Doctrinal Statement
The following Doctrinal Statement sets forth the theological position of Holly Springs Bible Fellowship of Hornick, Iowa. This statement provides a basis for doctrinal agreement and unity. The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all we believe. We do believe, however, that the following Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members. We recognize that any Doctrinal Statement, short of the entire Scriptures, is in itself inadequate. Thus, we acknowledge that every doctrine of Scripture is not listed nor is every Scripture reference applying to each doctrinal point listed. This statement of doctrine is merely to serve as an outline to define our general interpretation of Scripture. It is a framework which we conclude is consistent with the whole of Scripture.
The Holy Scriptures – We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21.
The Godhead – We believe in one Living God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe God is a Spirit and that those three persons are of one essence, therefore to be honored equally as God. Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-2; Matthew 28:19-20
The Father is God: I Cor. 8:5-6; John 6:27; Ephesians 4:6
The Son is God: Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14; Hebrews 1:8-10
The Holy Spirit is God: Genesis 1:2; Philippians 1:19; Judges 11:29; Psalms 51:11.
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, is co-equal with God in all His attributes, and is sent by the Lord Jesus Christ from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; to regenerate, seal, indwell, guide and teach the believer; and to empower Christians to live in victory over sin. We believe people receive the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit at the moment they receive Christ by faith as their Savior and Lord. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the one-time act of God by which individual believers are placed into the body of Christ at the moment they receive Jesus. The filling of the Spirit is the result of a constant yielding of one’s life to the control of the Holy Spirit. John 15:26; 16:7-8, 13; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:19, 12:12-13; I Corinthians 2:10-16; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:4-6.
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ – We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and is fully God and fully man. We believe that He completely fulfilled all righteousness and the Law, that
He was tempted to sin, but never once yielded to sin. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; 1 Peter 2:22.
The Second Advent of Jesus Christ – We believe in the physical resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven in that body glorified, in His present ministry there for us as High Priest. In the personal return of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ for His church (Rapture) and in His “glorious appearing” with the church to set up His earthly kingdom (Second Coming). Acts 1:9-11; 15:15-18; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Luke 24:36-48; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19: 11-16.
The Total Depravity of Man – We believe that man was created in the image of God, but sinned and is therefore guilty and condemned, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and Spiritual life be obtained. We believe that all human beings are born under sin and are accountable to God when they reach the age of moral responsibility. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:19, 5:12, 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Psalm 58:3.
Salvation – We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provides the only means for the justification and salvation for all who believe, and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by Grace through Faith through
the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, apart from any good works, become the children of God. We believe we are saved and justified before God, when we recognize ourselves as sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God, and put our trust in Christ and His finished work of redemption on the cross of Calvary. Salvation from eternal damnation is based on personal faith in the atoning death and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, apart from any human merit, religious ritual, or good works. We believe salvation is a free gift to be received by faith. We believe that eternal
life is a present possession for all who have received Christ as their Savior and Lord. We believe in the security of the believer. John 1:12-13, 3:16, 5:24; 6:39, 10:25-30; Romans 1:17, 3:24, 4:1-5; Ephesians 1:7-8, 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7;
Hebrews 5:9, 7:25-27, 9:12- 22, 10:10; I Peter 2:24, 3:18; Isaiah 53; Philippians 1:6;.
The Church – We believe that all persons, who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head. John 1:12, 5:24; Ephesians 1:18-23.
Church Ordinances – We believe all those who have received Christ should be baptized by immersion in water. We believe that baptism is an outward sign of an inward trust. We believe baptism is an act of obedience to our Lord’s command which visibly identifies us with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Baptism, however, should not be regarded as a means to salvation. We believe the Lord’s Supper, like baptism, is a symbolic means of remembering our Lord’s atoning death on the cross. We believe those in Christ should regularly and consistently remember the Lord’s death for us through communion. Matthew 28:19-20, 3:13-17; Acts 2:36-42, 8:34-36, 22:16; Romans 6:1-10; I Peter 3:18-22; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Hebrews 10:25
Eternal State of Man – We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with their Lord in Heaven, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment
in hell. John 5:28,29; Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; I Corinthians 15:35-57; II Corinthians 5:6-8; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:5,11-15
The Personality of Satan – We believe in the reality and the personality of Satan, a subtle being who ultimately will be cast into the Lake of Fire. We believe that Satan is the enemy of God and of the people of God, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God. In his warfare Satan appears as an angel of light, even counterfeiting the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine, which systems in every case are characterized by a denial of the effectiveness of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone. Genesis 3:1-19; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:10-17; II Thessalonians 2:4; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10