We believe that Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. II Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equal yet distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. John 1:1,2,14,18We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and are totally depraved, and that they must be born again to be accepted by the Holy God. Rom. 3:10,11,23; 5:12; John 3:3We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood, and are saved by grace through faith wholly apart from human merit and works. 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 1:29; 1 Pet. 2:24; Heb. 9:22; Rom. 5:8,9; Eph. 2:8,9We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord from the dead, His ascension into Heaven and His present life there for us, as mediator, advocate and intercessor. 1 Cor. 15:4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Heb. 7:25We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, and that He convicts, teaches, guides and empowers. We believe He gives gifts to Christians for the building up of the Church. We do not believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence of baptism by the Spirit nor do we believe that the gift of tongues is in operation today. John 16:8,13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:7,13; 13:8; 14:21-24; Rom. 10:19-21We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. We believe that they are also sealed by the Holy Spirit, thus being secured unto the day of redemption. Gal. 3:26; 1 Cor. 6:19; John 1:12; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; John 5:24We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ was begun at Pentecost, is composed solely of believers, is the Body and Bride of our Lord; is distinct from Israel; and that it's commission is the winning of lost souls to Christ. Acts 2:1-4; Matt. 16:18; 28:19; Eph. 1:22,23; 5:23-32; Rom. 11:7,11We believe that water baptism, by immersion, is an outward evidence of the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's supper to commemorate His death. Moreover, we believe that neither water baptism or the Lord's supper has any saving merit. Acts 2:41; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach every believer to live, unto God, a life set apart from all worldly and sinful practices, to abide in Christ and to walk in the Spirit. Rom. 12:1,2; 1 John 2:15-17; Col. 3:1-5We believe that Jesus Christ will personally return prior to the time of the Tribulation to take believers, both the living and the dead unto Himself. Following the seven years of Tribulation, we believe that Jesus Christ will return to the earth with the believers to rule for one-thousand years. 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 24:29-30; Rev. 19:15; 20:6We believe in the bodily resurrection of every person, the saved to eternal blessedness and the unsaved to eternal punishment. John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8; Matt. 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:6-9We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel, the prince of demons, the great enticer and deceiver, the god of this age, the adversary of Christ and His Church and that his destiny is eternal punishment. Is. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-17; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 11:14; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:9; 20:10We believe that God designed marriage as a permanent covenant relationship between one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy outside of this marriage covenant is contrary to God’s plan. Gen. 2:24, Heb. 13:4, Mark 10:2-12, Luke 16:18, Rom. 7:1-3, I Cor. 7:1-5 ; I Cor. 8:18Click here to download Garden Chapel's full DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
