Our Beliefs

Membership Affirmation

As members of Provo Bible Church, we all embrace these essential truths of Scripture.

God’s Word the Bible

The Bible is God’s definitive Word, fully inspired by His Spirit, without error as originally written. It is unmatched in authority regarding all it addresses taken in its natural, literal, consistent sense (Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; 16:12-13; 20:31; Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-22).

The One True Eternal God

There is only One true sovereign God, existing eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. He is one in essence, like-minded in function, with express roles in creation, redemption, and providence, deserving identical worship, and obedience (Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Romans 1.19-20; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:5-6).

The Father is a boundless personal spirit, with flawless character, knowledge, and power, orchestrating all things according to His purpose and glory. He involves Himself in individual lives to save people from the judgment of their sin through faith in His Son (Psalm 145:8-9; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21-22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6).

Jesus as God’s only Son is the incarnate Christ, conceived by His Spirit and virgin-born. In His sinless life, substitutionary atonement, and bodily resurrection, Jesus satisfied God’s displeasure over man’s sin and intercedes for His people who await His personal return. (Matthew 1:18-25; 20.28; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28,30-31; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8;6:9-10;8:32;9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21-23).

The Holy Spirit came from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers all who trust in Jesus Christ, indwelling every believer as an abiding helper, teacher, and guide (John 14:16-17,26;15:26-27;16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26).

The State and Nature of Man

Man, created in God’s image, having sinned, suffers physical and spiritual death in eternal separation from God. Thus, everyone is born inherently corrupt, prone to sin, wholly incapable of remedying that condition, and falls under God’s condemnation (Genesis 1:26;2:19;3:1-24;5:2; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14).

Salvation by Grace through Faith

The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as God intended, justifying (ascribing our sins to Christ and His righteousness to us) all those who repent and believe in Him. This happens by faith apart from works based on His shed blood, to be kept secure in Him forever (John 1:12; 6:37-40;10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38-39;1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:7;2:8-10;1 Peter 1:5,18-19).

Those desirous to be free from their old life of sin, who trust in Christ alone as their Savior, are born again by the Spirit. They are forgiven and delivered from condemnation by the grace of God, receive eternal life, and become a new creation to walk in newness of life (Psalm 51:7; Proverbs 28:13; John 1:13; 3:14, 16; 5:24; 8:12; Romans 3:19; 5:19; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 20:10,14-15).

Church Life in the Body of Christ

All believers are accountable to God in the local Church as a united living spiritual body with Christ as its head. They are placed there by the Holy Spirit to glorify God. The Church builds itself up in the faith, through the instruction of His Word, service, fellowship, keeping His ordinances, and advancing the Gospel to the lost (2 Timothy 2:2,15; 3:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:24-38,47; 1John 1:3; Luke 22:19; Ephesians 2:19-22; 3:21; 5:19-21; Hebrews 10:23-25).

We believe Christians live for God’s glory and mankind’s good, living virtuous and redemptive lives in the world, being faithful stewards of God’s blessings while seeking the maturity of all believers in Christ (John 14:15,23-24; Romans 12:1-3;1 Corinthians 4:2; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Colossians 1:9-10; Hebrews 12:1-2;1John 2:3-6).

Christ’s Return and Eternity

The eminent return to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ will be personal and visible, to judge the living and the dead. He will fully establish His millennial Kingdom, and then in the future new heaven and earth, the righteous will dwell with Him in happiness forever (Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14.3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20;1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13;1 Corinthians 4:5;15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15).

All mankind will experience a bodily resurrection, those saved to eternal life, and those unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with Him (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; 6:39; Romans 8:10-11,19-32; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 5:8; Revelations 20:13-15).

Leader/Teacher Affirmation

As church leaders and teachers, we agree to teach and encourage these biblical truths.

The Holy Scriptures

We teach the Scriptures’ verbal and plenary inspiration, consisting of 66 books that constitute the Old and New Testaments. It is the Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, the complete and unalterable special revelation of God. The Bible is our final authority (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We teach the normal, literal, consistent interpretation of the Scriptures and a dispensational understanding of God’s progressive revelation (John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Godhead

We teach there is one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ

We teach the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a man without ceasing to be God. Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life. He came that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,14).

We teach the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice sufficient for the sins of the whole world. Our justification is verified by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9;1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24;1 John 2:2).

