Ad Fontes Statement of Faith

We believe that the God of the Bible is the source of all truth; thus, all genuine intellectual pursuits lead logically to God. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, and as such it, and not man, is the standard of truth. Furthermore, we consider the primary goal of all of life and education to be the glory of God and the revelation of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory.

We are in agreement with the following historic Protestant tenets: Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Cruce (by the cross alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), Sola Fide (by faith alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone). We seek to promote unity and charity among those who affirm these truths but who may have differing convictions on other areas of Christian life. While believing that there is no liberty to disagree where the Bible speaks clearly, yet recognizing our own fallibility, we acknowledge that sincere Christians hold differing views on certain issues that are not essential for salvation. We teach dogmatically, however, on those issues which are essential.

When we talk about the essentials of Christianity, we refer to the basic doctrines that make up and characterize our faith and personal relationship with Christ, and which separate Biblical Christianity from other beliefs. These doctrines are expressed as follows:

  • We believe in the authority of Scripture, which is another way of affirming that the Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It is the ultimate source of knowledge about God, as well as the definitive guide for our daily lives.
  • We affirm the existence of a triune God, or one God in three distinct Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is self-existent, eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, righteous, and loving. God created the universe from nothing, and He is sovereign over His creation, including both human and angelic beings.
  • We also hold that man is a physical and spiritual being who is created in God's image. Because of his sin, however, man has lost his fellowship with God, and apart from salvation in Christ, will suffer God's judgment and eternal condemnation in Hell. The extent of sin is so great that its effects in this life continue to this very day in the form of misery, cruelty, suffering, and death.
  • By God's grace, Jesus Christ — who is fully God and fully man — was sent to save us from our bondage to sin. We believe that Christ was born of a virgin, died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and will one day return to judge the world and deliver His people. Presently Christ is in Heaven, exalted at the right hand of God where, as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided not because of any works of man but because of Christ's finished work of atonement on the cross. Salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. At death the believer's soul passes immediately into the presence of God, and the unbeliever's soul is eternally separated from God unto condemnation.
  • Finally, we recognize the church as God's ordained institution headed by Christ. The church is organized for worship, for fellowship, for the administration of the sacraments, for spiritual growth and support, and for evangelizing the world.