The Medway Village Church
Statement of Faith
GOD
We believe there is only one God, true and living. He is eternal, infinite, living, righteous,
just, merciful, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and immutable. He eternally exists in
three persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of this triune
Godhead is equal in nature and substance, and all three are harmonious in execution of their
distinct offices.
Section A. God, the Father
We believe that God the Father is a spiritual being and that He is the architect of the work
of God. He planned the work of creation, providence, and redemption. He is the representative
of the Trinity whose right is violated by our sin. He is the Father of all believers in Christ.
Section B. God, the Son
God the Son is revealed to be Jesus, who is the Christ. We believe that in the fullness of
time, God the Father sent Jesus to draw men unto Himself by means of His atoning death on the
cross. We believe He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, performed
miracles, lived a sinless life, revealed God’s compassionate and perfect will for us, died a
vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, and was bodily resurrected
from the dead, He arose to dwell with the Father in Heaven whereupon He presently makes
intercession for us. He shall personally and bodily come for a second time for all to behold
in power and glory to judge the world, and consummate man’s history. The basic office of
Jesus is mediation.
Section C. God, the Holy Spirit
We believe the third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. He inspired men to write the
Scriptures. He is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. He was sent by the Father and
Son, convicted the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He restrains evil. He bears
witness to the truth. He indwells the hearts of every believer. He regenerates those who
repent of their sins and exercise faith in Christ. He instructs, comforts, sanctifies, empowers
and guides.
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the written Word of God. It was inspired by God and consists of the
sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. In the original autographs it was inerrant.
History verifies that God has faithfully protected the Bible in translations so that today we
have a reliable and authoritative account of what God inspired men to write at one time in
Man’s experience.
God has given us this “special revelation” for the purpose of teaching us about Himself, His
creation, ourselves, and how we might know His plan for us. Today the Holy Spirit illumines our
minds to understand this Holy Word.
We believe the Bible is our final authority in all matters that pertain to our Christian faith
and practice.
> MAN
We believe God created man, male and female, in His own image. He was totally innocent and
enjoyed full fellowship with God. He was given the power and responsibility for making rational
choices in light of their moral consequences. The very purpose of His creation was to glorify
God. At one point early in his experience, man chose to transgress God’s positive command.
He yielded to Satan’s enticement. Man became a sinner. The entire human race became involved
in guilt and corruption so that in every heart there is, by nature, a disposition that leads to
responsible acts of sin and therefore just condemnation.
> SALVATION
God, being just, found it necessary to require full payment for the transgression of our sin. In
His love He came to us as the Christ, Jesus, God in the Flesh, to live sinlessly and pay the wages
of sin with His own death on the cross. We believe any who accept this plan of God’s for our
reconciliation with a contrite and repentant heart and who in faith are willing themselves to trust
God’s plan, are graciously given the gift of eternal life with Christ Jesus. This is called
Salvation. Through this experience we are “born again” into new life. We are justified, absolved
of our guilt, and declared righteous in the sight of God. We become His adopted children and joint
heirs with Christ. There is no way we can come to the Father but this. It is by the “Grace of
God” alone that we have salvation.
> CHURCH
We believe the church is the people of the Lord “called out” of the darkness of this sinful world
into the light of realization that Jesus is the Christ. Each member of the church has accepted
the mediation of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross as accomplished for his or her
reconciliation with the Heavenly Father. Having been called out of the darkness and bondage of
our sin, we are likewise called to a unity through Christ’s common love for and through each of us.
We believe the church is universal and invisible. The group of believers who meet at the Medway
Village Church are a local, visible part of that universal church. The church is the “Body of
Christ”. It exists for the purpose of glorifying God by means of proclaiming the Good News of
salvation in Christ and edifying those who believe in Christ as Savior through instruction in the
Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, and observance of Communion and Baptism. This local fellowship of
the church recognizes two ordinances. We believe the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) should be
celebrated in obedience to Christ’s command to “remember Him” through the sharing of the
consecrated elements which symbolize His death. All believers in right relationship with Christ,
regardless of local membership, are invited to share in the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that Baptism should be administered and received in obedience to Christ’s command to
all believers. Subjects (believer/infant) and mode (method) would be determined in good conscience
with their understanding of the Scriptures by the individual members concerned, the Pastor, and the
Board of Elders. We believe Baptism has no regenerative value!
MVC
Medway Village Church
Copyright © 2006