Affirmation of Our Faith

A doctrinal statement is a summary of what we believe the Bible teaches on the most important issues of life. The Tottenville Evangelical Free Church is part of the Evangelical Free Church of America and and is in substantial agreement with their doctrinal statement shown below. It is a basic summary of the essence of historic biblical Christianity common to all true disciples of Jesus. For a fuller understanding of the doctrinal foundation of the teaching and preaching ministry of this church you may examine the Tottenville Evangelical Free Church Elder Affirmation of Faith of Faith which more fully and clearly reflects our theological positions and passion to see the Christ exulting doctrines of sovereign grace proclaimed to the nations, that every church in New York City would be filled with the glory of God.

1 The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life.

2 In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3 That Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

4 That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.

5 That man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.

6 That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus become children of God. [1]

7 That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.

8 That the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.

9 That only those who are, thus, members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.

10 That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.

11 In the personal and premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. [2]

12 In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.

[1] We want to underscore what Jesus said in John 3:3 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The life giving work of the Holy Spirit is what enables us to see and believe the Gospel. Therefore all the glory and credit for our salvation belongs to God.

[2] We as a church do not require a person to take any specific view on the millennium in order to be a member.

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