Preface to Temple Community Church’s Doctrinal Statement
At the heart of every church is its confession—what we believe about God, His Word, His gospel message, and His world. The following doctrinal summary reflects the shared convictions.
We hold these ten doctrines with a spirit of unity: they represent the theological foundation of our church.
We also recognize that among faithful Christians there are honest differences in understanding of less-defined doctrines that, while important, are not essential for Ecclesiastical fellowship. For example: 1) Believers may hold differing views on the finer points of Eschatology (the doctrine of end times) or the interpretation of certain prophetic texts. 2) There may be differing preferences regarding the structure of church governance, or 3) the principles of worship historically identified as regulative vs. normative.
While our church’s preaching and teaching ministries will reflect the truths contained in the doctrinal statement, we recognize that faithful believers may differ in good conscience on doctrines that do not rise to the level of confessional division. The constitution highlights this statement for potential members: A person must also agree with the Statement of Faith in those things he or she can clearly understand and remain teachable in all other things which are not clear to him or her.
In all things, we seek unity where Scripture is clear, liberty where Christians may disagree, and charity in every conversation (Romans 14:1–13; Ephesians 4:1–6).
The Doctrine of God (Theology Proper)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe in one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4) , infinite in being, perfect in holiness, eternal in purpose, worthy of all worship, and sovereign in all His works. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord over all. This one God exists eternally in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16,17)—coequal in essence and glory, yet distinct in person and function.
Scriptural Support – Genesis 1:1 Deuteronomy 6:4–5 Psalm 145:3–4 Psalm 90:2 Isaiah 44:6 Matthew 28:19 Matthew 3:16,171 Timothy 1:17 Revelation 4:11
The Doctrine of the Scriptures (Bibliology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (the 66 canonical books) are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21)—breathed out by the Spirit of God, recorded by human authors, and providentially preserved (Psalm 12:6-7) in the original texts. The Bible is the final and sufficient authority for all faith, doctrine, and life. It is the only way one can know and understand God (I Corinthians 2:9-11). It is fully trustworthy in all that it affirms, without error in all that it teaches (Psalm 119:160), and binding upon the conscience of every believer. Scripture reveals the redemptive plan of God in Christ and is the only infallible rule for the church, for counseling, and for the personal obedience of the believer. It is sufficient and comprehensive to provide everything the believer needs for Christ like growth and maturity (I Peter 2:2; II Peter 1:2-3; John 17:17).
Scriptural Support – 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:20–21 Psalm 12:6-7 Psalm 19:7Psalm 119:128I Corinthians 2:9-11 Psalm 119:160; I Peter 2:2 II Peter 1:2-3; John 17:17 Isaiah 40:8Hebrews 4:12
The Doctrine of Creation (Cosmology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing by the word of His power, in six literal, consecutive, 24-hour days (this is the Genesis record of creation – Genesis 1:1,5; Exodus 20:11). Creation was a sovereign act of divine fiat—intentional, immediate, and complete (Revelation 4:11). All things were made through Him and for Him, to display His glory and goodness. God formed the universe, the earth, all living creatures, and mankind as distinct from one another, according to their kinds. Adam and Eve were the first human beings, specially created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27-28)—not evolved from prior forms. There was no death, corruption, or suffering prior to Adam’s sin. The created order remains under God’s sovereign governance and reveals His invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature.
Scriptural Support – Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:5Genesis 1:27Exodus 20:11Psalm 33:6–9John 1:3Romans 1:20Revelation 4:11
The Doctrine of Man (Anthropology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe man was created by God, in His image, as male and female (Genesis 1:26-27), to glorify Him through worship, obedience, relationship, and stewardship. Adam and Eve were literal, historical persons, directly formed by God without evolutionary process, and were created in a state of original innocence and moral uprightness. In this unfallen condition, man enjoyed perfect fellowship with God and bore His image without corruption.
