BELIEF STATEMENT OF BRIDGE KOINONIA CHURCH
The Bible
We believe in the inspiration and the inerrancy and the infallibility of the 66 books in the Bible—39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. We believe God’s Word is inspired (lit. God-breathed) and profitable for faith and life for the glory of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 10:31). We believe God’s Word is inerrant. God’s Word cannot err or lie. God’s Word is true because God is truth, and His word is true (John 14:6, 17:17). We also believe God’s Word is infallible. That is, it is incapable of deceiving or leading us astray (Psalm 19:7, 18:30, Isaiah 55:10-11, 2 Corinthians 1:20). Therefore, we believe in the authority of the Scripture because it is God-breathed, inerrant, and infallible.
The Triune God
We believe there is only one true God who exists eternally as three persons. We believe in the triunity of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe each of the three persons in the Godhead—Father, Son, Spirit—is fully God, and they are uncreated. We believe each of these divine persons—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit—are coequal and coeternal. We believe the Father is distinct from the Son and the Spirit; the Son is distinct from the Father and the Spirit; and the Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son. We believe the Son is begotten by the Father; the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Romans 8:9; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:4; 4:8; John 1:1; Matthew 28:19)
The Creation
We believe the Triune God created the heavens and the earth and everything therein, visible and invisible, out of nothing, ex nihilo (Genesis 1:1-2, 6). We believe creation was an act of the Triune God who said, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26). We believe God brought creation into being by His word (Genesis 1:1-24; Psalm 33:6). We believe God created man and woman in His image as His image bearers to reflect His characteristics in our nature, in our actions, and in our relationships (Genesis 1:26-28; Galatians 5:22-23). We also believe all things were made through God the Son, the Second Person of Triune God, Jesus the Messiah, and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16).
The Fall
All people are born guilty of Adam’s original sin. (Rom. 5:12-13). Every person is born a sinner (Romans 5:12), and everyone is inclined and bent to sin. (Romans 3:10-12). Therefore, everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's standard, His glory (Romans 3:23). The Law of God, such as The Ten Commandments tells us how to love God and our neighbor. (Exodus 20:1-21). We sin when we fail to love God and our neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40)
The Gospel
Our redemption (rescue) is the work of the Triune God. The Father decreed it and sent His only Son. The Son secured our salvation and the Holy Spirit applied it to our lives. (I Peter 1:2) We believe God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). He came to save His people from their sin (Matthew 1:21; Mark 1045; John 4:42; John 10:11; Rom. 5:19). He was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). Christ died on the cross as our substitute (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin (Romans 6:5-7) and became the propitiation for our sin. We are justified in Christ freely by his grace through faith (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9) – declared just and righteous before God and adopted as His sons and daughters (Romans 8:15-16). God grants by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit new birth to His people, the elect. (Titus 3:5-7). This is God’s act alone giving us a new heart so that we respond in repentance and faith in Christ. (Jeremiah 31:33-34; John 1:12-13). We believe God triumphed over our sin and death when Christ was bodily resurrected from the dead. (John 20:26-31; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus will return to restore the world and to have the final judgment. (Revelation 21:1-4; Matthew 25:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Church
We believe the visible church is the body of Christ composed of believers who publicly profess faith in Jesus Christ and their children. (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Therefore, other believers may become members of our church by publicly professing faith in Jesus Christ or by reaffirming again their faith in Jesus. (I John 5:11-13). We believe, from the Scripture, that Christ has ordained two sacraments: Baptism and Communion. Baptism is never a means of salvation but a sign of initiation into God’s covenant. It is required for church membership. It is administered to both the children of believing parents and those who come to put their faith in Jesus Christ as adults. (Genesis 17:7; Acts 2:38-39). We recognize and receive all forms of Christian baptism. However, at our church, the mode of baptism is sprinkling. (Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 1:2). Also, those who have publicly professed faith in Jesus and are in a right relationship with God and their neighbor are welcome at the Lord’s Table. (I Corinthians 11: 23-28).
We believe God has called us in Christ to serve. (Mark 10:45, John 13:15-17; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:4-13). We serve God and our neighbor in love (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35) by offering our entire lives: our time, talents, and treasure. We serve God and our neighbor because we are grateful for what Jesus has done for us in our place as our substitute. (I Corinthians 6:20; Romans 12:1-2; Malachi 3:10-11).
In addition to this belief statement, we adhere to the Apostles’ Creed and the Westminster Confession of Faith.