[Note: The Biblical passages cited in support of these tenets are provided as examples for reference but are not given as an exhaustive catalog. The New King James Version is quoted and was used in the development of this list.]
We affirm the following tenets of faith:
1. We believe the Holy Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments, that it is the divinely inspired Word of God and is the only final, perfect rule of our faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16.)
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2. We believe in One Creator God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7.)
1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:25), born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:22-25) and is true God and true man (John 1:1-3, 14); that He died for our sins (Isaiah 53:6-12; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 2:2), bodily rose from the dead (Luke 24:39) and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) where He now reigns as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) waiting to return personally to earth in power and glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Matthew 1:22-25 “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”
4. We believe that each person has a sinful nature, is therefore lost, and needs to be saved, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Romans 3:21-26 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
5. We believe in the work of the person of the Holy Spirit in the new birth (John 3:6-8), indwelling the believer (John 14:16-17), causing him to grow into the likeness of Christ and filling him with power to live a godly life (John 14:26; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18) and to bear witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).
John 14:16-17, 26 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
6. We believe in the union of all true believers as one body in Christ (Romans 12:4-5).
Romans 12:4-5 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
7. We believe that the Body of Christ is divinely commissioned to proclaim Jesus Christ as the only Savior (John 14:6), to proclaim His death for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3), to proclaim His resurrection (Luke 24:46-49), and to make disciples of all who will repent of their sins and follow Him (Matthew 28:19-20).
Luke 24:46-49 “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
We affirm the following Christian ethics:
8. Our outward acts must reflect inward Christian character (John 13:35; Galatians 5:16-19a; 22-26; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:11-16).
Galatians 5:16-19a; 22-26 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident,…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
9. The finances of our household and our business dealings will be handled with the utmost honesty and legality (Matthew 5:16; Luke 16:10-13).
Luke 16:10-13 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
10. We will hold all people as equals in our heart. We will not be prejudiced in the discharge of our personal witness and ministry (James 2:1, 8-9).
James 2:1, 8-9 “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
11. We will respect the rules, policies and supervisors of the Care Centers in which we serve, as well as the leadership of the churches with whom we work as long as we are not expected to violate our commitment to these tenets or our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:17-18).
1 Peter 2:17-18 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”
12. In our relationships with participants of Christian Concourse we will strive to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another within our means in a spirit of cooperation; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay (Romans 12:10; Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 6:14-15).
Colossians 3:12-15 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
13. Our activities must not bring reproach upon Jesus Christ, His Christian ministry or Christian Concourse (Ephesians 5:1-4).
Ephesians 5:1-4 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
14. We will refrain from immoral or sinful conduct, or living in a state of transgression of the Holy Scriptures, especially as outlined in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21.
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
All scriptures quoted are from The NKJV Study Bible, copyright © 1997, 2007 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Used by permission.