OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH

The members of the Bible Way Ministries in Zambia, Central Africa agree to uphold the following eternal truths of Christianity:

GOD

That there is one God, our only Creator, Sustainer and Saviour, who alone is good, who is one being, a perfect unity of three equal, eternal, self-existent persons, and who alone is to be worshipped.

Deuteronomy 6:4 2 Corinthians 13:14

Being God the Father; Creator and upholder of all things, absolute, unchanging. Who condescends to dwell in Heaven, having all power, all knowledge and being everywhere present yet separate from His Creation, holy, the One and only source of all truth, good, light, morality, and justice.

Being God the Son; our Lord Jesus Christ. Who condescended to dwell on earth, being conceived of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, subject to all things as a man, yet sinless. In whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Who, in accordance with the prophecy of scripture, voluntarily gave His life as a ransom for many, was crucified, He really died, was buried and rose again to real life in the flesh having fully, and for all time by the finished work of His perfect sacrifice, paid the price for our sin to set us free. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father until He comes again to earth in power and glory to judge all human beings, whether alive or dead at His coming.

John 1:1-2,14 Luke 1:35 Romans 3:24-25; 4:25 1 Peter 1:3-5 Being God the Holy Spirit; a real person having the attributes of the whole Godhead. Who condescends to dwell in every born-again believer, guiding, sanctifying and comforting. He alone applies the Father's saving grace by the blood of the Son unto our salvation.

Romans 8:9 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Ephesians 1:13-14

MAN

That all mankind are tripartite beings of spirit, soul and body, being descended from Adam, created by God a living soul in the image of the Godhead and for fellowship with God. Originally created perfect, Adam chose to sin, thereby allowing sin (and by sin, death) to enter the human race.

Since that time all human beings (except Jesus Christ) are born sinners, spiritually dead, inheriting from Adam a body of flesh subject to decay and death, and a depraved soul incapable (apart from the saving grace of God) of living a good and God-pleasing life. The free choice of sin confirms our alienation from God and our personal guilt, all people coming justly under the condemnation of God's wrath.

Genesis 1:26-27 Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23 Ephesians 2:12

SALVATION

That salvation is available only as a free gift of God's grace through the blood of His Son to all human beings who repent of their sin and, by faith receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

That while the response of the hearer to the gospel is an essential requisite, it is the Holy Spirit alone who brings the believer to true repentance and saving faith, causing such to be born again in Christ (thereby made spiritually alive), forgiven, justified, adopted by God and, by His indwelling, enabling the believer to live a normal Christian life of holiness, prayer, witness and work for the Lord Jesus.

Because of this, death now brings the believing soul immediate entrance into the presence of Christ, where, in conscious blessing, the saints await the resurrection of the body.

John 1:12 Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10

THE CHURCH

That the Church is the community of all born again believers, living in covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head and Husband-to-be under whom the Holy Spirit has formed one body.

Each and all members of which are expected to live a life of individual and corporate holiness, seeking the work of God's grace in the heart that frees the believer from the desire to sin, giving instead the ability and desire to live in righteousness. Although always remaining capable of sin it is normal and right for a Christian to be holy, to walk after the Spirit and, by His fullness, fulfil the righteousness of the Law, moment by moment surrendering the life and will to God and so carry out the commission of the Church to continue the earthly life and work of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:22-23 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Acts 1:8

THE BIBLE

That the Holy Bible of 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books is God's complete written word to mankind, inspired by God, wholly true and trustworthy for all ages, the supreme and final authority in all matters of life and faith.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 2 Peter 1:20-21 Matthew 5:18 John 16:12-13

THE END TIMES

That the Lord Jesus Christ will return in person to gather His Church (generally known as the Rapture of the Church).

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 That the Rapture of the Church will be followed by a time of great trouble on earth (generally known as the Great Tribulation).

Daniel 9:27 Jeremiah 30:7 Matthew 24:15-21 Revelation 6 That the Great Tribulation will be followed by the premillennial personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth (generally known as the Second Coming) to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Zechariah 14:4-11 Matthew 24:15-25,46 Revelation 20:6 That the Millennial Kingdom will be followed by the Great White Throne judgement when all unbelievers being rightly condemned shall be cast into the lake of fire, to be punished forever away from the presence of the Lord; and that all believers shall remain in eternal bliss in the presence of the Lord.

Revelation 20:11-15; 21:3-4