Statement of Faith.
Collegiate shall stand in the historic continuity of the Christian faith. The following shall represent the statement of faith of Collegiate:
GOD.
There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love, the Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. God is spirit, holy, and ruler over all things. He sustains all things and is self-existent, unchanging, and worthy of worship, honor, and praise.
Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29, John 1:1,3; Romans 1:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17; Psalm 102:25-27; Revelation 4:11
FATHER.
God the Father is sovereign over all things. As Creator, He is Father to all humanity, but He is spiritual Father only to believers. He saves from sin all those who come to Him in faith and repentance, and He becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own.
John 3:16; Acts 17:27-29; Romans 8:14-15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:3-11; Ephesians 4:6; Hebrews 12:5-9
SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Jesus is the Son of God, eternally existing as part of the Trinity and not made. He took on human flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, being both fully God and fully man, yet perfect and without sin, to live a righteous life. He voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sins, thus satisfying God's justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. Jesus rose from the grave on the third day and ascended to heaven. He is alive in heaven today, sitting at the right hand of the Father and acting as our intercessor and priest. Jesus is the source of our righteousness and will come again to judge the living and the dead, bringing about the Kingdom of God in fullness.
Matthew 1:18-25; 28:6; Luke 1:25-38; John 3:16; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 2:2
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption, signifying that they belong to God. The Spirit teaches us to love God, helps us grow in the fruit of the Spirit, empowers us to follow Jesus, equips us with spiritual gifts to build up the church and serve others, and enables us to live a life pleasing to God.
John 7:38-39; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11, 13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 6:19-20; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18
THE SCRIPTURE.
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, comprised of 66 books, making up the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is God's inspired, living, and written Word. It was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is true, authoritative, and without error in the original manuscripts. All Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Scripture reveals God and directs us to Him for faith and life in every age.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105
CREATION & HUMANITY.
God created all things from nothing for His glory. The full Trinity was present and involved in creation. God's creation was “good” and “very good.” God made humanity—male and female—in His own image, distinct from the rest of creation, to enjoy relationship with Him, fulfill His will, and to rule over the Earth. All men and all women, including every nation, tribe, people and language, bear the image of God, are fearfully and wonderfully made, and have intrinsic dignity and worth. God has always been and will always be actively involved in His creation.
Genesis 1:26-31; 3:8-9; Deuteronomy 10:4; Psalm 24:1, 89:11, 95:4-5, 139:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:26
SIN.
Through the temptation of Satan, humanity disobeyed the command of God and caused themselves to fall from their original holiness and righteousness. Now, the entire human race inherits a corrupt nature, and each person makes individual sinful choices that are opposed to God and His law. Therefore, all humans are under condemnation. This depravity is radical and pervasive. It extends to the mind, will, body, and affections. Sin has separated humanity from God, destined people to eternal death, and leaves the world in desperate need of salvation.
Genesis 3:1-24; John 3:6; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 6:23
SALVATION.
Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the only provision by which a person may be delivered from sin and eternal death and be reconciled to God. No one can earn salvation; it is a gift by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. God invites all people to accept the deliverance that is offered through the death of Jesus Christ. He implants new life in people as they repent: turning from sin and toward Him, trusting in Him alone for their forgiveness. His Word assures us He will continue that work and will not abandon His commitment to save us. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit but upon the finished work of Christ.
Isaiah 53; John 3:16; John 5:24; John 14:6; Acts 4:12, Romans 3:24-26, 10:9-13; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 5:11-13
THE CHURCH.
God designed the Church worldwide to be a community, family, and priesthood of believers made up of people from every nation, tribe, people and language to the glory of God. The Father has given the Church to Jesus to be redeemed, loved, and ruled over. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and grow the Church. All who are united through the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus are a part of the Body of Christ and should assemble together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching to become conformed to the image of Christ and to become equipped to carry out the "Great Commission" that Christ gave His followers in Matthew 28:18-20.
Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:32-47; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19; 4:3-5; Colossians 3:14-15; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 2:9
BAPTISM.
Jesus Christ has instructed those who believe in Him to be baptized with water as a symbol of their new birth in Christ. Baptism symbolizes being brought from death in sin to life in Christ. Baptism is a believer’s testimony, commanded by Christ and affirming connection to the Body of Christ and to personal faith in the crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:36-38; 10:47-48; Romans 6:1-11; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:13
THE LORDS SUPPER.
Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of His suffering, death, and resurrection until he returns. Communion is both the remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death, which provided complete atonement for our sin, and a reminder of Christ’s return. It is both looking back and looking forward while we commune in the present. The elements of the Lord’s Supper are symbolic of the flesh and blood of Christ.
Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
THE FUTURE.
Jesus Christ will return to the earth one day; the dead will be resurrected and all people will be judged. Those who received the salvation offered in Jesus Christ will be with God forever. Those who continued in rebellion against God will be sent into punishment along with Satan and the fallen angels and will be separated from Him forever. No one except the Father knows the day Jesus will return. It will come suddenly, and we must always be prepared. After this, God will renew the heavens and earth, abolish death, pain, and sorrow, and give His people new, immortal bodies. God himself will dwell with men and women from every nation, tribe, people, and language in His Kingdom forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Joel 2:32; Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 24:36, 25:34, 25:41; Mark 13:32-33; Luke 12:35-40, 17:26-30; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:2-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8; Hebrews 9:27-28; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 7:9, 11:15, 20:12-15, 21:1-5