Zion Bible Church

A.    The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in omnipotent power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections.

(Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17, Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 14; 11 Cor. 13:14)

1.   God the Father

We believe God the Father is the one of the Trinity, who in relation to our salvation, chooses, adopts and accepts us as His children. Jesus Christ personally recognized His Father as God. He referred to Him as "God the Father". The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, refers to "God our Father" and of "God the Father". He is the one who Jesus called the Gardner. He carefully planted the Vine (Christ) and waters and feeds the Vine. He is the one who cares for, looks after, and watches over the Vine and the branches (those who become attached to Jesus).

                  (John 6:32-33, 15:1-5; Rom. 1 :7, Eph. 1:3-6)

2.   God the Son

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus came to make God approachable and understandable to the human heart and mind. He came not only to show us what God the Father is like, but also to reconcile us to God the Father through His redemptive sacrifice.

        (Mark 1:11; Luke 1:28-35, Eph 1:7-12, Phil. 2:5-7, 1 Tim. 2:5)

3.   God the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, reveals Christ to men, convicts them of sin, and regenerates repentant sinners. We believe He permanently resides in each born-again believer. He enlightens, seals, instructs, and guides every born-again believer. He is the efficient power for godly living, Christian service, and spiritual worship.

(John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 16:8, 12-13; Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18: 1 John 2:27)

B.    The Holy Scripture

We believe the Bible in its original manuscripts was God inspired and infallible. The Old and New Testaments, as it is known today, is the supreme standard and final authority of conduct, faith and doctrine. (Matt. 5:18; 1 Tim 3:16-17; 11)           

C.    Creation and Fall of Man

We believe man was created by the direct act of God, in the image of God. Man sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death. Spiritual death means separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, which is contrary to God and prone to evil. Then we become morally responsible, we are sinners in thought, word and deed, and must be born-again of the Spirit to be accepted of God.

(Gen. 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6-8, 5:5; Psalms 51:5, John 3:1-21; Rom. 3:10-19, 3:23, 5:12, 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:22)

D.    The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ

We believe Christ died on the cross for our sins according to the scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. All, who believe in Jesus Christ, have redemption from their sins through His blood. We believe that Christ suffered and died and rose 3 days later. We believe that our Lord ascended into Heaven, is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, and is our High Priest and Advocate.

(Mark 16:19; John 3:16, 20:27; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:34; Eph. 1:7, Heb. 5:9, 7:25, 9:24; 1 Peter 2:24)

E.     The Salvation of Sinners and Assurance of Believers

We believe those who accept Jesus Christ as Savior are born-again of the Holy Spirit, justified and preserved unto the day of redemption. We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, brought to man by grace and received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 1:12, 3:5, 3:16; Rom. 3:24-25, 5:9, 8:38-39•, Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10, Heb. 5:9, 1 Peter 1:18-19)

F.     The Separation and Sanctification of Believers

We believe sanctification is the work of God's free grace. Through grace we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God. We are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. It is not a "once for all" act, like justification, but is progressive and continues throughout the entire life of the believer.

(John 17:17; Acts 1:8, Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 11 Cor. 5:14-18, 6:14-17, 7:1; Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 5:25-27, Col. 1:13, 3:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 4:12, 10:14; 1 Peter 1:13-16)

G.    The Church

1.   The Universal (invisible) Church: We believe the Church of Jesus Christ is composed Of all born-again believers, dead and living, who have been called to become the Body and Bride of our Lord.

(Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 10:32; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:23, 25-27)

2. The Local (visible) Church: We believe God has ordained a visible structure, for members of the invisible church body still residing on earth. This divine creation takes into account the need for united worship, spiritual nourishment, fellowship, evangelism and service. We believe every true follower of Christ should be identified in some way with the Christian community. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28; 1 Cor. 1:2; col 4;15; Philemon 2; Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14)

H.    Ordinances

An ordinance is defined as an outward celebration appointed by Christ to be administered in the church as a visible sign of the saving of the Christian faith. It is a symbol or sign, or visible representation, of an invisible truth. These ordinances become universal and a personal obligation. We believe there are two ordinances that Christians are commanded to observe.

I.  Believer's Baptism: We believe baptism is only for those who have made a credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. We believe it is an act of obedience to the will of God and symbolizes our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. (See Jesus' example in Mark 1:9-11) As such, it is our Anabaptist heritage. (Matt. 28: 19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 3-6; Eph. 4:5, col. 2:12)

2. The Lord's Supper: We believe the Lord's Supper is a sign by which the church thankfully remembers the new covenant, which Jesus established by His death. In this communion meal, we renew our covenant with God, participating in the life and death of Jesus until He comes. All born-again believers who are in fellowship God, regardless of church membership, may participate.

(Matt. 26:17, 26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-34)

I.   Spiritual Gifts

We believe God, the Holy Spirit, sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts to all believers, such as the gift of teaching, of helping, of administration, of evangelism, of exhortation, of giving, of showing mercy, and of being a pastor-teacher. We believe there is great misuse and abuse in connection with tongues and miracles, which many believe to be temporary gifts for the Apostolic Age. We, as a local church, do not practice their use within our church's ministry. We believe that God does hear and answer prayers of faith, and heals in accordance with His own will.

(Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:7-12-, 1 Cor. 12:1-25, 13:1-13, 14:1-5; 11 Cor. 5:18-20; 1 John 5:14-15)

J.   The Rapture and 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ

1. The Rapture: We believe in a "Blessed Hope"; the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ's children at the rapture.  (1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10)

2. The 2nd Advent of Christ: We believe in Jesus Christ's subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom with the nation of Israel. (Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16, 21, 20:1-6)

K.   Satan

We believe Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.

(Gen. 3:1-15, Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41, John 8:44; 11 Cor. 4:34; Peter 5:8, Rev. 12:9-10, 20:1-3, 7-10)

L.    The Eternal State of the Saved and the Lost

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved and the lost. (Matt. 25:41. 46; John 5:28-29; 11:25, 26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12-15)

l. Saved: We believe the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord. In conscious bliss, they wait the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited, to be glorified forever with the Lord. 

(Luke 23:43; 11 Cor. 5:8, 12:24; Phil. 1:23, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17, Rev. 20:4-6)

2. Lost: We believe the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection. At this time the soul and body be reunited to appear at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire. They will not be annihilated, but will suffer an everlasting conscious punishment.

(Psalms 9:17; Matt. 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:16-26; 11 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20: 11-15)