We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Acts 242 Christian Fellowship as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the Church in any capacity, all persons who are members of the Church, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement of Faith. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22)

The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, and the complete and final revelation of God. (Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19)

There is one God, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who are co-equal in their essential nature, attributes, and perfection; each is to be honored and worshiped as God. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3)

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the promised Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, true God and true man, without sin, and the only mediator between God and man. Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things that were made. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 14:61-62; John 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:2-9, 2:14-15; I John 5:20; John 1:3)

Through His death on the cross, Jesus Christ paid for all sin, satisfied the righteous wrath of God against sin, and provided redemption and forgiveness for all who believe. After His death, He arose bodily from the dead, was seen by many, and ascended into Heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest, from which place He will return to establish His Kingdom on earth. (Isaiah 53:5-6; Luke 24:36-43; John 1:18, 3:16, 20:25-28; Acts 1:6-11; Romans 3:21-26; I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; I John 2:1-2; Revelation 20:6)

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, causes spiritual birth, indwells, seals, sanctifies, guides, equips, teaches, and fills the believer, enabling obedience to God and His Word. (John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9, 14; I Corinthians 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18-21)

We believe spiritual gifts are God-given abilities graciously given by the Holy Spirit to believers at the moment of salvation for the building up of the body of Christ. These gifts are distinct from natural talents, though God may use both for His glory. Scripture teaches that spiritual gifts are given according to God’s will and grace, not human merit (Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 1 Peter 4:10–11). The New Testament lists spiritual gifts in several key passages, including Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 1 Corinthians 12:28–31, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:10–11. We believe some gifts are foundational, given for the establishment of the church, while all gifts are given to equip and strengthen the body of Christ. Their purpose is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” until believers grow in unity, maturity, and Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:12–13)

Man was created by God in His image and did not evolve; he fell into sin through personal disobedience, resulting in universal sinfulness and inability to save himself, facing eternal separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-24, 9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21-23; John 8:42-44; Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23, 5:1; Ephesians 2:1-3)

Angels are created spirit beings who worship and serve God, minister to humans, but some fell and became demons who oppose God’s work. (Psalm 148:2; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12, 16; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 12:9-10)

Eternal salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, received only by personal faith in Jesus Christ, who died as a substitutionary sacrifice and rose bodily, guaranteeing eternal life. Salvation is not by works, sacrament, or merit, and those who receive it are eternally secure. (John 1:11-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19; I John 5:11-13)

At death, the redeemed enter Christ’s presence in joyful fellowship until resurrection; the unsaved enter Hades, awaiting resurrection and condemnation. (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:22-23, 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:10, 11, 21; Revelation 20:11-15)

All who place their faith in Christ are united by the Holy Spirit in one spiritual body, the Church, with Christ as Head. Members are to associate in local churches, which have authority and scriptural guidelines for order, discipline, and worship. The Officers of the church, according to the teaching of Scripture are Elders (also referred to as overseers or pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:46-47; I Corinthians 12:13, 14:40; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-12; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 5:1-5)

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances. Baptism is immersion of believers; the Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s death. Both are observed until Christ’s return. (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 10:47- 48; I Corinthians 11:23-29)

Christ will personally and bodily return to remove His church and reward them. The seven-year tribulation will follow, ending with Christ’s glorious return, destruction of His enemies, and restoration of Israel. Christ will then establish a thousand-year kingdom, after which the unsaved are judged and the saved enter eternal glory. (John 14:2-3; Romans 14:10-12; I Corinthians 3:11-15, 15:51-53; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 3:10, 16:1-19, 19:1-21, 20:1-6, 20:11-15, 21:1-4, 22:5, 11; Daniel 9:27, 12:1; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-31, 25:31- 46; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:1-16, 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; II Peter 3:10-13; Mark 9:43-48; I Corinthians 15:24-28; II Thessalonians 1:9)

All human life is sacred and created by God in His image, and is to be defended, protected, and valued at all stages. God offers redemption to all who confess and forsake sin and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior is to be repudiated. (Psalm 139; Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31)

God creates people as male or female, reflecting His image. “Marriage” is the union of one biological man and one biological woman. Sexual intimacy is permitted only within marriage. Sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, gender change, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The Bible, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, is the sole and final authority for all church beliefs and conduct. For matters of faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Elders are the Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.