IACS DOCTRINAL Statement
BIBLE: We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the old and new testaments, and that it is our only rule for faith and practice.
GOD: We believe God exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and that all three are equal in divine attributes.
JESUS CHRIST. We believe in the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and His identification as the Son of God. We believe in the vicarious substitutionary death on the cross and the atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood. We believe in the resurrection of His body from the tomb and His continuing work of intercession for believers at the right hand of God the Father. We believe in His power to save men eternally from sin.
HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that God the Holy Spirit calls, regenerates, baptizes, indwells, fills and seals the believers. We reject modern charismatic doctrine.
CREATION: We believe in the Bible account of creation, rather than evolution, and that it was accomplished by the direct act of God.
MAN: We believe that man became a fallen creature and that all men are born in sin and are totally depraved, lost, condemned to Hell, and in order to be saved must receive the new-birth experience of salvation by the grace of God through genuine faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
FUTURE THINGS: We believe in the imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial return of Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead – the saved to a life of eternal glory and bliss in heaven with God; the unsaved to eternal judgment of conscious suffering and woe in the lake of fire.
SEPARATION: We believe in the biblical doctrine of separation, which encompasses three things: The separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the verities of the Christian faith; the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that may dishonor the Saviour; and the separation of the church from state control in areas of religious liberty.
DIGNITY AND RESPECT: We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of IACS.
LOVE: We believe that the greatest commandments are (1) to love God and (2) to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). We believe that we should demonstrate love toward fellow believers, those who are not believers, those who actively oppose our faith or doctrine, and those who engage in actions contrary to Biblical teaching. We believe that we should deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently and humbly. We believe that the Scriptures forbid the taking of revenge and the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice (Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; Philippians 2:2-4). We also believe that love and truth complement rather than conflict with one another (Ephesians 4:15).
MARRIAGE, GENDER AND HUMAN SEXUALITY: In accordance with our view of the Bible as the supreme and final authority on all matters pertaining to faith and life, we believe that marriage is the exclusive, covenant relationship between one man and one woman. We believe that marriage is an illustration of the mysterious union between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Though sexual intimacy within the marriage relationship between one man and one woman is approved and even celebrated in Scripture, we believe that any sexual intimacy outside of this covenant relationship falls short of God’s standard and is prohibited. Further, we believe that God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe any attempts to alter or change one’s birth gender fall short of God’s standards and are prohibited. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).
STATEMENT OF FINAL AUTHORITY: The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of IACS’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is IACS’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
GOD: We believe God exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and that all three are equal in divine attributes.
JESUS CHRIST. We believe in the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and His identification as the Son of God. We believe in the vicarious substitutionary death on the cross and the atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood. We believe in the resurrection of His body from the tomb and His continuing work of intercession for believers at the right hand of God the Father. We believe in His power to save men eternally from sin.
HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that God the Holy Spirit calls, regenerates, baptizes, indwells, fills and seals the believers. We reject modern charismatic doctrine.
CREATION: We believe in the Bible account of creation, rather than evolution, and that it was accomplished by the direct act of God.
MAN: We believe that man became a fallen creature and that all men are born in sin and are totally depraved, lost, condemned to Hell, and in order to be saved must receive the new-birth experience of salvation by the grace of God through genuine faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
FUTURE THINGS: We believe in the imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial return of Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead – the saved to a life of eternal glory and bliss in heaven with God; the unsaved to eternal judgment of conscious suffering and woe in the lake of fire.
SEPARATION: We believe in the biblical doctrine of separation, which encompasses three things: The separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the verities of the Christian faith; the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that may dishonor the Saviour; and the separation of the church from state control in areas of religious liberty.
DIGNITY AND RESPECT: We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of IACS.
LOVE: We believe that the greatest commandments are (1) to love God and (2) to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). We believe that we should demonstrate love toward fellow believers, those who are not believers, those who actively oppose our faith or doctrine, and those who engage in actions contrary to Biblical teaching. We believe that we should deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently and humbly. We believe that the Scriptures forbid the taking of revenge and the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice (Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; Philippians 2:2-4). We also believe that love and truth complement rather than conflict with one another (Ephesians 4:15).
MARRIAGE, GENDER AND HUMAN SEXUALITY: In accordance with our view of the Bible as the supreme and final authority on all matters pertaining to faith and life, we believe that marriage is the exclusive, covenant relationship between one man and one woman. We believe that marriage is an illustration of the mysterious union between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Though sexual intimacy within the marriage relationship between one man and one woman is approved and even celebrated in Scripture, we believe that any sexual intimacy outside of this covenant relationship falls short of God’s standard and is prohibited. Further, we believe that God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe any attempts to alter or change one’s birth gender fall short of God’s standards and are prohibited. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).
STATEMENT OF FINAL AUTHORITY: The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of IACS’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is IACS’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
See also the AACS Statement of Faith at the AACS website.
