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ST. MARK'S DOCTRINE STATEMENT: ( Who we are as a Church)

THE BIBLE
We believe that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testament comprise the full, word-for-word, truthful, inert
Word of God which is supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. (Is.40:8; II Tim. 3:16 &17; Heb. 4:12; II Peter 1:
20 & 21)

THE TRINITY
We believe the Scripture teaches that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose
name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit; equal in ever divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
(Deut. 6:4; Is. 48:16; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; II Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:8)

THE FATHER
We believe that as eternal Father, He is the Father of all men in the non-salvation and Creator-creature sense, the Father of
the Nation of Israel, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of all who believe in the Christ. He is author of
salvation, the One who sent the Son, and the disciplinarian of His Children. (Ex. 4:22; Ps. 2:7-9; John 5: 37; Acts 17:29; Gal
3:26; Eph. 1:3-6; Heb. 12:9; I Peter 1:3)

THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, completely God and completely
man. We believe in His pre-existence, His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the grave,
His ascension into heaven, and His bodily return from heaven. (John1:1,14,18; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:24-26; 4:25; I Peter 1:3-5;
Eph. 4:11-16; I Thess. 4:13-18; Heb. 1:7; 7:23-25; I John 2:1-2)

THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and bestows spiritual gifts upon all believers at the time of their
conversion. Experientially, he fills, teaches, leads, assures, and prays for believers. (John 14:26; 16:6-15; Acts1;5; Rom. 8:
14-16, 26-27; I Cor. 6:19; 12:7-11,13; Eph. 1:13-14; 5:18; II Thess. 2:1-10; Titus 3:5)

MAN AND SIN
We believe man was created in the image of God; that he sinned in Adam and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual
death (separation from God); is now a sinner, by nature and by choice; and is in need of salvation. (Gen. 1:1,27; 2:17; 3:1-
19; Is. 14:12-14; Luke 20:36; Heb. 1: 13-14; 2:5-8; John 1:1-3; 12:31 Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3)

SALVATION
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary payment for our sins, not based on merit,
works, or religious ceremony. We believe that anyone who has placed their faith in Christ is eternally secure, has
everlasting life, will not come into condemnation, and shall never perish. We believe that assurances come to the believer
from three primary sources: trusting the Word of God’s promises, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and a persevering walk
with the Lord. ( John 1:12; 2:3, 16; 3:16, 36; 10:28-29; 11:25-26; II Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 8:28-39; I John 4:11-13; 5: 10-
13; Eph. 2:8-9; Jude 1; Rev. 20:12-15)

THE CHURCH
We believe in the church, both universally and locally, as the spiritual body of which Christ is the Head, and in the practices
of water baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper as the ordinances of the local church. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:5; 11:15; I
Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:22-33; Col. 1:18)

THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that those whom God has saved are sent into the world by Christ as He was by the Father. Those so sent are
ambassadors, commissioned to go make disciples and make Christ known to the whole world. We also believe that
everyone should have an opportunity to carefully examine the facts about Christ and have a chance to make an intelligent
decision about him. (Matt. 28:18-20; John 15:17-18, 20-21; Acts 1; Rom. 10:14-15; II Cor. 5:18-20; Col. 4:2-6)

ETERNITY
We believe in the physical resurrection of human body at Christ’s Appearance; in the eternal conscious existence of all
individual in either heaven or hell; and in the rewards of the saved and the punishment of the lost for eternity. (Luke 16:19-
31; I Cor. 3: 11-15; II Cor. 5:8-10; Rev. 20:10-15)