Below is what we believe as a church. For more information about our beliefs email info@paradoxbiblechurch.org or read the Gospel Coalition’s doctrinal statement.
Scripture:
We believe that the entire Bible (every word of all sixty six books) is inspired by way of Verbal-Plenary Inspiration, not just the thoughts, but the very words and details (2 Samuel 23:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 1:16; Psalm 119:1-30; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Hebrews 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Exodus 19:6; Proverbs 30:5-6; Matthew 4:4; Luke 21:33; John 6:63; Revelation 21:5). We believe the scriptures to be the highest authority on all matters in life (Revelation 22:18-29; Luke 16:29-31; Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32), without error in their original writings and are the infallible, inspired words breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16).
Tri-une God:
We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; Ephesians 4:4-6), eternally existing in three persons as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and possess the same attributes and perfections (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 3:13-27; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is the creator of all things visible and invisible and is therefore worthy of all our praise and adoration (Genesis 1:1).
Mankind:
We believe that God created humans male and female in the likeness of His own image (Genesis 1:26). As our creator, God is our Source (Isaiah 45:11-12), Sustainer (Psalm 54:4) and Provider (Matthew 6:25-34) and we are therefore dependent upon God (Matthew 4:4; John 6:63). Men and women are equally made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), yet are made for different roles to complement one another (Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:22-33).
Total Depravity of Man:
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but through Adam’s sin all humans fell (Romans 5:12-15) and inherited a sinful nature which separates them from God (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Proverbs 22:15; Psalm 14:2-2; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-18; Ephesians 2:1-3). Humans are in total depravity in that we rebel totally (John 3:20-21; Romans 3:10-18), everything we do is sinful (Romans 7:18; Romans 14:23), we cannot submit to God (Romans 8:7-8; Ephesians 2:1), and our rebellion is totally deserving of punishment (Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49-50; Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ:
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God (John 1:39; John 3:16). Jesus Christ the Incarnated (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) Son of God is both fully God (Mark 14:62; Romans 5:11) and fully man (Romans 5:15; 1 Timothy 2:5). He has existed in eternity past with God the Father (John 1:1-2; Revelation 1:8) and He and the Father are one (John 10:30). Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-28) conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:8) as it was foretold in Scripture (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus Christ possesses every divine attribute that God the Father and God the Holy Spirit possess (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 13:8). In His death, burial and resurrection Jesus conquered Satan (1 John 3:8), sin (Romans 8:3), and death (Romans 5:17; 6:9). Furthermore, Jesus died for all sins (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2) as a substitute for us, atoning for our sins (Isaiah 53:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:11) and provides salvation for all who receive the grace of Christ through faith (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:5-8). Jesus absorbed the wrath of God which we deserved (Romans 3:25-26; 1 John 4:10) and took our sins away (John 1:29; Romans 5:19; 1 John 1:7) reconciling us to the Father (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18). He is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father in authority over all (Matthew 26:64; Act 2:33; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 1:3-4) and will one day return to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1).
Salvation:
We believe that salvation is a gift of grace from God through Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection received through personal faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8–10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).
Eternal Security:
We believe that all those that have been saved have eternal security of their salvation (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39). Their salvation cannot be lost because it is sustained by God (John 5:24; Romans 8:35-37; 1 Peter 1:3; Jude 34-35). This security is not a license to use Christian liberty as an occasion to sin freely (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11–15).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit regenerates new believers from death into a life of repentance and faith, baptizing them into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12-13; Romans 8:9-11). Through his work, believers are sanctified and adopted as children of God and are given gifts to serve the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 12:3-4).
Ministry and Gifts:
We believe that God sovereignty distributes gifts to new believers for the glory of God and the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the means by which the believer is placed into the Body of Christ (Acts 10:44-45). We believe that certain spiritual gifts are not essential nor do they prove the presence of the Holy Spirit or are an indication of a deep or meaningful spiritual experience (1 Corinthians 12:7-13; Ephesians 4:7–8). We believe that it is the responsibility and joy of every believer to ministry according to the gift(s) given to them by Jesus for the glory of God (Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Peter 4:10–11).
The Church:
We believe that Jesus is the head of the church and our Senior Pastor who bought the church with His blood (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 5:7-10; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3-7; Acts 20:28). The church is the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 19:7-10; Ephesians 5:29-30; Colossians 1:24). We believe that the establishment of new churches and the continuance of existing churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament for the advancement of the gospel (Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:1–3; Titus 1:5–11). We believe in the autonomy of local churches free from external authority and control (Acts 13:1–4; Acts 15:19–31; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 5:4–7; 1 Peter 5:1–4). We believe the church is commanded to carry out its mission and purpose through obedience to the Great Commission to make disciples and the Great Commandment to love (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:28-31).
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
We believe in baptism and the Lord’s Supper which were ordained by Jesus Christ Himself. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and speaks of our death to sin, burial in Christ and resurrection to new life cleansed from our sin (Matthew 3:13-17; Romans 6:4). It is an outward symbol and testimony of our inward union with Jesus (Colossians 2:12). Communion or the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic remembrance for Christians. Through communion we are reminded of Jesus’ blood shed for us, with the cup of wine (1 Corinthians 11:25) and His broken body (1 Corinthians 11:24) with the bread (Matthew 26:26-29).
