"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." - (Hebrews 10.23)
This statement of faith is a summarization of the truths that we cherish, that we preach and which we believe to be presented in the same way in the Bible.
In accordance with the historic Christian Church, we believe and affirm the Apostolic Creed, the Niceene Creed and the Chalcedonian Creed, as much as the London Baptist Statement of Faith from 1689.
Besides these historical doctrinal statements, we hold to the Reformed, Evangelical and Baptist church traditions.
We also affirm the Nashville Statement (2017) on human sexuality.
The Foundational Doctrines of this confession represnt those doctrines we believe to be the essentials and non-negotiables of the Christian faith as taught in the Scriptures. Thus, we expect all members to hold and affirm these doctrines.
The Theological Distinctives of this confession reflect what may differentiate Koinonia29 church from other churches that still hold to and affirm the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. These distinctives indicate the way in which Koinonia 29 church will be led and the direction we will move in as a church.With the exception of the elders, we do not expect that all members embrace these distinctives but they need to be conscientious that they will be upheld in all church-related activities and contrary teachings to these distinctives will not be permitted.
We believe and confess in One true God who is living, eternally existent and of one essence but in three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While all Three Persons are fully God, there is only One God.
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:5,6; 1 Peter 1:3;
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1, 20:28; Romans 9:5, 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21–23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8 & 6:9,10; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16
We believe in the Holy Spirit, that He comes from God the Father and from God the Son and is the Spirit of God. He is fully divine and worthy of all honor and worship as the Third Person of the Trinity.
He breathed into men of the past to write the Scriptures, and through illumination, He gives people the ability to undersand its Truth.
He exalts Jesus Christ.
He convicts people of sin, righteousness and judgment. He draws people to the Savior and regenerates them. He baptizes every person who comes to faith into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation.
He sanctifies the believer into Christ-likeness, comforts them and gives them spiritual gifts to serve His Church.
He seals the believer and keeps them until the day of Redemption. His indwelling of the believer is the guarantee that God will finish His work in them and bring them to full stature in Christ.
He illuminates and empowers the believer for worship, evangelism, mission, and for all aspects of service.
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Marc 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6;
We believe and confess that the the Bible (the Holy Scriptures), that contain the 66 books of the Old and New Testament is the literal breathed Word of God without error in the original manuscripts. The Scriptures are clear, indispensible and suffcient and for this reason are our supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:16; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Romans 15.4; Luke 16:29; Ephesians 2:20; Psalms 19:7-11; Hebrews 1:1-2a; Luke 1:1-4;
We believe and confess that all humanity –male and female- is created in the image of God and possess intrinsic dignity and worth, originaly without sin.
Through the temptation of Satan, humanity transgressed the command of God and fell from their original holiness and righteousness. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and thereby incurred condemnation resulting in physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is relational separation from God in a real place called hell and in need of redemption.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:1-7, 22-24; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Matthew 10:28; James 3:9; Romans 1:32; 3:9-18; 5:12-15; 11:32-34; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Psalms 51:4-5;
We believe and confess that all men follow in the footsteps of Adam and blatantly disobey and sin against God, and thus man has lost all innocence falling under the curse of spiritual and physical death, radically corrupted, totally depraved in his entire being, affecting his heart, mind/will, affections and body and is spiritually and morally incapable of choosing or doing what is pleasing before God, unless divine grace intervenes. (Genesis 3: 1-19, Eph 2:1-9).
We believe and confess that on his own, man does not have the power or ability to save himself or come to God because he is spiritually dead and can only be made alive by the grace of God alone. (Eph 2:4-5). Man will never seek God on his own initiative (Rom 3:11), he is a slave to sin (Rom 6:17) and fulfilling God’s will is foolishness to him (I Cor 1:18, 2:14), as his heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer 17:9)with an inclination only towards evil (Gen 6:5).
Only One man, the man Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate, born of the virgin Mary who was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, did not inherit the sinful nature of Adam (Luke 1:35) but bore the sins of those who repent and believe on the cross when He was crucified (John 1:29, I Cor 15:3, 2 Cor 5:21, I Pet 2:24)
We confess and believe that all men, as seed, were present with Adam when he sinned, therefore his sinful nature has been transmitted to all people in every generation. The one single exception is the Lord Jesus who was born without sin. (Heb 4:15, 7:26). Because of our origins in Adam all people are born dead in their sins and are sinful by nature, by choice and by divine declaration.(Psalm 14:103, Jer 17:9, Rom 3:9-18,23, 5:10-12).
Therefore man can only be saved through the sovereign redemption given to them through faith in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.(John 6:44, Acts 13:48, Eph 1:9, I Timothy 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Peter 1:1, I John 1:8)
We believe thatboth men and women have been created in the image of God and are entitled to the privileges and held accountable to the responsibilities that come with reflecting our Creator.
Both men and women are needed and necessary for the health and ministry of the church. Godly men and women should be visible partners in the corporate life of the church, deploying their diverse gifts for the good of the body.
However, the role/function of elder is reserved for qualified men (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1.7-9). Elders are distinctly responsible for overseeing the church (1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:1-2) and preaching the Word (1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9).
That does not diminish the women’s importance or their influence in the church. The indispensable help women were created to give can and should be exercised in all manner of roles/offices in the church, except those reserved for qualified men.
All women are not subject to the leadership and authority of all men.
Married women are subjected to the Biblical authority of their husbands as the Church is subjected to the authority of Christ. Biblical submission is not indicative of subordination or inequality, as seen in the Son’s submission to the Father (Phil. 2:1-11).
Complementarianism, rightly practiced, will lead to the recognizable flourishing of both sexes.
