ACC BELIEFS

 

The Bible:

We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by divine inspiration and is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The Bible constitutes the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice (Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20).

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The Godhead:

We believe there is only one living and true God, perfect, infinite, and eternal (Matthew 5:48; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 90:2), Who is unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love, and truth (Malachi 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 19:9; Exodus 34:6; John 3:16).

 

God is the creator, preserver, and ruler of the universe (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Nehemiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:2-3; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 1:11).

 

God eternally exists in three equal persons; namely, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17; John 15:26; Ephesians 2:18).

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The Holy Spirit:

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He came from the Father and the Son (John 15:26).

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His principal ministry since His coming at Pentecost is:

• To reprove, or convict, the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11);

• To hold back the progress of evil until God's purposes are accomplished (2 Thessalonians 2:7);

• To give witness to the truth preached (Acts 5:30-32);

• To regenerate those who repent of their sins and exercise faith in Christ (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5);

• To instruct, comfort, and guide God's children (John 14:16-18, 26; 16:13);

• To sanctify God's children (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:1-3);

• To empower God's children for life and service (Romans 8:2; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16; 1

• Corinthians 2:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5);

• To distribute spiritual gifts to God's children (1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12; Ephesians 4;

• 1 Peter 4);

• And, to quicken God's children (Romans 8:11).

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The Son:

We believe in the fullness of time that the eternally, pre-existent Son humbled Himself and assumed human nature by being born of the Virgin Mary. By doing this, God united the divine and human natures in the unique person of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14).

 

We believe God has provided redemption for mankind through the mediatory work of Christ, who voluntarily offered Himself on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus bore sin's curse and suffered death for every man (Matthew 20:28; Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Peter 3:18; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).

 

We believe on the third day Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to several of His followers. He ascended to the right hand of the Father where He performs the ministry of intercession. Jesus will come again, personally and visibly, to complete His work and to complete the eternal plan of God (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Luke 24:39; Romans 8:34, 10:14; Acts 1:11; Jude 6; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

 

Salvation:

We believe salvation is of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5); Being planned by the Father, provided by the blood of the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; John 3:3-5). In justification, the believer is forgiven of his guilt and declared righteous in the sight of God

(Romans 5:1, 9; 4:4-5; Acts 13:39). In adoption, he becomes a member of the household of God (Romans 8).

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Man - God's creation:

We believe mankind was created by a special act of God; that they were created in the image and likeness of God. Mankind possesses a personality that was endowed with power for rational and responsible choices in view of moral ends; and the purpose of creation was to glorify God (Genesis 1:27; Colossians 3:10; Acts 17:24-28; Isaiah 43:7).

 

The Fall:

We believe mankind was subject to trial in the Garden of Eden in order to test his loyalty to God (Genesis 2:15-17); Under trial, mankind lost its holy state, was alienated from God, and became depraved physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually. As a result of this disobedience, the entire human race became involved in guilt and in corruption so that in every heart there is, by nature, an evil disposition which eventually leads to acts of sin and to just condemnation (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12-13; 3:10-12; 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:18; 1 John 1:8-10).

 

Marriage & Sexuality:

We believe the term "marriage" has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman (as determined by birth sex) in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.

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We believe that 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.

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The Ordinances:

We believe the two Christian ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are outward rites appointed by Christ, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs of the facts and realities of salvation.

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Baptism:

We believe Baptism by water is the public confession of Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a symbol of one's union by faith and covenant with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection unto newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-12; Acts 8:36-39).

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The Lord's Supper:

We believe the Lord's Supper should be observed by all believers in obedience to the command, "This do in remembrance of me". The Lord's Supper consists of partaking of the bread and wine and symbolizes the death of Christ for the remission of our sins. It represents our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. It witnesses a mystical union of the believer with Christ (John 15). The union of believers around the Lord's Table should be open to all who are in right relationship with one another and with the Lord (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10, 11:23-26).

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End Times:

We believe at the end of the age, Christ will descend from heaven, the dead shall be raised bodily, and those living at the end of the age shall be judged by God. The redeemed will enter into full possession of eternal joy in the presence of God, and the wicked shall be condemned to eternal death and separation from God (1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Hebrews 1:10-12; Acts 1:11, 24:15; Matthew 25:31-46).