’S WILL FOR PROVISION
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy, and successful in all areas of life. Because of the fall of man, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on the earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.

  • Spiritual (See John 3:3-11; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10).
  • Mental and Emotional (See 2 Tim. 1:7; 2:11; Phil. 4:7-8; Rom. 12:2; Isa. 26:3)
  • Physical (See Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
  • Financial (See Joshua 1:8; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Deut. 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10; 84:11; Phil. 4:19)

TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Tithing is the systematic giving of the first tenth (10%) of the believer’s increase to support the active ministry, propagation of the Gospel and work of the Lord through the local church storehouse. The tithe should not be given to charity or used for other purposes. Offerings are given in addition to tithes, cheerfully and generously in amounts determined by the believer. (See 2 Chron. 31:5; Mal. 3:7-11; Heb. 7:2-8; 1 Cor. 9:7-11; 16:2)

RESURRECTION
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrect­ed; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation. (See Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42, 44; Phil. 1:21-23; 3:21)

HEAVEN
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. (See Matt. 5:3, 12, 20; 6:20; 19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4)

HELL
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to hell where they will be eternally tor­mented with the devil and the fallen angels. (See Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:8)

RAPTURE
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. (See 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-52)

SECOND COMING
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. (See Matt. 24:30; 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 1:7-8; Rev. 1:7)

MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
The term “marriage” has only one meaning. Marriage is a sacred institution created and sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive covenant union, as delineated in Scripture.

God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s biological sex or to otherwise act upon any disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. (See Gen. 2:22-24; Exodus 20:14; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom. 1:18-27; Col. 3:5; Heb. 13:4-7)

In order to preserve the function and integrity of the Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.

God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the Church.

Antioch Church - 5201 Antioch Rd - Overland Park, KS - 66202