SCF Statement of Faith
God
We believe that God is three persons in one being – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is the pre-existent, self-existent, self-sufficient, uncreated Creator of all creation (Gen. 1:1, John 1:1-3). We believe that He is sovereign which is to say that He is immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
Jesus
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity born to the virgin Mary (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:18, 23; Lk. 1:26-27) and was the Word made flesh (John 1:14, Lk. 9:20, Mk. 8:29, Mt. 16:15-16, Mt. 28:19). Jesus lived the sinless life (Heb. 4:15) which we could not and took up the cross and died upon it having taken all past, present, and future sin and iniquity upon Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the salvation of mankind (Ro. 3:24-25, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pe. 2:24). Jesus was resurrected on the third day, conquering death forever, and ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Mt. 28:6; Lk. 24:38-39; Acts 1:8-9, 2:30-31, 7:55-56; Ro. 8:34; Eph. 1:20).
Salvation
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ and no one else (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). A person’s acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Savior is through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism (Acts 2:38, Ro. 10:9). Baptism, being through immersion only allows a believer to share in Christ’s death and resurrection and receives the forgiveness of sin and iniquity and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, Ro. 6:3-4).
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, convicts people of their sin and iniquity, righteousness, and judgment to come (John 16:5-11). It is the Holy Spirit who leads people to Christ (John 6:44). The Holy Spirit dwells within believers and is received through baptism (Acts 2:38, 1 Cor. 12:13), and empowers believers to live a fruit-bearing Christian life (Gal. 5:22-23).
The Bible
The Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God and that it is the foundation and rule of faith and practice for Christians on matters of morality, truth, and Christian living (2 Ti. 3:16-17, Heb. 4:12, 2 Pe. 1:20-21).
The Church
The Church is the body of Christ on earth, and is made up of the community of believers from around the world and is the bride of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 2 Cor. 11:2) of whom Christ is the head (Eph. 1:22, Col. 1:18). Upon receiving Christ as Savior, a person becomes a member of the Church. The Bible calls for believers to gather together for worship, teaching of Scripture, prayer, fellowship, service to the body, and evangelism to the world (Acts 1:8, 2:42; Eph. 4:12). Believers are called to continually meet together and in so doing are an expression of the Church (Heb. 10:25).
Communion
Communion, is the remembrance, commemoration, and proclamation of Christ’s death until He returns again and should be preceded by self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28-32). The elements of the bread and cup represent Christ’s body and blood but is still an actual communion with Christ who is risen from the dead who is present by a mystery and fellowshipping with us, His people (1 Cor. 10:16).
Humanity’s Need
As humans we were created to have fellowship with God and to glorify Him (Is. 43:7, Col. 1:16). When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the Garden of Eden sin entered humanity and caused all to be separated from God because all are guilty of sin (Ro. 3:23, 5:12). As a result, mankind needs salvation and God extends this to us as a free gift of His grace when we express our faith in Christ and receive Him as Savior (John 1:12-13, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:7-8b, 2:8-9).