Treasure Valley Bible Church

Statement of Faith

The Bible

The Bible, in its original manuscripts, is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). It was not written by an act of human will, but by men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:20-21). God's Word is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It fully equips the believer for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 2:10). For further discussion, see the paper "The Authority and Sufficiency of God's Word."

God

There is one God (Isaiah 43:10). He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He is eternal (Isaiah 40:28), self-existent (Exodus 3:14), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12), omnipotent (Revelation 1:8), and omniscient (1 John 3:20). He is holy, righteous, and just (Revelation 16:5-7). He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth (Exodus 34:6).

God the Father

God the Father has always existed as God (Revelation 4:8). He is spirit and dwells in unapproachable light (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:16). He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6). The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to redeem those who would believe (John 3:16). After Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb for three days, the Father raised Him from the dead (Galatians 1:1). The Father blesses believers with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14).

God the Son

God the Son, Jesus Christ, has always existed as God (John 1:1, 14). He created all things, and He holds all things in their place (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30-35). While on earth, Jesus was fully God (John 8:58) and fully man (Romans 5:15). Jesus died upon a cross for the sins of mankind (1 John 2:2), He was buried in a tomb, and on the third day He was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). After presenting Himself to many believers, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

God the Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit has always existed as God (Acts 5:3-4; Hebrews 9:14). The Spirit led Jesus while He ministered upon the earth (Luke 4:18-19). After Jesus' ascension, the Spirit was sent to indwell believers on the day of Pentecost, and the church was established (Acts 2:1-4). At salvation every believer is permanently indwelt by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). The Spirit glorifies Christ (John 6:14). He continually seeks to direct the believer's life (Romans 8:14) and teach him about all things (1 John 2:27). For further discussion, see the paper entitled "The Spirit-Led life."

The Depravity of Unsaved Man

God created Adam without sin, in His image (Genesis 1:26). When Adam sinned (Genesis 3:1-6), all of mankind experienced spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). As a result, unbelievers live in the lusts of their flesh, follow Satan, and are children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). Through observing creation, all unbelievers understand God's invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature (Romans 1:19-20). Even though they know there is a God, they refuse to honor Him as God or give Him thanks (Romans 1:21). The depravity of unsaved man can be summarized as follows, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is not who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one" (Romans 3:10-12). For further discussion, see the paper entitled "The Depravity of Man and the Sovereignty of God."

Salvation

A person is saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died upon the cross for his sins (Acts 16:30-31). Since unbelievers are spiritually dead and refuse to seek God (see previous section), God is just to choose some to whom He gives mercy and salvation (Romans 9:6-16; Ephe-sians 2:4-5). Before the foundation of the world, the Father chose those who would believe in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). He draws them to His Son Jesus Christ (John 6:44), and He gives them faith to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). For further discussion, see the paper entitled "The Depravity of Man and the Sovereignty of God."

The Flesh

Before salvation, a person lives in the lusts of his physical flesh (Ephesians 2:3). When a person places his faith in Christ, he becomes a new spiritual creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), but his flesh remains committed to sinning (Romans 7:14). The flesh continually seeks to direct the believer's life and opposes the leading of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17). When a believer walks by the Spirit, he does not complete the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). For further discussion, see the paper entitled, "The Spirit-Led Life."

The Church

The church was established on the day of Pentecost, when the believers were permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; John 14:16). Each local church is to be led by a plurality of elders of equal standing (Titus 1:5; Acts 20:27). Elders are placed in their position by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), and they are to display specific character qualifications (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Elders are to equip, oversee, and shepherd the congregation placed in their charge (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:2-3). As individuals of the congregation are equipped, they are no longer tossed about by various false doctrines (Ephesians 4:14). They speak truth to one another in love (Ephesians 4:15), and they use their giftedness in the building up of the body in love (Ephesians 4:16; Romans 12:4-8). For further discussion, see the paper entitled "Biblical Leadership and the Local Church."

Satan

Satan, also called the devil, is a fallen angel (Ezekiel 28:12-16). In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve and was instrumental in Adam's original sin (Genesis 3:1-7). God sovereignly allows Satan to rule over the world and all unbelievers (Job 1:6-2:7; 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 2:2-3). By faith, believers can stand firm against schemes of Satan (Ephesians 6:10-13). As they submit to God and resist Satan, he flees from them (James 4:7). God uses Satan's attacks upon believers to perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish them (1 Peter 5:8-10).

The Tribulation Period

During the tribulation period, the dragon (also called the devil and Satan) will give his power, throne, and great authority to a man called "the beast" (also called the antichrist and man of lawlessness) for 42 months (Revelation13:4-5). All unbelievers will worship the beast (Revelation 13: 8). The beast will make war against the church and overcome them (Revelation 13:7). Yet, the church will remain faithful and be victorious in their faith (Revelation 12:17, 15:2). God will pour out his wrath upon unbelievers but not the church (Revelation 16:1-12). At the end of the tribulation period, Jesus will return on the clouds to gather the church (Revelation 14:14-16; Matthew 24:29-31). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 11:15). Then the saints who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so the church will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Jesus will then return to the earth and defend Israel (Zachariah 12:1-9), and Israel will believe in their Messiah whom they crucified (Zachariah 12:10-14). Jesus will defeat the dragon, beast, false prophet, and the armies of the nations (Revelation 19:11-21).

The 1000 Year Reign of Christ

A strong angel will bind the dragon and throw him into the abyss for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3). During these 1000 years, the church will reign with Christ upon the earth (Revelation 20:4-6, 5:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Israel will live in the land that God gave their forefathers, they will be God's people, and the second covenant will be fulfilled (Ezekiel 36:24-28). When the 1000 years are completed, Satan will be released and he will gather the armies of the world for war (Revelation 20:7-8). They will be defeated and the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-10). There will be a great white throne judgment of Christ (Revelation 20:11-15). All unbelievers will be judged according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12-13). If anyone's name is not written in the book of life, he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

The Eternal Estate

Then there will be a new heaven and earth for the first heaven and earth has passed away (Revelation 21:1). The New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and reside upon the earth (Revelation 21:2). God the Father and Jesus Christ will dwell in New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:3). The city will have no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God will illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb (Revelation 21:23). The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it (Revelation 21:24). The church will serve Christ and reign with Him (Revelation 22:3-5), and all believers will dwell with God for eternity (Revelation 21:2-22:5).

Revised 04/06/2022

The Greek word for "understands" literally means "to set together." Although unsaved man understands there is a God and His invisible attributes and divine nature (Romans 1:18-23), he doesn't "set together" the truths of God's Word and act upon them because he considers them foolish (1 Corinthians 2:14).