What We Believe

The teaching of Alpharetta Bible Church is based on the Bible. It is based on an interpretation of the Scripture that is:

1. Normal - understanding the words of Scripture in their common usage unless otherwise indicated by the context.
2. Literal - understanding the meaning of Scripture in its ordinary sense unless the context requires a figurative interpretation.
3. Grammatical - using the recognized rules of grammar to interpret the text.
4. Historical - understanding the words of Scripture in the context of the times in which they were written.
5. Systematic - categorizing and comparing the teaching of the Scriptures with the whole of Scripture in view.

It is on the basis of this view of Scripture, that Alpharetta Bible Church holds fast to a number of essential truths, while allowing a level of doctrinal tolerance.
The following are some of the fundamental truths which a person must affirm if they desire to consistently fellowship and minister within our Body:

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, complete, infallible, sufficient and authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that all mankind is hopelessly lost and must turn to Christ in saving faith and repentance through regeneration by the Holy Spirit, being drawn solely by God’s grace.
• We believe that in salvation we are rescued from God’s just wrath by His grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to a resurrection of eternal life with Christ and the lost to a resurrection of eternal punishment and separation from God in hell.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of His body, the Church.

We believe the Scriptures - the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament - provide God’s authoritative written revelation to mankind. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 1:12).

God inspired the human writers of those books so that every word of the original texts was exactly as He wanted it (2 Peter 1:20-21) and without error (John 17:17) and without violating the writer’s personalities. The Scriptures are the supreme and final authority for matters of life and practice (Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12).

We believe there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5), in three persons —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 6:27; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 3:16); one in nature, attributes, and glory. These three are one God (2 Corinthians 13:14), infinite (Malachi 3:6; Acts 17:24), eternal (Hebrews 1:8), unchangeable (James 1:17), all wise (Romans 11:33), all powerful (Isaiah 40), all knowing (Psalm 147:5), holy (Isaiah 6:3), just (Psalm 9:16), loving (1 John 4:7-21), gracious (Romans 3:23-24; Galatians 3:18), good (Psalm 100:5), and true (Isaiah 45:19). He is everywhere present equally and at all times, yet is distinct and not part of His creation (Psalm 139:7-12).

The Father is neither the Son nor the Spirit; the Son is neither the Father nor the Spirit and the Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son, but all are one God in three persons.  

We believe that the Father is God (Isaiah 64:8). He begins and ends all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 90:2). He is the Creator (Revelation 4:11) and Sustainer (Psalm 104) of all things, and the spiritual Father of believers (1 John 5:11). He expresses Himself in relationships with those whom He chooses, binding Himself to them by His eternal promises (Genesis 9:9; 17:7-9; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 8:29-30; Hebrews 10:16). He is loving (Ephesians 2:3-5), long-suffering, and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (John 3:17; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son (John 10:30; Colossians 1:17; Titus 3:4-5). He is fully God (John 1:1-2, 14; John 17:1-5) and fully man (Philippians 2:5-8). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25), lived a perfect and sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15), performed miracles (Matthew 11:4-5; John 2:11), died a real and complete death as the only sufficient sacrifice for our sins, and was buried (Matthew 20:28; John 1:29; Romans 3:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 10:5-14; 1 Peter 3:18).

He was resurrected bodily (Matthew 28:5-10), appeared to the apostles and other witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8), ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9), was glorified (1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:9), and now intercedes at the righthand of the Father for believers (Romans 8:34).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God. The Spirit is not a force, nor a phantom but a person who is God (Acts 5:3-4). He convicts people of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11) and restrains the extent of sin in the world (Genesis 6:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7). He opens the hearts and minds of people (Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14) to turn from sin (2 Corinthians 3:2-3; Romans 8:1-14), believe in the Son (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5), and be born again (John 3:3-7).

At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within every believer forever (John 14:16; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). He fills believers with His power (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16), enables them to live in obedience to the will of God (Galatians 5:16-26), teaches them truth (1 Corinthians 2:13-15; 1 John 2:27), and gives them His gifts “to each one individually just as He wills,” to serve and to build the body of Christ – which is the church (1 Corinthians 12:7,11; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:11).

The Holy Spirit provides gifts to believers to serve the body of Christ and to reach the world with the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Peter 4:10). Spiritual gifts should be used in a proper and orderly manner                    (1 Corinthians 14:40), in love (1 Corinthians 14:1), and without causing division (1 Corinthians 12:25). Spiritual gifts are not an indication of spiritual maturity, and they are not be used for self-promotion (1 Corinthians 12:11-12).

We believe that sign gifts (apostle, prophet, healing, miracles, and tongues) authenticated the ministry and message of the apostles in the first century (Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians  12:12) and served in the establishment of the church (Acts 2:41-47; 9:31-42). We believe that God continues to demonstrate His miraculous power and ability to heal; but the sign gifts, as given to the early church, are not actively functioning today.

