Statement of Faith

---

The Bible, not this statement, is our final authority for matters of faith and practice. The following are the doctrinal convictions by which the International Bible Church of Armenia is governed.

1. The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the written record of his supernatural revelation of himself to man — absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, and final in its content. The Bible is our only rule for faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21)
2. All men in their natural state are lost, alienated from God, and spiritually dead: “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:23)
3. Salvation is only by grace through faith, which is a free gift of God. Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Those who thus receive Christ by faith have their sins forgiven, their hearts cleansed, are born of the Spirit, become children of God, and are made new creatures in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Acts 15:9; John 1:12–13; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
4. Salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ the Son of God, and salvation is found in nothing else. It is by Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that man is brought into reconciliation with God the Father. (Acts 4:12; John 3:18; Romans 3:24–26; 5:9; Hebrews 9:12, 26; 10:10)
5. God is One God, who reveals himself in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From all eternity he exists as the one living and true God in three persons of one substance. Jesus Christ, as the Scriptures affirm, is the Son of God and Son of man. He was born of a virgin and is himself God. The Scriptures also declare the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:1–18; 10:30; Colossians 2:9; Luke 22:70; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3–4; Hebrews 9:14)
6. Our Lord Jesus rose from the dead in the same body that was laid to rest in the tomb. The bodies of all believers who die will be raised from the dead, and they will receive an incorruptible body like unto his glorious body. All other men shall be raised unto “the resurrection of judgment.” (John 20:25–27; 1 Corinthians 15:53; Philippians 3:21; John 5:28–29)
7. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the church at Pentecost in power, baptizing believers into the Body of Christ and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them. The Holy Spirit applies the saving work of Christ to believers’ hearts, convicts of sin, and sanctifies them. He gives new life, power, and spiritual gifts for service and the equipping of His church, instructs and guides in all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption. (Acts 1:8; John 3:3–5; 14:26; 16:8, 13; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:5; 5:18; 1 Corinthians 12–13; Romans 12; 1 Peter 4)
8. Christians, having been born of the Spirit, are to live the new life in the present power of the Spirit. “If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.” The Christian’s responsibility and normal attitude of life is to yield himself to God, trusting God to keep him. (Galatians 5:16–25; Colossians 2:6; Romans 6:13)
9. Christian living includes dying to ourselves, serving others, and preaching the Gospel to the nations. In carrying on this work, the believer requires the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit — granted to every believer as he yields to and trusts in Jesus. Prayer must have centrality in Christian living. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 3:20; Acts 5:32; John 14:12–14; Ephesians 6:18–19)
10. Jesus Christ will come again to earth a second time — personally, bodily, and visibly. (Hebrews 9:28; Acts 1:11; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 26:64; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
11. Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both are available to all believers. (Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 6:1–18; Acts 2:38–41; Luke 22:19–20; John 6:53–58; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
12. God created humans male and female in His image and called this creation very good. Marriage is a God-ordained institution that is only between a biological male and female. The legitimacy and sanctity of sexual intimacy is found only in the context of a husband and wife. (Genesis 1:24, 31)