The Church at Pecan Creek Confession of Faith

 

Our Confession of Faith is a document that puts forth a concise and clear declaration of what we believe as a church based on God’s revelation to us in the Scriptures. This document is not an exhaustive explanation of our beliefs, but it highlights and summarizes issues we deem as important to membership of this local body and faithfulness to our Lord. Disagreements with these statements should be discussed with our elders before membership is sought. All are welcome to attend and grow in faith along with us. Over time, our hope is that these beliefs would become your beliefs if they are not already.

 

1. God

We believe in the one true God who is uncreated, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, self-existent, immutable, merciful, righteous, perfectly just, holy, and sovereign. For reasons unknown to us, He spoke the creation into existence. However, He has existed forever, even before the created order. He has perfect knowledge of things, past, present, and future, including all human thoughts, acts and decisions. While He has made Himself known to his creation by nature and special revelation, He still remains inexhaustible, and not fully comprehensible. To Him is owed whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require. All honor and glory are due Him.

 

We deny the existence of any other god. We also deny that God is limited in knowledge, presence, or power. We deny pantheism (the belief that all is God), and deism (the belief that God does exist, but He is unknowable).

 

Exodus 20:3-4; Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39, 6:4–5, 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 86:8–10; Isaiah 6:3;44:6–8, 45:5-25, 46:9; Jeremiah 10:6-10; Micah 7:18; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:6, 17:3; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 13:14; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 1:3-14, 4:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:5; James 2:19; 1 John 5:20; Jude 25; Revelation 4:11

 

2. The Bible

We believe Scripture is the sole infallible rule of faith for the church. Scripture is sufficient above all things, hence the ultimate authority and starting point for all areas of life and theology. The Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its content. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It is inerrant and infallible.

 

We deny the belief that the Bible is only a historical book, or that it contains error. We also deny that there are any other writings that should be added to the Bible or are there any writings its equal.

 

Matthew 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:16; Psalms 19:7-10, 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah 34:16, 40:8

 

3. Trinity

We believe the Biblical and historical doctrine of the Trinity. We worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. One Eternal God revealed in three distinct coequal coeternal Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 

We deny that the there is more than one God (Pluralism). We also deny that God exist only as the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit at various times or modes (Modalism).

 

Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:3

 

A. Father

We believe in God, the Father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth. Father refers to the first person of the Godhead. God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise.

​

Exodus 6:2-3; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3; Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6

​

B. Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Eternal God, the second person of the Godhead and Creator of all things. He is of the same substance or essence as the Father. However, The Word became flesh, and was born of a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man. We believe that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah that was to come. He lived a sinless life, fulfilled all righteousness, died on the cross as a substitute for sinners, as a sacrifice for sin, absorbing the righteous wrath of God on behalf of those who believe in Him, and gives His righteousness to all who believe in Him. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven for many to see, and will be the final judge over all mankind.

​

We deny that Jesus is only man or only God.

​

Exodus 3:14; John 1:1, 14, 8:58; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-7; Acts 2:29-36; Matthew 25:31- 46

​

C. Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Godhead. He exalts Christ, convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration, He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ and empowers every believer for works of service as well as sanctification. He is the divine seal and guarantor of salvation for every believer.

​

We deny that there is a “second baptism” of the Holy Spirit that comes after salvation. We also deny that “sign gifts” are still normative following the era of Christ and the Apostles.

​

John 16:8; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:3-11,13; 2 Timothy 1:14, 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; Ephesians 1:13-14

​

4. Humanity

We believe that God created people in His own image and because of this all people have inherent value. We believe that God created people male and female as the crowning jewel of His creation. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created with innocence, but were deceived by Satan, voluntarily rebelled against God, and brought sin into the world. Being estranged from his Maker yet responsible to Him, man became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and, apart from a special work of grace, utterly incapable of returning to God. This depravity is radical and pervasive. It extends to his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan. He is at enmity with God, hostile toward God and hateful of God. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ alone.

 

We deny that people are born good and righteous and get worse only due to external influences.

