Bloomington Gospel Church

BGC Statement of Faith*

The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture

We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word to mankind and that in the original writings is exactly as He gave it, word for word without any error whatsoever.  We believe that God’s revelation of the Bible ended in the life-time of His apostles and is complete in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.  It has been preserved by God to be the authoritative standard for every time and every life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; Mark 12:26-36; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Acts 1:16

The Nature of God

We believe that God exists in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that these three are eternal and are one.  We believe that God is holy, just, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present, loving, and the Sovereign Creator of the universe.

Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:6-8; Isaiah 63:8-10; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Mark 12:29; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6

The Deity and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ in the flesh was both God the Son and man, that he was born of a virgin and that He lived a sinless life, in which He taught and did mighty works and signs exactly as revealed in the four gospels. We believe that He was crucified, dying as a penalty for our sins and was bodily raised from the dead on the third day as the Scriptures declare. Later, He ascended to heaven where He is Head of the Church and intercedes for believers. From there He will come again personally and bodily and visibly to this earth to set up an earthly kingdom, afterward to reign forever as King in His universe.

Isaiah 7:14; John 5:39; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:11; Acts 17:2-3; Acts 18:28; Acts 26:22-23; Acts 28:23

The Nature of the Human Race

We believe that the human race was created by God for eternal fellowship with Him.  That fellowship was broken as humanity fell into sin and subsequently all creation has been cursed with sin and its consequences including both physical and spiritual death.

Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:17; Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 5:40; John 6:53; 1 Timothy 5:6 1 John 3:8; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-19; John 3:6

Salvation

We believe that only in the death of Jesus Christ could the demands of God’s law for sin be satisfied.  Death, the price of our sin, was paid by Jesus Christ and now God freely offers salvation - forgiveness for sin, the righteousness of Christ, and renewed fellowship with Him with new and eternal life.  Salvation cannot be earned or found anywhere else; it is God’s gracious gift which he gives to individuals who simply come to faith in Him and in true repentance ask for it.  True believers, those who are genuine in their faith in Christ and repentance, can never forfeit their salvation.

Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-19; John 3:6; Acts 13:39; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1; Titus 2:11-14; Leviticus 17:11; Galatians 3:13; Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7;  John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 5:24; John 10:28-29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:33-39

New Life in Christ

We believe that new life in Christ is given to the believer by God the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer as he or she accepts God’s gift of salvation.  The Holy Spirit offers comfort, guidance, empowering, and unique gifts to believers, who, in gratitude for God’s gift of salvation, yield their lives to His service.  True believers show evidence of their new life in Christ and of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives as they continue to grow in their understanding of God’s will as revealed through the Scriptures and as they become more like Jesus Christ in their character.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 12:18-21; 1 Corinthians 12:29-30; 1 Corinthians 14:6-15; 1 Corinthians 14:22-40; Romans 12:3-8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 2:11; Acts 10:44-48; Hebrews 2:3-4; John 14:26; Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 22:18-21

The Church

We believe that all genuine believers are part of the true Church, which in Scripture is referred to as the body of Christ, and that a local church is intended to be a visible expression of this body.

Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:3-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Colossians 2:19

Satan

We believe that Satan is a fallen creation, the arch enemy of God, and the believer’s defeated foe.

Genesis 3:15; Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:12-16;
Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:7-10

Eternity and Judgment

We believe that upon physical death those who have believed and accepted God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ depart to be with Him in conscious blessedness.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning soon to take all remaining believers to be with Him.  Then all Christians will receive glorified bodies similar to His resurrected body and share in His glory.  They will reign with Him forever.  We believe that God has appointed a day for the judgment of sin and that those who have not accepted His gift of salvation will be justly cast out of His presence and will be doomed to eternal, conscious separation from Him in the place of suffering reserved in justice for all His enemies.

Psalm 90:3-4; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Romans 1:4; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:5-6; Daniel 12:3; Daniel 7:22-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Romans 8:17 ; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:11

Baptism

We believe that Jesus Christ clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the simple rite of baptism by immersion, as a symbol and proclamation of the sinner's death to sin and his resurrection in newness of life in Him.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13

The Lord's Supper

We believe that Jesus Christ clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the solemn rite of the Lord's Supper, as a memorial of His death, to be kept by His disciples until He comes again, according to His promise and the Father's revealed plan.

Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27