STATEMENT OF FAITH

We, the members of Muscatine 252 Co-op, in order to encourage the body of Christ, strengthen the family, spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, promote Christian ethical and moral behavior, and aspire to teach our children a Godly legacy, do ordain and establish this statement of faith:

THE SCRIPTURE: The sole & final authority basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscript. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and life in every age. Matthew 24:35, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOD: There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love. The Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. Genesis 1:1, John 10:30, 37-38
JESUS: We believe in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His personal return in power and glory. Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:25, John 2:11, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 1:14, John 11:25, Acts 1:11, Revelation 19: 11-16
SALVATION: Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in whole or in part, of their own works, goodness, or religious ceremony, but by the undeserved favor of God alone. God declares righteous all who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation. John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7-8, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:21-22
HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, seals them until the day of redemption, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God. John 3:5-8, John 16:7-11, 13-15, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:9
ASSURANCE: All who are born again of the Spirit can be fully assured of their eternal life from the very moment they put their faith in Christ. This assurance is not based on any kind of human merit, but upon the fact of God’s election, upon Christ’s complete payment for our sins, and upon the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whom is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. John 5:24, John 6:37-40, John 10:27-30, Romans 5:9-10, 1 Peter 1:3-5
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD: At physical death, the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting glory and blessing. At physical death, the unbeliever enters into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting suffering, judgment, and condemnation. Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:43, Phillippians 1:23, Romans 8:10-11, Revelation 6:9-11
MARRIAGE: God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. The term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. Marriage is between one man and one woman and uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church. God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. Genesis 1:26-28, Proverbs 5:1-23, Romans 1:32, Hebrews 13:4
VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE: We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139: 1-24