Equip Disciples Statement of Faith

Equip Disciples stands squarely in the orthodox, biblical, evangelical tradition.

We derive our understanding of God, humanity, and creation from Scripture. The statements that follow are intended to summarize key teachings of Scripture and in no way substitute for, add to, or supplement the Word of God (Deut 4:2; 2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:20–21).

Based upon God’s revelation to us in the Bible, we believe:

God

There is one true God, Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth (Gen 1:1; Deut 6:4; Isa 45:5–6; Acts 17:24–28). He has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct persons, yet one God, possessing one divine nature (Matt 3:16–17; 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).

God is holy and distinct from his creation, yet he is loving and has graciously acted to bring sinful people into relationship with himself (Isa 6:1–5; 57:15; John 3:16; Rom 5:8; 1 John 4:9–10). God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24).

Family

We believe God made male and female in His Image, and established the family as the building block of society, with marriage being between one man and one woman (Gen 1:26–28; 2:18–24; Matt 19:4–6). God ordained the family as the first place of discipleship, as parents are given the task of teaching their children the commands and ways of the Lord, and to lead them toward salvation (Deut 6:4–9; Ps 78:5–7; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4; 2 Tim 1:5; 3:14–15). "He commanded our fathers to teach to their children so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands" (Ps 78:5–7; HCSB).

Revelation

God has revealed his power and divine nature through his creation (Ps 19:1–6; Rom 1:19–20), has spoken authoritatively to us through Holy Scripture (2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:20–21), and has supremely revealed himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14, 18; Heb 1:1–3).

Scripture is the inspired and authoritative Word of God and faithfully records God’s acts in creation, redemption, and history, including the person and work of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:1–4; John 20:30–31; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). Scripture is our final objective authority and standard for evaluating doctrine, faith, and practice (Isa 8:20; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 3:16–17).

We believe Scripture is sufficient to equip God’s people for every good work and to provide all that is necessary for life and godliness through the knowledge of God (2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:3).

Kingdom

God is the sovereign King over all creation, and his rule extends over everything he has made (Ps 47:2, 7–8; 103:19; Dan 4:34–35). His Kingdom is eternal, and in the end every created being will acknowledge the lordship and sovereign authority of Jesus Christ (Dan 7:13–14; Phil 2:9–11; Rev 11:15).

Scripture also reveals a present kingdom of darkness in rebellion against God and in opposition to his Kingdom of light. Satan and the angels who followed him rebelled against God and exercise real but limited authority within this fallen world (Matt 12:25–28; John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 6:11–12; Col 1:13). This kingdom of darkness is neither equal to nor independent of God’s sovereign rule. Satan is a created being whose activity remains subject to God’s authority, whose works have been decisively defeated through Christ, and whose final judgment is certain (Job 1:6–12; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev 20:10).

Because of Adam’s fall, humanity is born into a fallen world, enslaved to sin and living under the domain of darkness (Rom 5:12, 18–19; Eph 2:1–3; Col 1:13). In this condition, people naturally follow the course of this world and are blinded to the light of the gospel apart from God’s gracious intervention (2 Cor 4:3–4; Eph 2:1–3).

Through the saving work of Jesus Christ, God rescues believers from the domain of darkness and transfers them into the Kingdom of his beloved Son (Col 1:13–14). Those who belong to Christ are therefore called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light and now live as children of light under the lordship of Christ (John 8:12; Eph 5:8–11; 1 Pet 2:9). They are called to resist the powers of darkness and to live faithfully under God’s Kingship as they await the final and complete manifestation of Christ’s Kingdom (Eph 6:10–18; 1 Thess 5:4–8; Rev 11:15).

Faithful angels remain servants of God and carry out his will in accordance with his sovereign purposes (Ps 103:20–21; Heb 1:14). At the return of Christ, every opposing power will finally be subjected to him, Satan and his kingdom will be judged, and Christ’s righteous reign will be openly and eternally established over all (1 Cor 15:24–28; Rev 20:10; 21:1–5).

