What We Believe
The following seven articles summarize the biblical convictions that define and govern The Master's Church. They stand in continuity with the great reformed confessions of the church.
01 The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. Scripture is God-breathed, and therefore fully authoritative in all that it affirms — in matters of faith, conduct, and history alike.
The Holy Spirit, who inspired the human authors, illumines the minds of believers to understand and receive the truth of Scripture. The Bible is sufficient for every matter of faith and life; no tradition, experience, or private revelation may supplement or supersede it.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) 2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV) Psalm 19:7–11 (ESV)
02 God
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each fully God, co-equal in essence, power, and glory. God is sovereign over all creation, sustaining and governing all things according to the counsel of his own will.
God is holy, just, loving, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is immutable and self-sufficient, dependent upon nothing outside himself. All things exist for his glory.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (ESV) Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Isaiah 46:10 (ESV)
03 Man
We believe that God created man — male and female — in his own image, distinct from all other creatures, and appointed him to exercise dominion over creation. Man is the crown and steward of God's visible creation.
Through the fall of Adam, sin entered the world and corrupted human nature entirely. All people are born in sin, spiritually dead, unable to save themselves, and subject to the righteous judgment of God. Apart from divine grace, no one seeks God or does good.
Genesis 1:26–27 (ESV) Romans 5:12 (ESV) Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV)
04 Salvation
We believe that salvation is entirely by God's sovereign grace, accomplished through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. The Son of God took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross bearing the penalty of sin, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father.
Sinners are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone. This faith is itself a gift of God, produced by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God calls he also justifies, and those he justifies he will glorify. Salvation cannot be earned or lost.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) Romans 8:30 (ESV) John 10:28–29 (ESV)
05 The Church
We believe that the universal church consists of all those who have been called and regenerated by the Holy Spirit throughout all ages. The local church is a visible assembly of professing believers who gather regularly for worship, instruction, the sacraments, and mutual edification.
Christ has ordained that local churches be governed by a plurality of elders and served by deacons. The two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper, administered to believers in accordance with Christ's institution.
Matthew 16:18 (ESV) Acts 14:23 (ESV) 1 Timothy 3:1–13 (ESV)
06 Angels
We believe that God created angels as ministering spirits to serve his purposes. The holy angels worship and obey God without ceasing. Satan, a fallen angel, leads a host of demonic beings in rebellion against God and seeks to deceive and destroy the people of God.
Satan and his angels are already defeated through the cross and resurrection of Christ. Their final judgment is certain; they will be cast into the lake of fire prepared for them. Believers need not fear the powers of darkness, for Christ is Lord over all.
Hebrews 1:14 (ESV) Revelation 12:9 (ESV) Matthew 25:41 (ESV)
07 Last Things
We believe in the personal, visible, and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead. At his coming, the dead will be raised — believers to everlasting glory and the unbelieving to everlasting judgment.
God will establish a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, where his redeemed people will enjoy his presence forever. The intermediate state of the believer is conscious fellowship with Christ; the wicked await judgment in conscious torment.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV) Revelation 20:11–15 (ESV) Revelation 21:1–4 (ESV)