Avon Community Church Statement of Faith
Article I - The Scriptures
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament to be the written Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed, and the final authority for faith and life. (Lk. 23:44; Rom. 15:4; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 3:16). Further, we believe the inspiration of the Scriptures to be both verbal and plenary in nature (Matt.5:18; II Pet. 1:20-21), and complete, not to be added to our taken away from (Rev. 22:18-19). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7); and only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit may spiritual truths be discerned *Isa. 11:2; I Jn. 2:27; I Cor. 2:10-16). God's faithfulness insures the preservation of Scripture (Ps. 119:89-90).
We believe in One Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - eternally existing in three person, executing distinct but harmonious offices in divine operation, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Gen.1:1-2,26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; II Cor. 13:14.
The attributes of God include those of personality; Intellect (both Omniscience and Foreknowledge, Isa. 46:8-11; Ps. 139:1-16); Sensibility (Holiness, Justice, Love, Goodness, Truth: Lev. 19:2; Isa. 45:21; I Jn. 4:8; Eph. 2:4-5; Num. 23:19); and Will (Freedom, Omnipotence; Matt. 11:26; Gen. 1). Constitutional attributes of God include: Unity (Deut. 6:4; Is. 44:6; I Cor. 8:4); Infinity and Eternity (Ex. 3:14-15); Immutability (Ps. 102:24-27, James 1:17); Omnipresence (Eph. 4:6); and Sovereignty (Ps. 50:10; I Chron. 29:11-12; Rev. 19:16).
The Father is that person of the Godhead who holds the final authority and highest position although all persons are equal in essence. He is the Architect of a perfect plan which includes man and all creation. (Matt. 11:25; Jn. 20:17; II Cor. 1:3; Eph. 4:6).
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the eternal second person of the Godhead who is declared to be the "brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person" (Heb. 1:3). Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true man (Matt. 1:18-25; Phil. 2:5-11; Jn. 1:1). The Son came to earth in His incarnation; lived a sinless life; and died a vicarious and voluntary death on Calvary to provide salvation for mankind (II Cor. 5:21; Jn. 19:30). On the third day after His crucifixion, He was raised bodily and appeared to many witnesses (I Cor. 15:1-8). Faith in His person and work is the only means of salvation from sin and its punishment (Acts 4:12).
Christ is presently at the right hand of the Father, during this church age, having ascended to the Father following his resurrection and post-resurrection ministry (Acts 1:9-11). During the present age Chris is the High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate of the believer (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25; I Jn. 2:1-2). Confession of faith in the incarnate deity of Christ is a test of orthodoxy (I Jn. 4:1-3; 5:1-2; 2:22-23).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn. 16:7-11). He indwells every believer and by His baptism unites all to Christ in one body, and is the source of all power and acceptable worship and service.
Certain ministries are committed to the Holy Spirit. These ministries are: restraining of evil, convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgment, indwelling, baptizing, teaching, filling, guiding, sealing the believer unto the day of redemption, regenerating, and generally helping the believer. (Rom. 8:9-16; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:12-13; 4:30; 5:18; II Thess. 2:17; I Jn. 2:20-27). When the Holy Spirit fills or controls the believer, He equips that person for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:4-16). He also produces the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24). The filling of the Spirit is available to every believer who yields to His control (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16-18).
Article V - Creation And The Fall
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth for His own glory and for the good of His creatures (Gen.1; Rev. 4:11). The angelic realm, including Satan, was created for the worship and service of God (Heb. 1:6-7, 14). Man was created in the image of God and given a place of dominion in the earth under God (Gen. 1:26-30).
Satan was the first of God's creation to sin and is the cause of the fall of man. He is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness, the arch enemy of the Christian, and the determined enemy of the Godhead. He has been judged at the cross, and will be ultimately delivered to the just judgment of the lake of fire. (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Jn. 16:11; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6: 11-12; Rev. 20:1-3, 10). Satan and his demons are responsible for all false religion (I Cor. 10:20) and will lead the end time apostasy (II Pet. 2; Jude; Rev. 20:2-3).
Through Adam's sin man fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God and is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3).
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