Imago Dei

Doctrinal Distinctives

The Doctrinal Distinctives listed form the basis of what Imago Dei Church believes. Each doctrinal statement is essential to our theological identity as a church.[1]

As Evangelicals we adhere to both the Apostles and Nicene Creeds.

The Scriptures - The Bible is the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God that reveals to us God’s character, our sin, and His Redemptive plan centered on the Person and Work of Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12)

God – There is but one God, who is the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things in heaven and on earth; He is in and of Himself perfect and infinite, and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. (Gen.1:1-2; Dt. 6:4-6; Rev. 4:11)

God as Trinity – God eternally exists as one God in three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit without division of nature, essence, or being; each person is fully God and there is one God. (Dt. 6:4; Lk. 1:35; Mt. 3:16-17; Mt. 28:18-20; 1 Pt. 1:2; Eph. 1:4-13; Titus 3:4-6)

God the Father – God the Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is all-powerful, all knowing, unchanging, and perfectly holy. He Sovereignly rules over his creation according to his purpose, and in him we live and move. He is father of all as Creator, but the spiritual Father only to those who he adopted into his family through faith in his son Jesus Christ. (Gen. 1:1, 2:7; Is. 64:8; Mal. 3:6; Acts 17:28; Jn. 1:12-13, 6:27; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 1:3; Rom. 8:15-16; Eph. 1:3; 1 Pt. 1:3)

God the Son – Jesus Christ – Jesus, the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, is the only begotten Son of the Father who conceived by the Holy Spirit, virgin born and lived a sinless life perfectly obediently to God’s law. He was fully God and fully man. He became the wrath-bearer for man’s sin through his death upon the cross according to the Scriptures. On the third day he was bodily resurrected and ascended back to the Father in heaven where he makes intercession for his people. He will return bodily in power and glory to restore creation and man to their original state of perfection to live with and worship God for eternity. He is the only Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, Redeemer, and Sovereign of the universe. (Jn. 3:16-17; Phil. 2:6-11; Mt. 5:17; Lk. 1:30-35, 24:25-27; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 1:1-3, 7:25; Rom. 3:24-25; Rev. 19:11-21, 21:1-8)

God the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the Trinity who actively manifests God’s presence in the world and in the church. He conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary his mother and empowered Jesus during his earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit also convicts people of their sin, making them aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He supernaturally gives spiritual life to God’s elect, baptizing them into the body of Christ, the church. He gives assurance of this new life in Christ, making the Christian secure in faith until the end. He bears witness to the truth and empowers the believer for faithful service and obedience to Christ, bringing comfort, unity, and guidance in life and spiritual truth. (Gen. 1:2; Ezek. 36:26-27; Acts 1:8, 5:3-5, 10:44; Lk. 1:35, 4:1; Mk. 3:22-30; Mt. 3:16-17; Jn. 3:5-8, 16:7-14; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 3:16, 12:1-31; 2 Cor. 1:22; Rom. 8:9-11; Titus 3:5)

The Fall of Man – God originally Created this world and everything in it perfect. Man was created in God’s image and free from sin. But, through Satan’s temptation, our first parents rebelled against the command of God and fell from his original state of holiness and righteousness. Thus, man’s relationship with God was marred. Consequently, we inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and are under rightful condemnation. (Gen. 3:1-19, 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:1-4; Rom. 3:11-18, 23)

Salvation – Man, due to his rebellious and sinful nature, is dead in his trespasses and completely inadequate to pursue God and obtain salvation on his own. God is obligated to save no one, but being rich in Mercy and Grace elected to save an innumerable multitude unto everlasting life from every tribe, nation, peoples, and languages. God’s election of sinners for salvation is not based on any foreseen merit or inherit goodness in them, but of his grace in Christ Jesus. The salvation of the elect was predestined by God in eternity past and he accomplishes this salvation, not by the works of man, but by his grace. It is God alone who calls, regenerates, saves, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies. (Jn. 1:12-13, 3:5-7; Rom. 1:18-32, 8:28-9:29; Eph. 1:3-2:10; Rev. 13:8; Acts 13:48; 1 Thess. 5:9)

The Church – The church, made up of all born-again persons, is the body and espoused bride of Christ and exists under his rule and authority. The local church, existing under the authority of Jesus, is autonomous and free of external authority and control. The church is used to make known the manifold wisdom of God and has been commanded by Jesus to make disciples of all nations.  The New Testament teaches the importance of the local congregation and of church planting. Christians are to be committed to a local body of believers for worship, encouragement, accountability, community, and service. The officers of church leadership are elders and deacons. Elders are to be biblically called and qualified men to lead, teach, and shepherd. The deacons are to be biblically qualified men or women to serve and help carry out the vision of the leading elders. (Eph. 3:10, 5:25-32; Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8, 2:42-47, 20:17-38; Col. 1:18, 2:10; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pt. 5:1-4)

Baptism – Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus where the believer is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is an obedient outward expression of an inward reality that one has died to self, been buried with Christ, and resurrected to walk in newness of life. Further, it is symbolic of one’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior Jesus Christ. (Mt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:1-14)

The Lord’s Supper/Communion – The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is symbolic act of obedience wherein Christians partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for their sin and in anticipation of his second coming. Communion in no way imparts to those who partake the righteousness of Christ, but is designed to commemorate His death and to be a bond and renewal of their communion with Him in worship. (1 Cor. 11:23-28; Mt. 26:26-29)

The Perseverance of the Saints – Those whom Christ has truly saved and the Spirit indwells are still sinful and imperfect, but will continue in their sanctification (being made holy) and will never lose their salvation. (Eph. 1:11-14; Phil. 1:6; Jn. 10:28, 17:11-12; Heb. 10:23, 12:2)

The End of All Things – The God of the Bible who created all things will in His good time bring the world to an end where He will make a New Heaven and New Earth, where created order and man’s relationship with God will be restored to its original state of perfection, before the corrupting result of sin. There will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily, return of Christ where all will be resurrected for final judgment, some to everlasting life and some to eternal damnation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places taught in Scripture. Those whom God has saved through faith in Jesus Christ will be rewarded for their faithful service and in glorified bodies live and worship forever in Heaven. Divisive and dogmatic certainty surrounding particular details of the Second Coming of Jesus and the end of all things are unprofitable speculation, because the timing and exact details of His return are unclear to us. (Is. 26:19, 65:17; Dan. 12:2; Job 19:25-27; Mt. 24:36-44; Mk. 13:32-33, 35; Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:7, 11; Heb. 9:28; Js. 5:8; 1 Jn. 3:2; 2 Pt. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-2, 22:20)