1. Scripture: Inspiration, Inerrantcy, Final Authority
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings. They are the Word of God and the final authority in faith and conduct.
Psalm 19:7–11; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17–18; John 10:35; 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:20-21
2. One God, Three Persons (Trinity)
There is one God, the Creator of all things and man; eternally existing in three persons and in a threefold relationship, that of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1; 1:26–27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3;10:30; l Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–3
3. Jesus Christ: Virgin Birth, Deity, Incarnation
Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is God incarnate, the God-Man.
Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 14; Philippians 2:5–7; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 2:14–17
4. Humanity: Image of God, Fall, Original Sin
Man was created in the image of God. He sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Adam’s sin is imputed to the whole race of mankind, that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and those who reach the state of moral responsibility become sinners before God in thought, word and deed.
Genesis 1:26–27; 2:17; 3:1–24; Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–12, 23; 5:12, 18–19; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Ephesians 2:1–3
5. Substitutionary Atonement and Justification by Faith
The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins (the sins of all men) according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice. All who believe in Him are freely justified and stand before God accepted in the character and merit of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:4–6, 10–11; Mark 10:45; John 3:16–18, 36; Romans 3:21–26; 4:4–5; 5:1, 8–9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:10–13; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18
6. Resurrection, Ascension, Head of the Church, High Priest, Advocate
Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven. In His present life He is the Head of the church, the Lord of the individual believer, the High Priest over the house of God, and the Advocate in the family of God.
Luke 24:36–43; Acts 1:9–11; Romans 8:34; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 4:14–16; 7:25; 8:1; 1 John 2:1–2; Revelation 1:17–18
7. Second Coming and Judgment
The personal, imminent second coming of Christ is certain; He will receive His own unto Himself, and will judge the world.
Matthew 24:30–31; 25:31–32; John 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; Romans 14:10–12; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Revelation 19:11–16
8. New Birth, Indwelling Spirit, Baptized into Christ’s Body
All who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit and receive the Holy Spirit and a new nature; they are also indwelt by the Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit are baptized into the body of Christ.
John 1:12–13; 3:3–8; Romans 8:9, 14–17; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; ll Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:26–28; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; Titus 3:4–7
9. Spiritual Fatherhood and Brotherhood
God is the spiritual Father only of those who trust His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior; and only those saved through faith in Christ are spiritual brothers.
John 1:12, 8:42–44; Romans 8:15; Galatians 3:26–29; 4:4–7; Ephesians 4:4-6; Hebrews 2:11; 1 John 3:1–2, 10
10. Bodily Resurrection, Eternal Blessedness and Punishment
The bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust is certain, as are the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved.
Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31–46; John 5:28–29; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 14:10–11; 20:11-15; 21:3-5; 22:1–5
11. Marriage, Gender, Sexuality, and the Church as Family
Wishram Community Church’s beliefs and practice regarding marriage flow from our commitment to God (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38) and to His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 32:45-47; Matthew 4:4).
These commitments affirm the following:
a. Created Male and Female, Image of God
God created human beings as male and female (Genesis 1:26-28). The complementary relational nature of the human race as “male and female” reflects the created order given by God when He created human being “in His image” (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10). It is with joy in our Creator that we are to receive the gift of being either male or female.
b. Two Options: Marriage or Celibacy
Scripture grants two life-enhancing options for sexual behavior: monogamous marital relations between one man and one woman (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Hebrews13:4) or sexual celibacy (I Corinthians 7:7-9, 25-35; Matthew 19:10-12). Both are gifts from God, given as He wills for His glory and the good of those who receive and enjoy as His gift to them.
(1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Hebrews 13:4)
c. Marriage as One-Flesh Covenant and Picture of Christ and the Church
In Scripture, monogamous heterosexual marriage bears a significance which goes beyond the regulation of sexual behavior, the bearing and raising of children, the formation of families, and the recognition of certain economic and legal rights, all of which are important. Marriage between a man and a woman is emphatically declared in the Scripture to create “one flesh” union (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew19:5), which in turn signifies the mystery of the union between Christ and His body, the Church (Ephesians 5:22-30). This means that the foundational understanding of marriage is as a covenant grounded in promises between a man and a woman which finds its divinely intended expression in the “one flesh” union of husband and wife, and between the “one flesh” union between husband and wife and God (Proverbs 2:16-17; Malachi 2:14; Ephesians 5:31-32).
d. Church as Family; Singleness Honored; Boundaries on Marriage Practice
The church is to be a new community that resembles a family of brothers and sisters united in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit displaying deep relationships of love (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 12:10; I Timothy 5:1-2). Celibacy and singleness is to be celebrated and affirmed within the church family. Based in these affirmation and commitment to God and His Word, we regard marriage as a good creation of God, and marriage within the Church as a rite and institution tied directly to our foundational belief of God as creator who made us male and female. We also regard marriage as a sacred institution which images the mysterious and wonderful bond between Christ and His Church. Thus, then, marriage is much more than merely a contract between two persons (a secular notion). It is a covenant grounded in the promises between and man and a woman which finds it divinely intended expression in the “one flesh” union of husband and wife, and between the “one flesh” union between husband and wife and God (the divine design). We therefore will only authorize and recognize heterosexual marriages. Only such marriages which fit the above definition may be conducted on church property and/or officiated by members/staff of this congregation. Marriage is the original and foundational institution of human society, established by God as a “one flesh”, covenantal union between a man and a woman that is life-long (until separated by death), exclusive (monogamous and faithful), and generative in nature (designed for bearing and raising children), and it is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church.
Additional references on church as family and honoring singleness: Mark 3:31–35; John 13:34–35; Acts 2:42–47; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 7:32–35
Additional references on sexual ethics and boundaries of marriage: Genesis 19:4–11;
Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Matthew 19:3–9; Romans 1:24–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11;
1 Thessalonians 4:3–8