Doctrine
What we believe as a church is commonly known as church doctrine. Our
doctrine is the foundation by which we serve God. Our doctrinal statement
has been organized into categories to assist you in understanding what we
believe and teach through our various ministries.
Every word in the original writings is inspired by God and is without error.
It is accurate in all matters to which it speaks, spiritual, historical, and
scientific. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation
of the faith and practice of Metro Bible Church ( II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21)
God exists eternally in 3 persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance,
one God. (Gen. 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24; Deut 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14)
Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell
into sin with the result that all men are sinners. Men are justly condemned
to eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation.
(Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph. 2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; Eph. 2:1)
The eternal Son of God became incarnate in the Lord Jesus Christ, being
born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. He died physically
on the cross and was bodily resurrected three days later.
(John 1:1,14,18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 5:8; I John 5:20; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 15:1-5)
Salvation is given to those men chosen by God and drawn to Christ by the
Holy Spirit. The only means to their salvation is belief in Christ's
substitutionary death and resurrection. It is not a result of works. We
are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. The gospel
calls us to repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
(Acts 4:12; 13:38,39; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4,5; 5:1; John 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Eph. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:29,30)
Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate
sanctification. (Heb. 10:10,14; John 17:15-17; Eph. 5:26-27; I Thess. 4:3,4; I John 3:2; I Cor. 6:11)
All who are born of the Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance
of salvation and are eternally secure in Christ.
(Rom. 5:1; I John 5:13; John 10:27-29; 17:12; II Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30. John 6:37)
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He regenerates, indwells,
baptizes, and seals all believers in Christ and empowers those yielded to God.
(Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Col. 3:14)
The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ,
formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects,
universal and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers,
baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. Its mission is to preach the
gospel among all nations. The local church is a group of believers voluntarily
joined together in love to worship God with praise and thanksgiving, and to
glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive effort to disciple others by the
preaching of the gospel, and the exercise of spiritual gifts.
(Eph. 1:22,23; 5:24-30; I Cor. 12:4-13,27)
Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service, i.e., "for the equipping
of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ."
(Eph. 4:1-16; I Cor. 12:7,11; I Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:1-6)
Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power
of the Holy Spirit. This service includes the propagation of the gospel message
to the whole world. All believers are promised rewards in heaven for their
faithfulness in service. (I Pet. 1:15,16; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3)
The Bible sets forth two ordinances, the Lord's Supper and water baptism.
The Lord's Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ's death
on the cross, and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward
testimony of a person's belief in Christ. Immersion is the ideal means set forth
in Scripture. (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I Cor. 11:23-26)
Angels were originally created holy, but now because of Satan's rebellion,
there is also an unholy angelic kingdom.
(Col. 1:16; Job 38:6,7; Ps. 148:2-5; Jude 6; Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:11,12; I Tim. 5:21; Rev. 12:9)
The blessed hope of the church is the imminent return of Christ. We are
called to “be ready” for “the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not
expect.” (Matt 25:13, Mark 13:22-23, Luke 12:40). Looking forward to the
coming of Christ will impact how we live in the here and now. We believe
in the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and the eternal state
of blessing for the saved. (Titus 2:13; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10;
John 14:1-3; Matt. 24:21,29,30; 25:31-46; Rev. 3:10)
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