Statement of Faith
Camp Anavah Statement of Faith
Section 1. The Scriptures
We believe that the original writings of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally and plenarily inspired of God and thus inerrant in what they affirm. These Scriptures constitute our only absolute authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe in the historical, grammatical, and contextual interpretation of the Bible. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20, 21
Section 2. The Godhead
We believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, being one God eternally existent in three persons, equal in every divine perfection. Gen. 1:26; Matt. 28:19; I Peter1:2; I John 5:7, 8
Section 3. The Person and Work of Christ
We believe in the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, one person possessing two natures making Him fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death for sinners, arose bodily from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. John 1:1-14; Matt. 1:20, 21; Luke 1:26-33; Isa. 53:4-6; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 9:26-28; Romans 4:25; I Cor. 15:3-4, 17; I Peter 1:3; Eph. 1:20; Mark 16:19
Section 4. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead, who convicts, regenerates, and indwells every believer in Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes and seals all believers in Christ, and fills those who are yielded to Him. We affirm that the Holy Spirit gives of service to all believers. John 16:7-11; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:30
Section 5. Man’s Creation and Fall
We believe that man is a special creation of God, made in His image; that man disobeyed his Creator and incurred spiritual death, total corruption, and divine condemnation; and that because of this man is a sinner by nature and practice, in need of divine salvation. We believe that Adam and Eve were historical figures, not merely literary characters. We affirm a historical Fall. Gen. 1:26; Romans 3:23; Psalm 53:3; Isa. 53:6; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8-9
Section 6. Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood to make atonement for the sins of all mankind. On the basis of His substitutionary death and resurrection, all who repent and believe receive God’s gift of eternal life. We believe that salvation is given wholly by grace, so that the believer is eternally secure. We further believe that God’s design for believers is to manifest their salvation by a life that is pleasing to God and set apart unto Him, and that for this purpose every believer is provided positional and progressive sanctification in this life, and ultimate or perfective sanctification in the next. Romans 3:25-26; I John. 2:2; I John 4:10; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-6; I Tim. 2:5; II Cor. 5:17; Romans 8:16-17; Eph. 5:26, 27
Section 7. The Church
We believe that the universal Church is composed of all who are saved, and serves as the body and espoused bride of Christ of which He is the Head. We believe that the universal Church is composed of all who are baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body from Pentecost to the Rapture. We believe that the local church is an autonomous company of baptized believers that meets regularly to worship God, to observe the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper, to edify itself, and to evangelize the world through the preaching and teaching of the Word. We affirm that the proper mode of water baptism is immersion. I Cor. 12:1-3; Acts 2:41; I Cor. 11:23-26
Section 8. Christian Life and Service
We believe that the fulfillment of the Great Commission is the responsibility of every believer. The Christian is to seek the salvation of lost people through active witness and Christ-like behavior. In the accomplishment of the Great Commission, we affirm that believers must be careful to separate themselves from sin, and to seek fellowship and cooperation only with those who believe and practice the biblical Gospel. Matt. 28:18; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:18-20; I John 5:5-7
Section 9. Last Things
We believe in the personal, physical, and visible return of Christ to the earth at the end of the age. We affirm, in order, an imminent return of the Lord to the air to remove His church from the world, an event commonly known as the Rapture; a seven-year Tribulation; the return of Christ to the earth to rule for one thousand years; the Great White Throne Judgment of the lost; and the formation of a New Heaven and a New Earth. This chain of events issues in conscious, everlasting blessedness for the saved, and everlasting punishment for the lost. Matt. 26:64; Acts 1:10-11; Heb. 9:28; Mark 13:32-37; Matt. 25:31-41
Article X: Doctrinal Statement of Faith
The Doctrinal Statement teaches the essentials of the Christian Faith. Camp board members, officers, Bible teachers, and counselors must profess agreement with Doctrinal Statement.