Timpanogos Baptist Church's Statement of Faith

Our Mission is to please God by creating a safe place for hurting people to heal by:

1. Reaching Up [worship]: To celebrate and reflect on God’s nature (who He is) and His works (what He has done). [Psalm 96:7-8; Revelation 5:12]. Our response in worship is to more deeply abide in Him and thus daily live a more holy life [John 15:1-11]

2. Reaching Out [evangelism]: Whether locally or abroad, to testify to the Good News that eternal life is complete in Jesus Christ. [1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; John 15:18-27]

3. Reaching Around [edification]: To love one another as Christ loves us. In doing so we will encourage one another to know Christ better, so that the body of Christ may be built up with the purpose of unity in the faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God and maturity in Him. [John 15:12-17; Ephesians 4:12-13; Colossians 3:15-17]

Declaration of Faith

We are convinced of and committed to the following basic Biblical truths:

1. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (all 66 books) are the verbally inspired Word of God, are inerrant in the original writings, are infallible in doctrine, and are the only standard and authority for our belief and behavior. It is complete and is not to be supplemented or supplanted by any other revelation. It is the Christian’s and Church’s final authority. [Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Jude 3]

2. There is but one living and true God, existing eternally in three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is Spirit, over all and through all, unchangeable, perfect in holiness and in love, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. [Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Exodus 3:14, 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; Nehemiah 9:6; Ephesians 4:6 ]

a. God the Father as the Eternal Creator orders and directs everything according to His own purpose and pleasure. He is graciously and mercifully involved with mankind. He hears and answers prayer; He has designed and established the means of redemption. [John 5:19-24, 16:23-27; Ephesians 1:3-14]

b. God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of Man. As true God and true man, His death is the permanent sacrifice and payment for our sins. He was raised bodily and ascended into Heaven. He presently intercedes for us as our High Priest. He is our Advocate until His physical return to earth to establish His kingdom. [Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthian’s 15:3-8, 12-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 7:23-28]

c. God the Holy Spirit has been active in creation, in the inspiration and writing of the Old and New Testaments, Jesus' earthly ministry, and in the work of salvation. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He gives new life to those who place faith in Christ's atoning death and resurrection. He is the spiritual life of the believer, causing him to know the indwelling of the risen Christ. He gives guidance and motivation for the lifelong process of spiritual growth. [Genesis 1:2; John 16:7-15; 1 Corinthian’s 12:3,4,7 ff; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Peter 1:20-21]

3. Satan was created a personal being by God, but through pride rebelled against God, thus becoming the author of sin. He provoked the fall of man and seeks constantly to counterfeit the works and truth of God. As the archenemy of God, he is destined to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. [Ezekiel 28: 14-15; Isaiah 14:12-16; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:10, 20:10]

4. Man was created directly in the image of God (possessing intellect, creativity, emotion, will, and spirit) to enjoy intimate relationship with Him and to fulfill God's purpose on earth. Because of Adam’s disobedience all people are sinners, by nature and practice, and are spiritually dead -- separated from God. Apart from Christ all individuals shall be forever separated from God. [Genesis 1:26-27,2:7,3:1-24; Romans 1:18-32, 5:12, 6:23; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:1-3]

5. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection paid the penalty for our sins. All who confess their sin, repent and believe solely in Christ for salvation are born again by the Holy Spirit and are made spiritually alive. Those saved in Christ are the children of God eternally. They are empowered by the Holy Spirit to practice righteous living and can enjoy an intimate relationship with God through Christ. [John 1:12, 3:16, 14:16, 5:24; Romans 8:11; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:4-10; 1 John 1:1-10]

6. True believers in Jesus Christ belong to the universal body of Christ, His Church, and are directed by God's Word to be baptized in water (by immersion) as a profession of salvation and to become an active participant in a local church community. Believers are to fellowship regularly around the Lord's Table (Communion) as instructed in the Bible. The local church is autonomous and is responsible to Christ as its head; however, it may join other groups of believers for common ends. The Body of Christ is a community of believer-priests who have direct access to God and perform ministries according to their spiritual gifts. [Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41-47;1 Corinthians 11:23-24, 12-14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-19; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 2:4,5,9,10]

7. The Lord Jesus Christ will return physically, visibly, and imminently for His church. After the tribulation He will come in glory with believers to set up His millennial Kingdom upon the earth followed by an eternal kingdom in a new heaven and earth. Believers are to be prepared for His return at all times. Every human being will experience bodily resurrection. Believers will appear in Heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards and live with God forever. Unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne and will be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer eternally, separated from God forever. [Acts 1:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 5:21-29: Matt 24; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15]

Therefore, believing these truths to be foundational, we shall seek to enhance our understanding and walk of obedience in all aspects of the Word of God. Each believer shall endeavor to love God with all his heart, soul, and mind; and to love his neighbor as himself. We do this because we belong to Him. [Matthew 22:34-40]