 

Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1–6, 6:5, 8:21; Psalm 14:2-3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Hosea 6:7; John 8:44; Romans 1:18, 2:14, 3:10-18, 5:12–21, 6:16-17, 8:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 15:45–50; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:18; Titus 3:3; 1 John 3:7-10

 

5. Sin

Sin is any thought or deed that is against God’s holy nature. We believe that all mankind is born in a state of original sin, which is the result of the first sin in the Garden by Adam disobeying God’s rule. By this sin, he fell from his original righteousness and intimate communion with God. Adam and Eve were cast out of His Blessed presence. Being the root of mankind, the guilt of this sin was passed down to all humanity. Therefore, all humans are born with original sin separated from God and deserving of His perfect judgment against their sin. However, it is not only original sin that we naturally possess; we do indeed actually sin against God in, action, motives, and word. The unregenerate man is dead, morally corrupt, under the wrath of God and incapable of saving himself by “good” works. Believers still sin, and are commanded to confess their sins to God, and to repent of them.

 

We deny that “sin” is only based on cultural norms as defined by society.

 

Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-21; 8:18-24; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:1-10  

 

6. Salvation

Salvation is solely by grace alone through faith alone and by Christ alone. Man can only be rescued, or saved, from his natural position of being an object of God’s wrath, due to sin, by God’s provision of grace that is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This faith is a gift from God to all He calls and is caused by a new heart (regeneration) that is given by the Holy Spirit. This faith is an accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for our forgiveness of sin and our righteousness before God. This salvation includes regeneration (new heart that desires to please God), justification (a righteous standing before God), redemption (payment of sins by Christ), adoption (permanent heir of His blessings as his child), sanctification (practically growing in holiness) and glorification (the fulfillment of our salvation after death in eternity when all effects of sin are removed, and believers are made perfect by God Himself).

 

We deny that there is any alternate method of salvation. We also deny that salvation is based on personal merit or works. We also deny that we contribute in any way to earning or aiding in our salvation.

 

John 6:37-44; Romans 4:1-8, 5:1, 8:29-30; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 1:3-9; Titus 3:3-7 

​

7. Atonement

We believe Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus saved, and provided the propitiation of their sins on their behalf. This atonement was specifically efficient for those whom Christ saves. Moreover, we believe that Jesus Christ was physically raised from the dead as proof that His sacrifice for sin was pleasing to God the Father.

 

We deny that man can do anything whatsoever to contribute to Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

 

Romans 3:21-25, 5:6-10, 8:32; Hebrews 10:11; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Colossians 1:12-14; John 3:5  

 

8. Human Response

We believe that God calls all humanity to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished to bring about salvation. This information must be deemed as true and believed by faith. Submission to Christ and turning away from sin is the only right response, which is displayed by all those who have been made alive in Christ according to the rich mercy of God.

 

We deny that there is any other appropriate response to God’s command to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

 

John 3:18, 5:24, 20:31; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 3:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-6; Hebrews 2:3  

 

9. Regeneration

We believe regeneration is a supernatural work of God. Regeneration is the divine work of the Holy Spirit upon the minds and souls of fallen people, by which the Spirit brings to life those who are spiritually dead. This supernatural work rescues that person from his bondage to sin and his moral inability to incline himself towards the things of God. Regeneration, by being a supernatural work, is obviously a work that cannot be accomplished by natural man on his own. It is God alone who is able, and it is God alone who performs the work of regenerating the human soul. The work of regeneration is not a joint venture between the fallen person and the divine Spirit; it is solely the work of God. No one is partly regenerate, or almost regenerate. A person is either born again, or he is not born again. The Holy Spirit regenerates a human soul, for the purpose of bringing that person to saving faith in Jesus Christ and is always successful.

 

We do not believe that faith causes regeneration, but regeneration causes faith.

