We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and the authoritative basis for our doctrine and practice. We regard this Statement of Faith as an expression of the essential doctrines of grace set forth in the Bible. All Biblical references contained within this constitution are from the New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible. These references are representative only; they should not be considered an exhaustive listing.
ibc-statment-of-faith
We believe in the only living and true God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign and eternal, existing in three equal persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:16, 17; 28:19, 20; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3, 4; 2 Corinthians 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:12
We believe that the Bible, incorporating both Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore without error in the original writings. We further believe that this inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all parts of the Bible. We therefore believe in the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters of faith and practice.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:21
We believe that man was divinely created in the image of God; that through Adam’s sinful act of disobedience, man became guilty before God and is affected by sin in all aspects of his being. Therefore, all people are sinners by inherited nature and by choice, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3:6-24; 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; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 6:23, 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
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, the Word made flesh, born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, fully God and fully man, and after having been tempted in all things as we are, He remained holy, innocent and without sin; that He suffered and died on the cross for the remission of our sins; that He rose bodily from the grave and ascended into Heaven where He is the only mediator between God the Father and humanity and from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Luke 1:30-35; 2:7; John 1:1-4; Acts 1:11, 15:14-17; Romans 9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; 7:25; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2
We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again; that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that all who repent of their sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and thereby become children of God.
We believe the Bible teaches that spiritual rebirth is that act of God by which the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature and a new spiritual life, not previously possessed, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the dominion of sin is broken and the heart is transformed from a love of sin and self to a love of holiness and God. As the believer walks in the power of the Holy Spirit, these new realities become evident in a life characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith are eternally secure and can never lose their salvation. We further believe that all believers can be assured of their salvation and that this assurance rests not in themselves, but in the promises of God through the Bible.
Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:21; 16:21-26; 27:22 to 28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:1-21, 36; 5:24; 6:39; 10:9, 27-29; 14:16; 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; 4:3 ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 11:29; 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; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1 ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:22, 24-28; 11:1 to 12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6 to 2:11, 2:19; Revelation 21:1 to 22:5
We believe that the Holy Spirit is not merely an influence or force but a divine Person; that He is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service and is our abiding Counselor and Helper.
We believe that it is the Holy Spirit who produces true Christian life in principle and in action in those who have been elected through the predestination of God, and enables them to persevere to the end.
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of conversion and is that act whereby believers are united with Christ as part of His body; that the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers in Christ; that He will never depart from the Church nor from the weakest believer; that by His indwelling the believer is enabled to live a godly life.
John 14:16,17; 16:13-15; Acts 1:8; 5:3,4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 1:13-14
We believe that God has instituted a ministry of the Word in order to bring sinners to conversion and to guide them in the Christian life. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by any other method that is in harmony with the Gospel of Christ. We believe that the Word of God is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 15:7-8, 16; 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 3:16, 17; 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39 to 12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10;
Revelation 22:17
We believe that each local church constituted according to the Word of God is a voluntary assembly of believers independent of all authority other than that of Jesus Christ, the sole Head of the universal church, which is His body. The members of a local church, associated by free engagement, are governed by the laws of Christ, and carry out in the general interest the duties that have been given them according to the talents and gifts with which they have been endowed.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3
We believe that at the moment of death, believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ and remain there in joyful fellowship with Him until the resurrection of their glorified bodies at His second coming, after which they will be forever with the Lord in glory.
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ will come down from heaven as He ascended, in accordance with what is written in the Bible. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust; in the final judgment where an eternal separation will be made between the unjust (who will suffer eternal punishment in hell) and the just, who will obtain everlasting life in heaven.
Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1 ff.; 2 Thessalonians. 1:7 ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7 ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1 to 22:13
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, to be observed in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On that day we will gather together in prayer, worship and fellowship and for the edification of the believers.
Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1 ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10
We believe that civil government is ordained by God in the interests of law and order within society, and that we should therefore pray for the governing authorities. We also believe we must honor and obey them in everything that is not contrary to the teachings of the Bible.
Romans 13:1-7; Acts 5:17-32
We believe that marriage was ordained by God at creation as the sacred union of one man and one woman. All sexual relations must therefore be reserved for that union. Christian marriage is a reflection of Christ’s relationship to His church. We also believe that children are a blessing from the Lord, thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception until death.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:24; Psalm 127 & 128; 139:13-16; Matthew 19:1-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrew 13:4.
We believe that Baptism by immersion is for repentant sinners who are voluntarily dead to sin, and is the solemn symbol of their entombment with Christ, with whom they are united through faith, and their resurrection with Him to live a new and holy life.
The act of baptism does not save, nor does it complete the salvation of a repentant sinner. It is a testimony to the church and to the world of one’s personal experience of salvation and one’s obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized.
Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
We believe that the Lord’s Supper as instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ must be observed in churches until He comes again; that the bread and the wine are the symbols of the body and the blood of our Savior. The Lord’s Supper, as taught in the Bible, is a remembrance of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, a promise of His imminent return and a time for serious self-examination by the individual believer. Since it is never to be entered into lightly, only believers shall be encouraged to partake reverently and purposefully of the Lord’s Supper.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23-29