We strongly denounce any distorted view of Scripture that contributes to the belief that biblical manhood or womanhood includes or permits practices such as marginalization, subjugation, intimidation, neglect or any form of abuse.
All men and women have been created in the image of God, whether single or married. Single men and women do need need to be married to be meaningful participants in the corporate life of the church.
Single men do not possess any authority over single women. The way that they love and serve their sisters should not patronize, victimize or show force, but rather should be the fruit of brotherly love, and vice versa.
Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; Luke 8:1-3; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:33-35; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Romans. 16:1-2;
We believe and confess that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again that salvation is only by grace, through the repentance of sin and dead works and through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith alone are declared righteous (justified) by God and become children of God.
John 3.3,5; Romans. 5.1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 6.1; John 1:12-13
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is Justification; Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness;
We believe that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood;
We believe that by virtue of faith, His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God;
Justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
Romans 3:21-30; 5:1-2; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5.17-20; Galatians 2:16-20; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; Galatians 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16;
Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that act of God by which the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature and a new spiritual life, not before possessed, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus.
The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the dominion of sin is broken, and the heart is transformed from a love of sin and self to a love of holiness and God.
John 6.63; Acts 11.18; 16.14; 18:27; Romans 6:1-18; Galatians 2.20; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians. 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1.22;
We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, – especially, the word of God, the fellowship of believers, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer. The reality of sanctification in the believers life is the sound evidence of justification by faith being also a reality in their lives.
Romans. 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1;3; 3:18; Hebrews 12:2;
Glorification is the point of culmination of our salvation and is the final blessing of those who have been redeemed for all of eternity.
Romans. 8:28-30; Philippians. 1.6; Hebrews. 10.14; Ephesians 5.26-27; Revelations 21
We believe and confess that election is the sovereign act of God through which, before the foundations of the world, He set apart those whom He called, regenerated, saved, and sanctified in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1 :4-11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet 1 :1-2) The basis of God’s election is His good pleasure and will. (Eph. 1:4-11; Rom. 9:6-23). The call of salvation is still given to all people, as we do not believe that the sovereign election of God eliminates that responsibility of the believer to evangelize the lost.On the contrary, God has given believers the responsibility to evangelize, serve those who believe in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, and to be a testimony against those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. To be saved, man is responsible to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. God has chosen sinners to be saved through the proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 10:13-17). The Lord Jesus preached the Gospel (Matt 4:23, 9:35) and commands His disciples to go and do likewise. (Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19-20)
Those whom God has elected unto eternal life, He is pleased in His appointed, and accepted time, to effectually call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which all men are in by nature, to grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. In that moment He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to do that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, but being made completely and undeniably willing to do so by His grace alone.
Romans 8:29-30; 9:22-24; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11, 17-19; 2:1-6; 2 Thesalonians 2:13-14; Acts 26:18; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Deuteronomy 30:6; Psalms 110:3; Song of Songs 1:4
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit. It is only then that he is thereby enabled to, and will answer this call, embracing the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
2 Timothy 1:9; Tit 3:4-5; Ephesians 1:19-20; 2:4-5, 8-9; Romans 8.7; 9:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 5:25; 6:37; Ezekiel 36:27; John 6:37, 44; 16:13-14; Acts 11:18,21; 13:48; 2 Timothy. 2:24-25; Philippians 1:29; 1 Corinthians. 1:26-31; 4:7; 15:10; Romans. 11:36; Galatians. 3:5;
All true believers persevere until the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and whom have been sanctified through the Holy Spirit will never fall from grace, but will persevere all the way till the end. Believers can fall into sin through negligently falling into temptation, thus grieving the Holy Spirit. This will affect the believers sense of peace and bring the Father’s discipline as He deals with us as His children, but will not remove them from relationship with God as they will be kept by the power of God’s grace alone in their salvation.
John 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Petru 1:5-12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 4:7-16; 1 John 2:19-25; Philippians 1:3-6; 2:12-13; Romans 8:31-36; 9:16; 2 Timothy 2:19; Ephesians 1:5-11, 14; Revelations 13:8; Matthew 24:22,24; Hebrews 6:16-20; Jeremiah 31:33-34; 32:40;
We believe and confess that there is one Church, one Body of Christ, made up of those who have been born again through repentance and genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which is expressed through many local churches throughout the world.
We believe that the gathering of those whom God has regenerated and who have been baptized on the basis of a credible confession of faith. The local church is not a building, an institute, or an organization.
We believe that to be a Christian means to be a missionary. These two words are synonyms and inseparable. All Christians, without exception, have the mission to spread the knowledge and truth of the Gospel to every people group throughout the world.
The local church is governed by elders and deacons that the members of the church trust are there on behalf of God.
Romans. 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 20, Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:4-6, Colossians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1.2; Galatians 1:2; Colossians 1:24, Hebrews 12:23, Peter 5:5, 1 John 2:12-14, 1 Timothy 5:1-2, Revelations 7:9-10 Matthew 5:13-16; 26:13; 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 4:20; 15:20, Colossians 1:6 Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Petru 5:1-4;
There are two ordinances of the Church. One is that of believer’s baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the other is the Lord’s Supper.
Water baptism is only intended for those who have received the saving benefits of Christ through the new birth of the Holy Spirit. In obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself and the world, believers are baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that a former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts the release from the mastery of Satan, sin and death.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:21;
As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life.
As we come to the table with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ untill He comes, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-28; Luke 22:14-23; John 6:35, 47-58; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-34;
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body of all people, the final judgement, the eternal joy being in the presence of the Lord for the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Revelations 20:4–6,11–15