However, through voluntary transgression, Adam sinned and fell from his original state of righteousness. As the federal head of humanity, Adam’s guilt and sinful nature were transmitted to all his descendants (Romans 5:12, 17-19). Therefore, every person is born with a corrupt nature, spiritually dead, and alienated from God. Man is a sinner by nature and by choice, utterly unable to redeem himself apart from divine grace through the saving work of Jesus Christ, the second Adam.
Scriptural Support – Genesis 1:26–27Genesis 2:7Ecclesiastes 7:29Genesis 3:6–7Romans 5:12, 17–19Psalm 51:5Ephesians 2:1–3Romans 3:10–12, 23
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ (Christology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit—very God of very God, begotten not made, of the same essence with the Father (John 1:1-3). In the fullness of time, He took on human nature by means of the virgin birth, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). In the incarnation, He did not lay aside His deity but added full humanity to Himself in one undivided Person—fully God and fully man (Philippians 2:6-8). In His sinless life, He fulfilled the law of God; in His voluntary, substitutionary death, He bore the penalty for sin; in His bodily resurrection, He triumphed over death; in His ascension, He reigns as Lord; and in His return, He will judge the world in righteousness. Jesus Christ is the sole Mediator between God and man, the exact image of the invisible God, and the head of His Church.
Scriptural Support – John 1:1–3Colossians 2:8–10Hebrews 1:3, 8Matthew 1:21–23Luke 1:35Mark 14:61–62John 10:30–33John 14:9–10, 19Philippians 2:6–8John 17:5Romans 1:3–4Acts 2:36
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune Godhead—fully divine, coequal, and coeternal with the Father and the Son. He is not a force or impersonal energy, but a personal being who possesses mind, will, and affection. The Spirit was active in creation and has always carried out the purposes of the Godhead in the world.
He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, restrains evil, and brings about the new birth (John 16:8-11; John 3:5-6). He indwells every believer, seals them unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14), sanctifies them, endues them with power for witness and obedience, and distributes spiritual gifts for the edification of the church. The Spirit seals, teaches, comforts, empowers, intercedes, and preserves the people of God. He always exalts the person and work of Jesus Christ and brings glory to the Father. The Holy Spirit is to be honored, obeyed, and worshiped as true God.
Scriptural Support – Genesis 1:1–2Matthew 28:19John 14:16–17, 26Hebrews 9:14John 3:5–6John 16:8–112 Thessalonians 2:71 Corinthians 12:4–11Romans 8:9–11, 14–16, 26Ephesians 1:13–14Titus 3:5–6Galatians 5:16–25Acts 1:8
Regarding the Charismatic Movement We reject the theological premises and practices of the modern Charismatic movement. Its teachings concerning the continuation of apostolic sign gifts—such as tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing—are unbiblical and incompatible with sound doctrine. The modern expression of “tongues” does not align with the known languages spoken in the New Testament and lacks both linguistic credibility and biblical purpose. These claimed manifestations distort the ministry of the Holy Spirit and promote experientialism over the sufficiency of Scripture. We affirm the cessation of the apostolic sign gifts and the closure of the New Testament canon. The closed canon marks the conclusion of God’s direct revelation and the need for and purpose of the revelatory gifts.
The Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe salvation is a work of God’s sovereign grace (John 1:12–13)—planned by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, revealed in the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone. In eternity past, God chose a people in Christ. In time, Christ bore their sin in His atoning death; in effectual power, the Holy Spirit regenerates the spiritually dead, granting them repentance and faith as gifts of sovereign mercy.
No sinner can raise himself from spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1; John 6:44). The new birth is not the result of human will or works, but of divine initiative. All who are born again are justified by faith, adopted as sons, and progressively sanctified by the Spirit through the Word, being conformed to the image of Christ, unto the day of final glory. The only grounds for our forgiveness is the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. This salvation is anchored in God’s mercy, not human merit, and it produces worship, obedience, and perseverance in the life of every true believer.
