Beliefs & Vision

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. We give to them the same faith and worship.  (Dt. 6:4; Mk. 12:29; Matt. 28:19; Jn. 17:11; Matt. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:14)

We believe God the Father the holy and loving Creator of all things and is unlimited in time, space, knowledge, and power. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe he concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  (Dt. 32:6; Mt. 6:6; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 8:6)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became man, without ceasing to be God, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order to redeem sinful humanity. We believe He satisfied God’s holy and just demands by dying as our substitute on the cross and He assured our redemption by His resurrection from the dead. We believe Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is exalted at the right hand of the Father and that as High Priest for His people, He serves as our Intercessor and Advocate. We also believe in his personal visible return to the earth for His Church.  (Matt.3:17; Jn. 1:14; 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:5)

We believe the Holy Spirit is present in the world today to make people aware of their sin and need for a savior. We believe He regenerates and sanctifies all who believe in Jesus Christ and His atoning work. He provides every Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right, and imparts on every believer spiritual gifts for works of ministry. He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit. As follower of Jesus, we seek to live under His guidance.  (Jn. 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:9, 26; Gal. 4:6)

We believe the Bible to be the inspired revelation of God. We believe that the Bible is completely without error in the original manuscript. We believe that human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible. We believe that the Bible is our final and absolute authority on all Christian living, beliefs and practice.  (Num. 23:19; 2 Sam. 7:28; Prov. 30:5; Ps. 119:96, 160; Matt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; 17:17; Tit. 1:1,2)

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and therefore, are under condemnation. We believe that everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and who accept his atoning work upon the cross will be saved forever.  (Mk. 1:15; Jn. 6:29; 8:24; 11:26; 14:1; 20:31; Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 24:47; Rom. 2:4; 3:23; 2 Cor. 7:9-10)

We believe the church is where God’s wisdom is displayed, where people who were formerly alienated from God are now reconciled and united for the purpose of declaring the gospel and glory of Jesus throughout the world. We believe it is where the Holy Spirit is at work remaking and rebuilding human lives, where people learn to love one another, to bear one another’s burdens and sorrows, to weep together and rejoice together, and to hold one another accountable.  (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-28; Eph. 4:4-6; Heb. 12:28)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: (1) Baptism; and (2) the Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.  (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Luke 22:17-20)

We believe in the personal return of Christ to gather his Church; in his visible second coming to the earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We also believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked. (Matt. 16:27; 19:28; 24:30; 25:31; Lk. 9:26; 21:27; Col. 3:4; 2 Thess. 1:10; Tit. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:7; 4:13; 5:1, 4)
 

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139.)  

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that marriage between one man and one woman, for life, uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church (Eph. 5:21-33). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Blackfoot Christian Fellowship.