Work of Christ

Our Lord Jesus Christ has eternally existed as the Word. He is God and was with God, and through him all things were created (John 1:1–3; Col 1:15–17; Heb 1:2–3). In the fullness of time, the eternal Son entered human history, took on true humanity, and was born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:18–25; Luke 1:34–35; John 1:14; Gal 4:4).

Jesus lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22), performed miraculous signs that testified to his identity and authority (Matt 11:4–5; John 2:11; 20:30–31), and proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:43).

Jesus suffered bodily for our sins and died in our place as the sufficient atoning sacrifice for sinners (Isa 53:4–6; Mark 10:45; Rom 3:23–26; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18). On the third day, he rose bodily from the dead, conquering sin and death and securing eternal life for those who belong to him (Luke 24:36–43; 1 Cor 15:3–8, 20–22; 1 Pet 1:3).

Christ ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where he reigns and serves as the mediator and advocate of his people (Acts 1:9–11; Rom 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 1:3; 7:25; 1 John 2:1). He will return personally and visibly to judge the living and the dead and to consummate his Kingdom (Matt 24:30–31; Acts 1:11; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 22:12).

Church

The Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12:12–13, 27; Eph 1:22–23; 5:25–27). Believers are born again through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, who gives them new life and indwells them (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5–7; Rom 8:9–11).

By the Holy Spirit, every believer is baptized into the one Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). The indwelling Spirit empowers believers to put sin to death and live transformed, sanctified lives in obedience to God (Rom 8:12–14; Gal 5:16, 22–25; 2 Cor 3:18). He also gives believers spiritual understanding of the things God has revealed (John 16:13–15; 1 Cor 2:10–16).

The Holy Spirit graciously gives each believer manifestations of grace, commonly called spiritual gifts, for service and ministry (Rom 12:3–8; 1 Cor 12:4–11; 1 Pet 4:10–11). These gifts are given for the common good, the work of ministry, and the building up of the Body of Christ toward spiritual maturity (1 Cor 12:7; Eph 4:11–16).

Salvation

Salvation is the gracious gift of God and cannot be earned through human works or merit (Eph 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7). Salvation is necessary because all people have sinned, stand guilty before a holy God, and apart from Christ face judgment and eternal separation from him (Rom 3:10–12, 23; 6:23; 2 Thess 1:8–9; Rev 20:11–15).

Salvation rests entirely upon the sufficient atoning work of Jesus Christ, who shed his blood and died for our sins (Rom 3:24–26; 5:8–9; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:11–14; 1 Pet 1:18–19).

Scripture presents salvation as having past, present, and future dimensions. In justification, God declares the believing sinner righteous through faith in Christ, freeing the believer from the guilt and penalty of sin (Rom 3:21–28; 5:1, 9). In sanctification, God progressively transforms the believer into the likeness of Christ, freeing him or her increasingly from the ruling power of sin (Rom 6:11–14, 22; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Thess 4:3). In glorification, God will complete his saving work when believers are raised and transformed into the likeness of Christ, forever free from the presence and effects of sin (Rom 8:29–30; 1 Cor 15:42–49; Phil 3:20–21; 1 John 3:2).

The proper response to the gospel is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 20:21). Saving faith acknowledges our sin and inability to save ourselves, turns from sin toward God, confesses Jesus as Lord, and trusts in his death and resurrection as the sufficient basis of salvation (Luke 18:13–14; Rom 10:9–13; 1 Cor 15:1–4).

At conversion, the believer is born again by the Spirit, delivered from the domain of darkness, and brought into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5; Col 1:13–14). This new life under the lordship of Christ produces an increasingly transformed life characterized by obedience, holiness, good works, and the fruit of the Spirit—not as the basis of salvation, but as its necessary fruit and evidence (John 14:15; Eph 2:8–10; Titus 2:11–14; James 2:17–18; Gal 5:22–25).

The believer therefore lives in the sure hope of Christ’s return, bodily resurrection, glorification, and eternal life in the presence of God (John 11:25–26; Rom 8:18–25; 1 Cor 15:51–57; Phil 3:20–21; Rev 21:1–4).