The Wichita Bible Church Doctrinal Statement

Doctrinal Statement PDF

(As amended January 19, 2017)

Whereas, it has pleased God to establish His church, and to unite born-again believers into local fellowships, for the proclamation of the gospel, assembling of themselves together for prayer, praise and the preaching of the Word, it has seemed good to us to set forth those tenets and practices by which we expect to promote the work of the Lord.

The following doctrinal statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself is the inspired and infallible Word of God, and it speaks with final authority on all matters of truth, morality, and the proper conduct for all mankind. The Bible is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Wichita Bible Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, and discipline, our Council of Elders is Wichita Bible Church’s final interpretive authority concerning the meaning and application of the Bible.

(1) The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13).

(2) The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

(3) The Person and Work of Christ

(a.) 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 men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35).

(b.) 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 3:24,25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3‑5).

(c.) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to 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 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1, 2).

(4) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

(a.) 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; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13, 14).

(b.) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27; Ephesians 5:18).

(5) The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 3:22, 23; 5:12; Ephesians 1:3, 12).

(6) 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; 1 Peter 1:18, 19).

(7) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

(a.) 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; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5).

(b.) 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, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13, 14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

(8) The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12, 13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

(9) Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1,2; 14:13; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

(10) Missions

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19,20).

(11) The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

(a.) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-12).

(b.) 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; 1 John 5:14, 15; James 5:14-16).

(12) The Church

(a.) We believe that the Church, which is the body and the 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; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).

(b.) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

 (13 ) The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6, 7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

(14 ) The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that “Blessed Hope”, the personal and imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones at the Rapture, to be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ; and, His subsequent return to earth, with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10).

(15 ) The Eternal State

(a.) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:5, 6, 12, 13).

(b.) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

(c.) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6, 7; Mark 9:43- 48; Revelation 20:11-15).

(16) Marriage and Sexuality

(a.) We believe that God has ordained marriage and that marriage has only one meaning, and that is a covenantal union sanctioned by God which joins together one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26; 2:24).

(b.) We believe marriage is the only legitimate and acceptable sexual relationship. All sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful and displeasing to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6.18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4.3-5; Hebrews 13.4)

(c.) We believe the Bible clearly states that God created humans as two distinct sexes, male and female, and that both sexes have equal value or worth to God  and that it does not please God for people to attempt to change the sex that He gave to them (Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-31).

(d.) Wichita Bible Church (WBC) will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Council of Elders, Council of Deacons, and staff of WBC shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facility and property of WBC shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

(17) Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. He created them to be male and female. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 139).