A Statement of Faith
We, the members of the Alwine Church of Christ believe that a statement of faith and practice is necessary to alleviate any misunderstanding about our doctrinal position on issues of the present day.
We believe the Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the inspired word of God. It is completely without error (historically, scientifically, morally, and spiritually) in its original writings. The inspiration from the Holy Spirit's writing of the Bible, reflects the words and literary styles of its individual authors. 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 in worship.
Scripture
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 over eons of time. Properly understood, God's Word (Scripture) and God's world (nature), are two revelations (one verbal, one physical) from the same and only God which will never contradict each other.
Creation
We believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit existing eternally and simultaneously as three distinct deities. All three persons in the Godhead share equally and completely the one divine nature, and are therefore the same; equal in power, nature, and glory.
God
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 pre-existence ( John 1:1 )
Jesus Christ
- 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).
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 2:37, & 5:32, Romans 8:1-17 )
Holy Spirit
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, chose 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 ).
Mankind
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 ).
Redemption
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 ).
Justification
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 baptised ( Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 5:32 ).
Resurrection
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 baptise 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 becoming more and more under the control of the Holy Spirit by living the fruits of the Spirit ( Romans 8:12-17, Galatins 5:22-26).
The Church
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 ).
End of times events
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 baptised in water for the remissions of sins and receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 2:38; 8:36-38, Mark 16:15-16 ) and living a faithful life (( Revelation 2:10 ).
Salvation
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 ).
Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage
We believe in the practice of church discipline for unrepentant sin according to ( Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5: ).
Church Discipline
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 ).
Attendance and forsaking the assembly
We believe that the Elder ship 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 Elder ship ( Hebrews 13:17 ).
Elders authority within the Church
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 1:19, Galatians 1:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19 ).
Denominations
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, Corinthians 4:6 )