WABC Statement of Faith

The Holy Scriptures: We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and god-breathed. (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12,13)

The Godhead: We believe in the Triune God, eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; II Cor. 13:14)

The Person and Works of Christ: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (John 1:1,2; Luke 1:35)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3:24,25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where , as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9,10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; I John 2:1,2)

The Person and Works of the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment; and that He is the supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13,14)

We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth, and that is privilege and duty of all saved to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13; Eph/ 5:18; I John 2:20)

The Total Depravity of Man: We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26:27; Rom. 3:22-23; Eph. 2:1-3,12)

Salvation: We believe salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Eph. 2:8-10; Eph; 1:7; John 1:12; I Peter 1:5)

The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers: We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1,38,39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5)

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

The Two Natures of the Believer: We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life in unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13; 8:12,13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9)

Separation: We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasure, practices, and associations is commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1,2; 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-17; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

Missions: We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15; Acts. 1:8; II Cor. 5:19,20)

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts: We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and, that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Cor. 12:4-11; II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12)

We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7 I John 5:14,15)

The Church: We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age. (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14: 27,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

Dispensationalism: We believe in the dispensational view of Bible interpretation but reject the extreme teaching known as "Hyper Dispensationalism", such as the teaching will oppose either the Lord's Table or water baptism as a Scripture means of testimony for the church. (Matt 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26)

The Personality of Satan: We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6,7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

Second Advent of Christ: We believe in that "Blessed Hope", the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess 1:10; 4:13-18; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16)

The Eternal State: We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5,6,12,13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:8, Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 20:4-6)

We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Rev. 20:11-15)

Policy Dealing with Human Sexuality

We believe that the Biblical model for marriage is a union between one single adult male and one single adult female and that this is the only Biblical and acceptable model for marriage. (Gen 2:23; Matt 19:4-6; Eph 5:28-33; I Pet 3:7)

We believe that sexuality and the expression of sexuality, is not a right nor an entitlement nor is the expression of sexuality required for a sense of wholeness but was instituted by God for two primary reasons: (1) for the purpose of the bearing of children (Gen 1:28); and (2) for the purpose of developing union and enjoyment within the context of Biblical marriage (Gen 2:24-25) and that a Biblical marriage relationship is the only acceptable place for the expression of sexual desire and relations. (Prov 5:18-19; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-8; Eph 5:28-33)

We believe that any deviation from the Biblical model for sexual relations solely within the context of a Biblical marriage, many of which are common or are accepted by society, are deviations from the clear teachings of the Scriptures and are to be rejected solely on the basis of the authority of the Scriptures. Some of these deviations are, but not limited to, premarital or extramarital sex or cohabitations, homosexuality, pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, and incest. (Lev 18:6-19, 22; 19:29; 20:13; II Sam 13:1-14; Prov 6:26-29; Matt 5:27-28; Rom 1:26-27; I Cor 6:9; I Thess 4:3-7; I Tim 1:10; Heb 13:4

We believe that singleness and marriage are both equally part of God's will and that singleness is to be considered a gift and special calling which offers unique opportunities for undivided devotion to God. Singleness is voluntary and is not required by Scriptures. Sexual expression within the context of singleness is rejected by the teachings of Scripture. (Matt 19:10-12; I Cor 7:2-8; 7:32-35; I Tim 4:1-3)

We believe that those who lead in Mid-America Mission, Inc. (and at Woodland Acres Bible Camp), both those who hold a Mission leadership office as well as those who minister, lead, or teach in any way within the Mission, are to be held by Scriptures to the Biblical model of sexual expression as written above under "Policy Dealing with Human Sexuality". Any Mission leaders, ministers, ministry workers or teachers, whether paid or unpaid, who deviated from the Biblical model should be removed from their ministry position according to Policy Manual, Part 3, II (7); until restoration has taken place. (I Cor 5:1-13; I Tim 3:1-13; II Tim 2:19-26; Tit 2:1-8)

We believe that God's grace and mercy apply to those who have fallen into sexual sin and have acknowledged, confessed and repented, and that Christ's example and the teachings of the Scriptures dictate that the Mission has a responsibility to assist in the restoration and care of these, and for possible offspring who may have resulted from such sexual sin. (Rom 12:15; Luke 19:10; John 4:7-29; 8:2-11; Rom 6:1-4; 12:15; II Cor 2:1-8; I John 1:9)