Scriptural Support – John 1:12–13John 17:17Romans 1:16–17Romans 10:9–13Ephesians 2:8–9Titus 3:52 Corinthians 5:21John 3:3–8Acts 13:48Ephesians 2:1John 6:44Mark 1:15Philippians 1:29Romans 5:1Romans 8:29–30Galatians 1:6–9
The Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe the church is the redeemed body of Christ—comprised of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and united to Christ by faith (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). The church exists in two distinct yet unified expressions: (1) the global (sometimes called universal) body—which includes all true believers in Christ across time and geography, and (2) the local church—a gathered body of baptized believers who covenant together under the Lordship of Christ (Acts 14:23,27).
Jesus Christ is the sole head of the church (Ephesians 5:23-27). Every local church is autonomous, governed by qualified elders, and free from external control by hierarchical individuals or ecclesiastical institutions. Each church possesses the God-given authority and responsibility to govern its own life, exercise discipline, appoint leadership, proclaim the gospel, disciple the saints, and administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The church is Christ’s bride, His body, and His dwelling place on earth. Its purpose is to glorify God through worship, the preaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, mutual edification, sacrificial fellowship, and bold evangelistic witness to the world.
Scriptural Support – 1 Corinthians 12:12–13Ephesians 4:4–6Colossians 1:18Ephesians 5:23–272 Corinthians 11:2Acts 2:41 Acts 14:23, 27Titus 1:5Ephesians 4:11–12Acts 13:1–4Matthew 18:15–201 Corinthians 5:1–7; 2 Corinthians 2:6–8
The Doctrine of Marriage and Family
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe marriage is a covenant instituted by God at creation, uniting one man and one woman in a lifelong, exclusive, and holy union (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-25). It displays the covenant love between Christ and His Church. It provides companionship, fulfills sexual intimacy within God’s design, and propagates and nurtures children in the fear and instruction of the Lord.
We affirm that the family is the foundational unit of human society, ordained by God to reflect His character and carry forward His blessing from generation to generation. God created men and women equal in dignity and value(Galatians 3:28), yet distinct and complementary in role and function. Within the family, husbands are appointed to loving, Christlike headship; wives are appointed to respectful, voluntary submission (Ephesians 5:21–27); and parents are appointed to train their children in godliness, discipline, and truth (Ephesians 6:1-4).
We reject all distortions of marriage—whether through adultery, cohabitation, same-sex unions, or the devaluation of gender distinctions—as departures from God’s good design. While sin has marred the family, redemption in Christ restores hope, empowers obedience, and sanctifies marriage as a means of grace.
Scriptural Support – Genesis 1:27–28 Genesis 2:18–25Matthew 19:3–9Ephesians 5:21–271 Peter 3:1–7Malachi 2:14–16Hebrews 13:41 Corinthians 7:3–4Deuteronomy 6:6–7 Ephesians 6:1–4Psalm 127:3Psalm 78:4–7
Note: Regarding human sexuality and gender roles, Our church affirms the “Nashville Statement.” Copies available upon request.
The Doctrine of Last Things (Eschatology)
Doctrinal Affirmation We believe the redemptive plan of God reached its decisive fulfillment in the first coming of Jesus Christ, who inaugurated the Kingdom as He proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15). Christ now rules from heaven, advancing His Kingdom through the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 24:46-47).
At death believers are immediately present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23), while unbelievers remain separated from Him in Hades (Luke 16:23-24), awaiting final judgment in Hell (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:13-14). At His return the righteous and the unrighteous will be resurrected (Acts 1:11 John 5:28,29;Titus 2:13).
Following the resurrection, all people will stand before Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11–12). Both the saved and the lost will be judged—believers unto reward (Matthew 25:34), and unbelievers unto condemnation (Matthew 25:30,33,41,46; Revelation 20:12,15).
Finally, God will bring about the renewal of all creation. As promised, “a new heaven and a new earth” will be revealed (Revelation 21:1, 5), where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13), and God will dwell with His people forever.
Scriptural Support – Mark 1:14, 15;Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 16:23-24; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 20:12-15; Acts 1:11; John 5:28-29; Titus 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:30-46; Revelation 21:1-5; 2 Peter 3:10-13