Bible Doctrine
Upheld by
Hopewell Mennonite Church

We Believe:
  1. In one eternal God, existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16,17; 1 John 5:7).

  2. That God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, the inspired Word of God, and supremely in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1,2).

  3. That in the beginning God created all things by His Son. He created man in His own image, with free will, moral character and a spiritual nature (Hebrews 1:1,2; Genesis 1:1,27).

  4. That man fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the race; that as sinner, man is self-centered and self-willed, unwilling and unable to break with sin (Genesis 3:1-19; Ephesians 2:1-3).

  5. That there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who died for our redemption from sin and arose for our justification (1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1).

  6. That salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, a free gift bestowed by God on those who repent and believe (Ephesians 2:8-10).

  7. That the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, effects the new birth, gives guidance in life, empowers for service, enables perseverance in faith and holiness (John 16:7-15; Galatians 5:22,23).

  8. That the Church is the body of Christ, the brotherhood of the redeemed, a disciplined people obedient to the Word of God, and a fellowship of love, intercession, and healing (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 2:9).

  9. That Christ commissioned the Church to go into all the world, making disciples of all nations, and ministering to human need (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Romans 1:14-17).

  10. It is the will of God that there should be ministers to preach the Word, to serve as leaders, to administer the ordinances, to guide the Church in the exercise of discipline, and to serve as pastors and teachers (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17).

  11. That those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of the baptism of the Spirit, cleansing from sin, and commitment to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-41).

  12. That the Church should observe the Communion of the Lord's Supper as a symbol of His broken body and shed blood, and of the fellowship of His Church until His return (1 Corinthians 11:20-34).

  13. That the washing of the saints feet is a symbol of brotherhood, cleansing, and service; and the giving of the right hand of fellowship and the holy kiss are symbols of Christian love (John 13:1-17; Romans 16:16; Galatians 2:9).

  14. That God's order of authority as stated in His Word is: God, Christ, man, woman. That God has established unique roles for man and woman when praying or prophesying, symbolized by man's uncovered head and by woman's veiled head (Genesis 2:18-25; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16).

  15. That Christian marriage is intended by God to be the union of one man and one woman for life, and that Christians should marry only in the Lord (Mark 10:2-12; 1 Corinthians 7:39).

  16. That Christians should not be conformed to the world, but should seek to conform to the will of God in every area of life (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 12:1,2; Matthew 6:25-34; John 17:11-16).

  17. That Christians are to be open and transparent in life, ever speaking the truth, and not employing oaths (Matthew 5:33-37).

  18. It is the will of God that Christians refrain from carnal force and violence in human relations and show Christian love to all men (Matthew 5:38-40; John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 10:3,4).

  19. That the Church and state are two separate organizations with separate responsibilities and functions. That the government is ordained of God to maintain order in society, while the mission of the Church in the world is to glorify God and lead others to faith and trust in Him (John 15:19; 17:11-16).

  20. That Christians should honor rulers, be subject to authorities, and pray for governments (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; Acts 5:29).

  21. That after death the unsaved enter into everlasting punishment and the saved into conscious bliss with Christ, Who is coming again and will raise the dead, sit in judgment, and bring in God's everlasting kingdom (Matthew 25:3-46; 2 Corinthians 10:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 5:4; 2 Peter 3:3-13).

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