Christian Tradition
As a Bible church we celebrate a rich tradition, standing with Christians who throughout history have remained devoted to the authority of Scripture including Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon. We also appreciate contributions of contemporary expositors and scholars such as Sinclair Ferguson, Voddie Baucham, John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, Charles Swindoll, and Albert Mohler.
The Scriptures
We recognize the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the sole authority for all matters of faith and practice as Scripture is sufficient to meet every spiritual need of the believer pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We also believe the Bible should be interpreted literally unless there is valid evidence the writer intended to communicate otherwise through figures of speech, symbolism, poetry, apocalyptic language, etc.
The Church
The Church is described as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12) and consists of both Jew and Gentile whom God has permanently united together as "one new man…reconciling them both in one body to God through the cross" (Ephesians 2:11-22). Therefore, the Greek and Jew share the same faith and renewal whereby "God makes no distinction" (Colossians 3:11). Through faith we are a temple of God in the Spirit, as Christ is all and in all.
Theological Distinctives
Theology is the systematic and rational study of how God relates to man as revealed throughout the pages of Holy Scripture. Overarching biblical principles are recognized through careful and repeated examination of God's Word, meditation, and prayer. These theological principles provide clarity of understanding and offer a harmonious biblical framework through which the members of a congregation can grow in unity as we combine our energies to build Christ's Church (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
This being said, Port St. Lucie Bible Church believes the following:
Exclusivity of Christ: Scripture proclaims Christ is the only Savior of the world (John 3:16-18). He alone is "the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but through Him" (John 14:6). The message of Good News is that God's Son lived a sinless life and died willingly on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins and was raised up from the dead on the third day (1 Peter 2:24). There exists no other path of forgiveness for sinful mankind (Acts 4:12) and all who perish apart from Christ are eternally condemned (2 Peter 2:6-9).
Soteriology: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in salvation. He convicts of sin (John 16:8), washes, regenerates and renews the heart (Titus 3:5) and seals us as God's possession until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). As proclaimed through Luther, Calvin, and Knox, we recognize Scripture places a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God in salvation.
Return of Christ: During His earthly ministry Jesus preached, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). During this age, we are spiritually transferred into God's kingdom when we trust Christ as Savior (Colossians 1:13). Nonetheless, this cursed and fallen creation remains enslaved to sinful corruption (Romans 8:21). Therefore, Christians look forward to a return of Christ and a regeneration (Matthew 19:28) when Christ will reign over His physical kingdom on a new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:8-13, Luke 17:22-30).
Local Autonomy: We acknowledge that Christ's Church is comprised of born-again believers across denominational and theological traditions. As to the local church, however, we believe each individual congregation is best governed by local pastors and elders through biblical principles discerned from the pages of Scripture as guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 5:1-6, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 14:23). Port St. Lucie Bible Church is, therefore, self-governing and does not submit to any synod or belong to any denomination.
Non-charismatic: Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as granting individual believers with gifts for service to Christ's Church. Among the spiritual gifts given in the New Testament, some were more observably supernatural manifestations of God's power. We believe Scripture reveals these supernatural gifts were for the temporary nurturing of the fledgling Church, and to discern true apostles from false until the authoritative Canon of Scripture was completed (2 Corinthians 12:12). Scripture affirms the gift of tongues (miraculously speaking in unlearned human languages) and new prophecy have clearly ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8, Revelation 22:18).
Other gifts were intended to be permanent and have been present in every age of the Church. By calling ourselves non-charismatic, we emphasize that we do not elevate expressions of emotion or experience over faith, doctrine, and reason. Additionally, since the Canon of Scripture is closed, we do not recognize individual dreams, visions, personal experiences, or any claims of extra-biblical "revelation" as authoritative for the Church today (Colossians 2:18-19).