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Jeff Berkey, Elder Phone: (724) 537-0645Email:AddressA Statement of Faith
We, the elders and evangelist of the Greensburg Church of Christ, because of the continuing efforts by many in the Lord's church to propagate and disseminate error and false doctrine; believe that a statement of faith and practice is necessary to alleviate any misunderstanding about our doctrinal position on issues of the present day.
Scripture
We believe the Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the Word of God. As a "God-breathed" revelation, it is thus verbally inspired and completely without error (historically, scientifically, morally, and spiritually) in its original writings. While God the Holy Spirit supernaturally superintended the writing of the Bible, that writing nevertheless reflects the words and literary styles of its individual human penmen. Scripture reveals the being, nature, and character of God, the nature of God's creation, and especially His will for the salvation of human beings through Jesus Christ. The Bible is therefore our supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Creation
We believe that the physical universe, the realm of nature, is the visible creation of God. All things created in 6 literal 24 hour days and not by an evolutionary process of eons of time (Genesis 1-2). Properly understood, God's Word (Scripture) and God's world (nature), as two revelations (one verbal, one physical) from the same God, will never contradict each otherCreation
God
We believe in one infinitely perfect, eternal and personal God, the transcendent Creator and sovereign Sustainer of the universe (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:9, etc.). This one God is Triune, existing eternally and simultaneously as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons in the Godhead share equally and completely the one divine nature, and are therefore the same God, co-equal in power, nature, and glory (Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is both true God (the second Person of the Godhead) and true man (the Incarnate Son of God (John 1:14)). We also believe in the great events surrounding Jesus Christ's life and ministry, including: - His eternal preexistence (John 1:1)
- His virgin birth
- His attesting miracles
- His sinless life
- His sacrificial death on the cross
- His glorious bodily resurrection from the dead
- His ascension into heaven
- His present work in heaven as High Priest and Advocate (Matthew-John; Hebrews 5:1-11).
He will return in glory to resurrect and judge all mankind (see below End Time Events).>
Person of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is indeed a Divine Person, co-equal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19). We also believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in salvation, a ministry which includes glorifying Christ, convicting men of their sin, sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise unto redemption, and indwelling believers and empowering them for godly living and spiritual service through and by the Word of God (John 17:7-15; Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38, 5:32; Romans 8:1-17)
Mankind
We believe God created mankind in His image and likeness (having rational, moral, relational, and spiritual capacities) to fellowship with Him and give Him glory. Human beings are therefore the crown of God's creation (possessing inherent dignity and moral worth), and thus distinct in kind from all other life on earth. Adam and Eve, the first human beings, choose to rebel against God. As a result, all of mankind became separated from God and sin and death (physical and spiritual) entered the world (Genesis 2-3).
Redemption
We believe God has acted sovereignty to bridge the gap that separates people from Himself. He sent His Son, born of a virgin, attested by miracles and by a sinless life, to bear the full penalty for humanity's sin (John 1:29). Jesus Christ suffered and died in the place of sinners (1 John 2:2; 4:10), thus satisfying the Father's just wrath against human sin, and effecting true reconciliation between God and mankind for those who believe and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Hebrews 5:9).
Justification
We believe justification is a judicial act of God's grace wherein He acquits a person of all sin and accepts that person as righteous in His sight because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Justification is a work of God's grace, through our faith to do the works of God (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26; James 2:20-26).
Resurrection
We believe Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, conquering sin, death, and all the powers of Satan. The resurrection is God's historical affirmation and vindication of Jesus Christ's unique identity, mission, and message. Historical evidence of the resurrection is manifest in Christ's empty tomb, His many resurrection appearances (1 Corinthians 15:1-11), and in the emergence of the Lord?s Church (Acts 2). Jesus Christ now resides at the right hand of the Father, and lives to indwell all who believe, who repent, and are baptized (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 5:32).
The Church
We believe the church is one spiritual body of Jesus Christ (its Founder, Head, and Shepherd (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Peter 5:4), and that it encompasses all believers at all times and places who have obeyed the gospel plan of salvation (Acts 2:37-47). The function of the church is to carry out the Lord's expressed will to ?Go and make disciples and baptize them?? (Matthew 28:18-20). This community of believers is made up of people who are neither perfect nor sinless, but by grace their lives are coming more and more under the control of the Holy Spirit by living the fruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 5:22-26).
End Time Events
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ will return in the clouds, personally, bodily, and visibly to destroy death and deliver the Kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7). As the sovereign Lord, He will resurrect and judge all humanity. Those who have received His offer of life through the Gospel will go to eternal blessings in heaven; those who have rejected it, to eternal conscious torment in hell (Luke 16:19-31). We look forward to the blessed hope, Christ's Second Coming in glory (Matthew 25:31-46).
Salvation
We believe Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12). That salvation is by faith in Christ (John 8:24), repentance of sin (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9), confession that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:10), by being baptized in water for the remissions of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:36-38; Mark 16:15-16, etc.) and living a faithful life (Revelation 2:10).
Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that God is the creator of Marriage (Genesis 2:24) between one man and one woman for life. The only exceptions being for the cause of fornication (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and/or for the death of a spouse (Romans 7:1-3).
Church Discipline
We believe in the practice of church discipline for unrepentant sin according to (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; etc.).
Attendance and Forsaking the Assembly
We believe that attendance to weekly worship services are necessary to the faithful and spiritual well-being of the believer to encourage one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Instrumental Music
We believe in a cappella singing according to (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) and that mechanical instruments of music are scripturally unauthorized and therefore sinful.
Authority of Elders
We believe that the Eldership has the authority to teach, admonish, correct and rebuke according to the teachings of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 1:9; 1 Peter 5:1-3) and not by example only. That authority extends to the local congregation only (Acts 14:23). Each congregation is to be obedient and submissive to the Eldership (Hebrews 13:17).
Denominationalism
We believe that the Lord?s Church is one body made up of all those who follow the Truth of the Gospel and not many different churches teaching different doctrines of men (1 Corinthians 1:10; Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19).
Unity with the Christian Church
We believe that unity with the Christian church is possible only when repentance and rejection of mechanical instruments of music and other doctrines of men is fulfilled (Matthew 15:9; 1 Corinthians 1:10).
Premillenialism
We believe the doctrines of premillenialism are false and reject any second coming that includes Jesus returning to set foot on the earth and reigning for a 1,000 years. (see above End Time Events)
Restoration Principle
We believe in the principle "to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent" (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6)
Signed this day August 9, 2007
Jeff Berkey, Elder Phone: (724) 537-0645Email:Address
John Vaughn, Elder Phone: (724) 853-6824Email: Address
Clarence Holmes, Preacher Phone: (724) 219-8978 Email: Address