What We Believe

We understand the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God. As such it is the sole source and standard for matters of faith and practice for the believer. It is sufficient to meet every spiritual need of the Christian (II Peter 1:3). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation of the faith and practice of Benchmark Bible Church ( II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21).

The Bible should be understood plainly and literally unless there is reason in a given passage to believe that it was intended to be taken otherwise (e.g., figures of speech, prophetic language, etc.). The meaning of the Scripture can be understood through careful (II Tim. 2:15) and prayerful (I John 2:27) study.

God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance, one God. (Gen. 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24; Deut 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14)

Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell into sin with the result that all men are sinners. Men are justly condemned to eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation. (Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph. 2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; Eph. 2:1)

The eternal Son of God became incarnate in the Lord Jesus Christ, being born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. He died physically on the cross and was bodily resurrected three days later. (John 1:1,14,18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 5:8; I John 5:20; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 15:1-5 )

Salvation is given to those men chosen by God and drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit. The only means to their salvation is repentance of sin and belief in Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection. (Acts 4:12; 13:38,39; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4,5; 5:1; John 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Eph. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:29,30)

Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification. (Heb. 10:10,14; John 17:15-17; Eph. 5:26-27; I Thess. 4:3,4; I John 3:2; I Cor. 6:11)

All who are born of the Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance of salvation and are eternally secure in Christ. (Rom. 5:1; I John 5:13; John 10:27-29; 17:12; II Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30; John 6:37)

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals all believers in Christ and empowers those yielded to God. (Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Col. 3:14)

The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ, formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects, universal and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body, and functioning according to the directives of the Head, who is Christ. At the Rapture of the church, the bride and body of Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord, after which He will return to set up His Kingdom. The local church is a group of believers united in love to glorify Jesus Christ through worship, service toward one another, and discipleship through the preaching of the gospel and the exercise of spiritual gifts (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:24-30; I Cor. 12:4-13,27).

Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service, i.e., “for the equipping of  the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.”  (Eph. 4:1-16; I Cor. 12:7,11; I Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:1-6)

Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our chief objective is to know Christ and make Him known. We know Him through studying, trusting, and obeying His Word through the enabling power of the Spirit. We make Him known through the witness of our lives and the testimony of our faith, eagerly awaiting the reward of Christ’s welcoming words in Heaven some day for all who follow Him: “Well done, good and faithful servant,”  (I Pet. 1:15,16; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3; Matt. 25:23).

The Bible sets forth two ordinances, the Lord’s Supper and water baptism. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross, and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward testimony of a person’s belief in Christ. Immersion is the ideal means set forth in Scripture. (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I Cor. 11:23-26)

Angels are created beings.  Originally, all of them were holy, but now because of Satan’s rebellion, there are many who are fallen and satanic.  These are known as demons.  (Col. 1:16; Job 38:6,7; Ps. 148:2-5; Jude 6;  Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:11,12; I Tim. 5:21; Rev. 12:9)