To establish a cross-cultural, multi-ethnic church that believes the Word of God is the sole authority for life; that integrates people of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds into relational ministry and that trains up Christian warriors who will impact their community and world for Jesus Christ.
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 Despite what the world would like to say, there is such a thing as absolute truth, coming straight out of the Word of God, and people ultimately act on what they really think is true, whatever they may say. At Antioch, we want to lay it out up front. Our doctrinal statement declares what is really true, straight from God's Word, and our Philosophy and Mission statements flow out of our desire to act on that truth. We trust that your life shows forth a similar effort to stand on the truth and allow it to form your worldview, thoughts and actions. As you click on these statements and read them, ask yourself if your understanding of God's Word is similar and if you are then in alignment with the vision and ministries of Antioch Bible Church.
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We believe that the Word of God is the central component for all growth in any believer's life. Equipping God's people includes teaching, training in evangelism, and discipling individuals to be obedient to God's Word in every area of their lives.
We believe that God has called Antioch Bible Church to involve all people of all cultures, races, and economic backgrounds in this ministry.
All members ministering:
The Church is not a collection of people to whom paid clergy minister. The church is a called out collection of ministers who are doing God's work in the world.
New Testament model:
The New Testament presents a mandate for churches to follow. We want to be a model for that church, not out of pride, but out of obedience.
Teaching God's Word:
We are determined to be a church and people of the Word of God. If God's Word says it, that settles it. The teaching and preaching of God's Word is the lifeblood of the Church, and is the channel that the Holy Spirit uses to do His work in hearts.
Intercession:
We recognize that there is no spiritual ministry apart from prayer. Unless God is working in us and through us, we are working in futility.
Outreach:
Our purpose is to carry out the Great commission and change our world. This is a two-fold task, both internal and external. It involves what the church does when we are Gathered together for worship and teaching and mutual ministry, and what the church does when we are Scattered out in the community for evangelism and righteous living. We believe that God gives His Church a great variety of ways to influence culture, business, government, education, and so on, and that He expects His Church to be salt and light throughout the community.
Cross-cultural ministry:
Antioch is committed whole-heartedly to the biblical pattern, a mandate of cross-cultural, multi-ethnic ministry. We teach that churches will have cross-cultural ministries if they develop healthy Attitudes toward diverse worship and ministry styles, work hard at Building intentional cross-cultural relationships, and seek out Cross-cultural leadership (the ABC's of cross-cultural ministry).
Healthy worship:
We believe that our worship should come out of a variety of forms and styles. The issue in worship is not what pleases us personally, but what pleases God. When we are uncomfortable with an unfamiliar worship style, someone else is comfortable, and we please God by setting our own preferences aside.
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Our mission is to glorify God by equipping God's people of all ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of our church, community, and world.
It is our desire to:
- Encourage personal growth and discipleship in believers
- Encourage personal evangelistic outreach
- Encourage personal development in the Christian lifestyle at home, work, and church
- Encourage believers to have a world view of Christianity, involving local, regional, national and international missions
- Encourage each member's responsibility in serving the body
- Be known as a cross-cultural ministry
- Start new churches as God presents opportunities
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What We Believe
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12,13).
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3 5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, he fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9,10; Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18).
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of likeness of God, but that through Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterably unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:22,23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18,19). Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38,39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13,14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15). The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gifts(s). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the placing of the believer into the Body of Christ.
We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor an indication of deep spiritual experience ( I Corinthians 12:7,11,13; Ephesians 4:7-8). We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; I John 5:14,15). We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him (Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 13:1-13; I Peter 4:10-11).
The Church
We believe that the Church, which is the body and espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17, I Tim 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11). We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, I Corinthians 5:4 7,13; I Peter 5:1-4). We recognize believer's baptism and the Lord's supper as scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,2, 18:8; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in the "Blessed Hope," the personal imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with his saints, to establish His millennial Kingdom (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; I Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; Revelation 3:10). |
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