We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. As our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24;1 John 2:1-2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We teach that the Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who in this present age convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates and baptizes into the body of Christ those who believe, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9;1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We teach the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth. It is the privilege of believers to be filled with, and their duty to walk in, the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 2:20,27).

The Total Depravity of Man

We teach that man was created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Because of this, man is totally depraved and unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3,12).

Salvation and Security

According to the Scriptures, we teach the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice for all people. All who trust Him are saved by grace through faith on the grounds of His shed blood. Those who believe are also accepted in the beloved, kept by God’s power, and thus secure in Christ forever (John 1:12; 6:37-40;10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38-39;1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:7;2:8-10;1 Peter 1:5,18-19).

We teach that every saved person is a new creation, with provision made for victory over sin through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The sin that is present in us is not eradicated in this life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10;1 Peter 1:14-16;1 John 3:5-9).

We teach it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15;1 Peter 2:13-20).

The Church

We teach that the Church, which began with the Holy Spirit’s baptizing work on the day of Pentecost, is the body and bride of Christ. It is the spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of the present age (Acts 2:1-36; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:21-22;5:25-27).

We teach that the establishment and continuance of local churches that are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

Ordinances

We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ established two ordinances for the Church in this present age. These are believer’s water baptism, practiced by immersion, and the Lord’s supper observed as a memorial of His death (Acts 8:12,35-39;10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 1:14;11:23-34).

Missions

We teach that Christ commissioned individuals in the Church to make disciples from among all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded (Mathew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ gives the Church evangelists and pastor-teachers. These gifted men are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7-14).

We teach that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts upon believers for Christian service and the Church’s edification (Romans 12:3-8;1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

We teach that the church age was initiated through the apostles’ ministry and prophets accompanied by sign gifts to confirm their message. These sign gifts gradually ceased by the time of the completion of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:28-31;13:8-10;14:1-28; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 2:3-4).

We teach that God hears and answers prayer according to His own will for the healing of the sick and afflicted (John 14:13-14; 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15).

Dispensationalism

We teach the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense to reveal divinely determined dispensations that define man’s responsibility in successive ages. A dispensation is not a way of salvation, but divinely ordered stewardship by which God directs man according to His purpose (John 1:17; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2 Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25; Hebrews 7:19; Revelation 20:2-6).

We teach salvation by grace through faith regardless of the dispensation in which the believer may have lived. God’s purpose of salvation by grace through faith alone has always been based upon the substitutionary atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the Cross (Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:10-12).

The Personality of Satan

We teach that Satan is a created being, the author of sin, the tempter in the fall, the declared enemy of God and man, and the God of this age. He shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

The Second Advent of Christ

We teach the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation, and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones. At the end of the seven-year tribulation, He will return to earth with the saints in power and glory to reign for a thousand years (Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10;4:13-18; 5:9; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10;19.11-16; 20.1-6).

The Eternal State

We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29;11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6,12-13).

We teach that the redeemed souls are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord. They await the first resurrection in conscious bliss when Spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23;3:21;1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6).

We teach that unbelievers’ souls are, at death, absent from the body and in conscious misery until the second resurrection. With soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).

Creation

We teach that the triune God, by a free act and for His own glory, without the use of existing materials or secondary causes, brought into being – immediately and instantaneously in six literal days, by the Word of His mouth – the whole visible and invisible universe (Genesis 1:1-27; Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 104:25-26; Isaiah 40:21-31; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:16-17).

Human Sexuality

We teach sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God that is only to be expressed between a man and a woman within the love and bonds of marriage. Any other form of sexual intimacy is both immoral and a perversion of God’s gift (Genesis 2:24-25; Leviticus 18:1-30; Proverbs 5:18; 6:32; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7.5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Hebrews 13:4).

Biblical Unity and Separation

We teach that those who are saved should be separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ, necessitating holy living in all personal and ecclesiastical associations and relationships. We are responsible for identifying false teaching and dangerous movements where they relate to the Church’s ministries’ conduct.

We teach separation is required in those instances where people, groups, and organizations whose doctrinal position is the same as the church’s engage in contradictory practices which compromise the faith (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:1-2;14:13;16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7-11; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 4:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:11-14; 2 Timothy 3:1-5,10; Titus 2:14; James 4:4-5;1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)