 

Ezekiel 36:26; John 1:12-13, 3:3-8; Romans 8:29-30; 1 John 2:29; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Cor. 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-6, 4:21-24; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 5:1,4  

 

10. Sanctification

Those, having been saved by Christ, now have a new desire to obey God and to glorify Him. There should therefore be an increase in desire to pursue right living, and to turn away from sinful living. This is a daily battle between the flesh and the spirit. We must do everything we can to increase and speed up the sanctification process. This involves frequently feeding on the Word of God, looking unto Jesus, praying, worshiping, Lord’s Supper, and fellowship with believers. There is also a need to remove negative influences and to remove oneself from sinful environments that lead to temptation.

 

We deny that reaching a state of perfection is possible in this life, and that it is only accomplished by God, for believers, in the afterlife (glorification).

 

John 17:16-19; Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:1-6, 14, 22; Romans 13:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Peter 1:2, 2:11; 1 John 2:19

 

11. Divine Preservation

We believe that the grace of God, demonstrated in the Gospel and extended to everyone who believes, is wholly dependent upon the promise of God alone. Therefore, those who have truly been saved by Christ will never and can never become “unsaved.” The salvation that God initiates He also brings to completion and loses none of whom He has called. The Holy Spirit is the gift of God to every Christian and a guarantee of God’s eternal grace, which preserves each believer to the end. He is the sustainer and the preserver of our salvation.

 

We deny that there is anything a truly saved person can do to lose their salvation. However, we do understand that there are many who claim to be Christians who are truly not. These do not lose their salvation; they were just never saved to begin with.

 

Matthew 7:21; John 6:37-39, 10:28-29; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29-39; Ephesians 1:11-14; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 1 John 2:19

 

12. Resurrection

We believe that the bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls never die and immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness by Christ, are received directly into heaven, and behold the full presence of God, and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they receive the wrath of God against sin in torments and utter darkness. Both will receive their bodies back at the resurrection. The believer’s body will be raised to eternal honor, non-believers to eternal dishonor.

 

We deny the belief that this temporary earthly life is the beginning and end of each person.

 

John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 22:29-33; Acts 24:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 1:22-23, 3:21  

 

13. Last Judgment

We believe God has appointed a day that he will judge all humans in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given. The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy in the eternal salvation of those He has saved; and of His justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. These positions are final and eternal.

 

We deny the belief of purgatory, soul sleep, annihilationism, and the belief that all people go to heaven.

 

Matthew 25:41, 46; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49; Revelation 20:11-15  

 

14. Family

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of society. Families are composed of people related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Husband and wife are both made in God’s image and have equal value before God; while at the same time possessing distinct roles in the marriage. The husband is to gently lead and sacrificially love his wife as Christ loved the church and the wife is to graciously submit herself to her husband as the church willingly submits to Christ. We believe that life begins at the moment of conception. Children in the womb are human and are to be treated as such. Children are a blessing to be cherished, nurtured, and protected. Children are to honor and obey their parents for the glory of God and their ultimate good. Parents are to patiently lead their children in the ways of Christ by intentional instruction in right belief and right behavior, gracious discipline, and by being a consistent example based on Biblical truth.

 

We deny that co-habitation (living together) or homosexual union constitutes a Biblical marriage. The Bible regards fornication, adultery, and homosexuality as sinful.

 

Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15-25, 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5, 78:1-8, 127, 128, 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8, 5:15-20, 6:20-22, 12:4, 13:24, 14:1, 17:6, 18:22, 22:6,15, 23:13-14, 24:3, 29:15,17, 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32, 18:2-5, 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 1:8-10, 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7  

 

15. The Local Church

We believe the local church to be a gathering of people who have been saved, baptized, and are together submitting themselves to live and believe according to God’s Word. This gathering of believers should be marked by the right preaching of God’s Word, the administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and church discipline to aid in the correction of faults amongst its members. The church is governed by the Word of God, which teaches that elders are given to oversee and shepherd the church as pastors. They are to pay careful attention not only to themselves, but to all of the church members as well. The office of elder/pastor is reserved for Biblically qualified men. Deacons are to be sound in doctrine, an example to others in belief and lifestyle, and their primary role is to serve the church as various needs arise. The church members have the responsibility to love and edify one another, hold one another accountable, evangelize, defend doctrine, maintain unity, and to aid in church discipline when required by Scripture. We believe that members of local churches are commanded to assemble regularly, promote Christ-honoring unity, and live lives that bring honor and glory to God. The mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world by preaching the gospel and making disciples.