We believe that God created angels as spiritual beings to glorify and serve Him. Angels also act as God’s messengers and minister to believers. Although powerful, they are never to be worshipped (Colossians 1:16; 2:18; Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation 22:8-9).

Satan, the devil, was an angel of high rank, who led many angels in a rebellion against God, bringing judgment against himself and his followers (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; John 16:11; 2 Peter 2:4). Satan tempted Adam and Eve into rebellion against God (Genesis 3:1-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3) and continues, with other fallen angels (demons), to deceive and tempt all of mankind and actively oppose the purposes of God (2 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 12:9).

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his demons; one day they will be thrown into the lake of fire forever at the last judgment (Matthew 25:41; John 12:31-32; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:10).

We believe that God spoke the heavens, the earth and all living things into existence in six, 24-hour days. God directly created the original kinds of plants and animals and ordered them to reproduce after their kind. In its original form, the creation was very good and untouched by sin. Man is unique, created in the image of God, and did not originate from any other living thing (Genesis 1 & 2; 5:1-2; 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 33:6-9; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17). Mankind was created male and female in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27, 2:18-13; 5:2; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6).

We believe that God created Adam and Eve, the first humans, without sin and in perfect fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:18-24; James 3:9). They chose to sin by disobeying God and incurred His judgment. Their sin separated them from Him and brought suffering and death upon themselves, their descendants, and the whole creation (Genesis 3; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Romans 8:20-22).

Mankind’s continued unbridled wickedness brought further judgment, which destroyed the earth in a world-wide flood (Genesis 6-8; 2 Peter 2:4-5). After the flood, mankind’s continued rebellion at Babel brought God’s judgment where God then confused their language and scattered them over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9; Luke 1:51).

All of mankind inherited Adam’s sin nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12), are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), and are sinners by choice and practice (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12). Consequently, none of us are able by our efforts to reconcile ourselves to God (1 Corinthians 2:14;  Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:8).

We believe that we are given salvation from sin and its penalty as a free gift from God (Romans 6:23) through faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, unaided by human effort (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). The death of Christ is full payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:11-15; 1 Peter 1:18-21) and satisfies the just requirement of God holiness and justice (Romans 3:23-26; Hebrews 10:1-10). Made alive by God (1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Peter 3:18), we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6), but are children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26), disciples to be set apart to a life of spiritual growth, ministry, love, and good works (Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:10-14; 3:12-17; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:2). We have forgiveness for every sin – past, present and future (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9) and rest secure in the reality of eternal life, which God has promised (John 5:24; 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 5:9-13).

We believe that God created and blessed the family as the foundation of society.

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in a lifetime commitment to each other (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression (Genesis 2:25; Ephesians 5:31-33), procreation, and reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Genesis 1:28; Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5). A husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ loved the church and a wife is commanded to submit to her own husband even as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Children are a gift from God and are fully human from conception (Psalm 127:3; 139:13-16). Parents are to train their children by modeling a godly life, teaching them the Scriptures, disciplining them in love, and providing them a resource of wisdom and counsel (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Proverbs 1:8-9; 13:24; 22:6). Parents are to care for the needs of their children (2 Corinthians 12:14; Ephesians 6:4). Children are to obey their parents with respect and honor, caring for them in the time of their dependency and old age (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 23:22; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy 5:8).

We believe that Christ established the church and is the Head of the church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). The church is comprised of all believers from its beginning at Pentecost until the return of Christ (Acts 2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the church carries out Christ’s work in the world (John 15:26; Acts 1:8). The purpose of the church is to worship, praise, and glorify God by proclaiming the gospel of Christ Jesus to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8); by teaching His Word (Colossians 1:24-28; 1 Timothy 4:11); by seeking Him through earnest prayer (Acts 2:42); by equipping the saints to walk, serve, and fellowship in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42-46; Ephesians 4:11- 16; 1 Corinthians 14:26); and by keeping the ordinances (1Corinthians 11:24, 25; Matthew 28:19).

We believe that the Lord gave two ordinances to the church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is for believers – those who have personally placed their faith and trust in the atoning work of Jesus and is a public testimony of faith in Christ in obedience to His command (Matthew 28:19). Baptism identifies the believer with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Colossians 2:12) and is best represented by immersion (Acts 8:36-39).
The Lord’s Supper is the believer’s remembrance of our Lord’s death and is commanded to be practiced until He comes again. It should be preceded by careful spiritual self-examination of the participant (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

We believe that the church is best expressed in local congregations of believers established under the headship of Christ and the authority of Scripture (Galatians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Thessalonians 1:1; Revelation 1:11).

Individual congregations are to be governed by elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), men meeting biblical standards, who are responsible to guard the purity of church doctrine (Titus 1:9), to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:1-3), and to oversee church matters (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17). Deacons are responsible for assisting the elders in the work of the ministry (Acts 6:1-6; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, in the reward and everlasting conscious blessedness of the just, and in the judgment and everlasting punishment of the lost. (Luke 16:19–26; John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20:1–15; 21:1–8).