 

We deny that all local church members are necessarily, though should be, truly saved and members of Christ’s universal church.

 

Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47, 6:3-6, 20:18-33; Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 3:1-15, 4:14, Titus 1:6-9; Hebrews 3:12-15, 10:23-25, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26  

 

16. Ordinances

A. Baptism

We believe it is the command of Christ that every person believe and then be baptized. Believer’s baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the act of obedience, which symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. It also symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

​

We deny that water baptism is required for salvation.

​

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:11-13

​

B. Lord’s Supper

We believe the supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by Him the same night He was betrayed, to be observed in His churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance of Him, the sacrifice of Himself in His death, confirmation of the faith of believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him, their further dedication to all duties which they owe to Him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other. The Lord’s supper is meant for those who have been saved by the Lord. Its elements are bread and the fruit of the vine. These elements are symbolic of Christ, the Lamb of God, who died for our sins.

​

We deny that non-believers should partake of the Lord’s Supper.

​

Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:17-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

 

17. The Universal Church

We believe that the universal church consists of the whole number of those who are the saved, that have been, are, or shall be, gathered into one church also known as the body of Christ. The universal church is composed of all of those who believe the gospel unto salvation. The Church is the bride of Christ, who is its Head and Savior.

 

We deny that the universal church is made up of only one specific denomination(s).

 

Matthew 5:16, 16:19, 18:15-20, 28:18-20; John 1:12, 13:34-35, 17:20-24; Acts 6:1-6, 11:26, 14:23, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 5:4-5, 12-13; 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; Ephesians 3:10, 4:1-2, 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 4:13, 5:17, 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 10:19-25, 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 13:12-20; Ephesians 5:23, 5:27

 

18. The Five Solas

As a point of further theological distinction, we believe in the “five solas” of the Protestant Reformation. This is the title often used to designate the five great foundational rallying cries of the Protestant reformers. They are as follows:

​

A. Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura) – The Bible is the sole written divine revelation, our only infallible rule for faith and life, and alone can bind the conscience of believers absolutely.

Psalm 119:9-16; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16

B. Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) – Our salvation rests solely on the work of God’s grace for us.

Romans 2:4, 3:20-26; Ephesians 1:3-8, 2:8-10

C. Faith Alone (Sola Fide) – Justification is by faith alone. By God’s free grace, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed (given) to us by faith and is the sole ground of our acceptance by God, by which our sins are pardoned.

Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16, 3:6-11; Ephesians 2:8-10

D. Christ Alone (Solus Christus) – Jesus Christ is the only mediator through Whose work we are redeemed.

John 14:6; John 3:16; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-7 

E. To God Alone Be Glory (Soli Deo Gloria) – Salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, therefore to God alone belongs the glory.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 42:8; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelation 1:6

 

These five points reveal a clear, concise theology that simply says, “We believe that we are saved by grace, through faith, in Christ, to God alone be the glory, and we rely on the Bible for our source of authority.”

 

19. Creeds

We believe that it is important to be a community of believers who recognize that our faith is not a new one, but one that has been passed down through the ages. Earlier believers fought hard to keep the Christian belief system true. One of the primary ways they did this was through the teaching of creeds. Even more concise than confessions of faith, these statements are theological gems that say a lot in just a few words. They were used to teach truth and to expel false teaching (heresy). They have been used for centuries and we believe that they should still be used today. This is the Apostle’s Creed, one of the oldest and clearest Christian Creeds. Other ancient Creeds that we hold dear are: Nicene Creed, Chalcedonian Statement, and the Athanasius Creed.

 

Apostle’s Creed:

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried:

5. The third day He rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy universal church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

​