What We Believe
Deciding which local church to attend is one of the most important decisions you will make. Churches vary widely in both style and substance. For some, style is the most important factor when choosing where they worship. Here at OFA, we strongly believe in SUBSTANCE over style. We invite you to drop by and check us out. If you have any questions, we will be happy to sit down and have a chat.
The following list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a good idea of what motivates us to reach the community of Ottawa, Illinois.
The Word of God
*double click on the scripture references to open a link to Bible Gateway
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates, and the basis by which the church is governed. We believe that the 66 books of the Bible supersede any and all earthly law in precept and principle. We teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual’s life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ and we reject doctrinal viewpoints or spiritual phenomena, which are based solely on experience.
(Acts 17:11; 1Thes.2:13; Romans 15:4; 2Tim.3:16-17; Matt. 24:35; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12;
1 Peter 1:23-25).
The One True God
The Bible is clear that God is the only True God and there can be no other.
(Psalm 86:10; John 5:44; John 17:3; 1st Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 4:39 & Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11 & Isaiah 44:6; Jude 1:25 )
The Trinity
The Bible teaches there being one God who exists in three distinct persons, each serving a different function. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal.
(Matt. 3:16,17 & Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:26; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7,8)
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God
(Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
The Salvation of Man
Salvation comes through Grace alone, Faith alone, and through Christ alone. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, we become an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life
(Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church:
1) Full immersion water baptism
2) The Lord's Supper (or communion)
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:31-38/10:47,48/18:8/22:16; Romans 6:3,4)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
After Jesus rose from the Grave, He told the disciples that He must go back to the Father. He promised to send them "The Comforter." The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses and brings conviction of sin. We believe the promise of the Holy Spirit is still alive and active in the lives of believers today.
(Luke 3:22; Romans 13:15; 1 Cor. 6:19 & 12:13; Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:38; John 14:15,16,26 & 15:26).
Sanctification
The generic meaning of sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is "sanctified" when used to write. Eyeglasses are "sanctified" when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose. Those who put their faith in Christ are called to live a life separated from the world... becoming more like our Savior every day.
(Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
Divine Healing
We believe that God has the power and authority to heal a person's body and mind. This was provided to the believer by Christ's death and resurrection. God instructs us to pray that His will would be done. With scripture taken in proper context, nowhere is the believer "guaranteed" Divine Healing. His ways are above our ways, yet we trust always, knowing that God is a Good God!
(Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
Eternal Destiny
We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell. All those who place their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus' free gift of salvation proclaimed in the gospel will spend eternity separated from God.
(Psalm 9:17; John 3: 3,5,7,16,18/14:3; Revelation 21:8; Matt. 13:47-50/25:31-46; Psalm 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:5-10; Proverbs 15:24; Phil. 3:20 ).
Israel
We firmly believe that Israel Is and always will be God’s chosen people and that His plan for them is ongoing right up through the end times. Because of their denial and rejection of their coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, God made a way through His Grace and Mercy to allow the gentile nations access to His great salvation- to all who would call on the name of the Lord. Today’s church was birthed with the death and resurrection Of Christ. This act was also designed to provoke His people Israel to jealousy. The knowledge of other "illegitimate" gentile nations being given what was exclusively theirs should have brought them to a lowly state, a state of repentance and restoration to Christ. That will eventually happen as God is still their Salvation and is still working to bring them to salvation. The church and Israel are both equally in God’s plan of salvation, yet the true church will always be a mixture of ethnicity, a sovereign gathering of people of all nations, those people who call on the Name of the Lord.
(Deuteronomy 30:1-8; Romans 11:11,25-27; Jeremiah 31:10; Gal. 3:29 )
Deciding which local church to attend is one of the most important decisions you will make. Churches vary widely in both style and substance. For some, style is the most important factor when choosing where they worship. Here at OFA, we strongly believe in SUBSTANCE over style. We invite you to drop by and check us out. If you have any questions, we will be happy to sit down and have a chat.
The following list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a good idea of what motivates us to reach the community of Ottawa, Illinois.
The Word of God
*double click on the scripture references to open a link to Bible Gateway
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates, and the basis by which the church is governed. We believe that the 66 books of the Bible supersede any and all earthly law in precept and principle. We teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual’s life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ and we reject doctrinal viewpoints or spiritual phenomena, which are based solely on experience.
(Acts 17:11; 1Thes.2:13; Romans 15:4; 2Tim.3:16-17; Matt. 24:35; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12;
1 Peter 1:23-25).
The One True God
The Bible is clear that God is the only True God and there can be no other.
(Psalm 86:10; John 5:44; John 17:3; 1st Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 4:39 & Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11 & Isaiah 44:6; Jude 1:25 )
The Trinity
The Bible teaches there being one God who exists in three distinct persons, each serving a different function. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal.
(Matt. 3:16,17 & Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:26; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7,8)
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God
(Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
The Salvation of Man
Salvation comes through Grace alone, Faith alone, and through Christ alone. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, we become an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life
(Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church:
1) Full immersion water baptism
2) The Lord's Supper (or communion)
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:31-38/10:47,48/18:8/22:16; Romans 6:3,4)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
After Jesus rose from the Grave, He told the disciples that He must go back to the Father. He promised to send them "The Comforter." The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses and brings conviction of sin. We believe the promise of the Holy Spirit is still alive and active in the lives of believers today.
(Luke 3:22; Romans 13:15; 1 Cor. 6:19 & 12:13; Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:38; John 14:15,16,26 & 15:26).
Sanctification
The generic meaning of sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is "sanctified" when used to write. Eyeglasses are "sanctified" when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose. Those who put their faith in Christ are called to live a life separated from the world... becoming more like our Savior every day.
(Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
Divine Healing
We believe that God has the power and authority to heal a person's body and mind. This was provided to the believer by Christ's death and resurrection. God instructs us to pray that His will would be done. With scripture taken in proper context, nowhere is the believer "guaranteed" Divine Healing. His ways are above our ways, yet we trust always, knowing that God is a Good God!
(Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
Eternal Destiny
We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell. All those who place their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus' free gift of salvation proclaimed in the gospel will spend eternity separated from God.
(Psalm 9:17; John 3: 3,5,7,16,18/14:3; Revelation 21:8; Matt. 13:47-50/25:31-46; Psalm 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:5-10; Proverbs 15:24; Phil. 3:20 ).
Israel
We firmly believe that Israel Is and always will be God’s chosen people and that His plan for them is ongoing right up through the end times. Because of their denial and rejection of their coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, God made a way through His Grace and Mercy to allow the gentile nations access to His great salvation- to all who would call on the name of the Lord. Today’s church was birthed with the death and resurrection Of Christ. This act was also designed to provoke His people Israel to jealousy. The knowledge of other "illegitimate" gentile nations being given what was exclusively theirs should have brought them to a lowly state, a state of repentance and restoration to Christ. That will eventually happen as God is still their Salvation and is still working to bring them to salvation. The church and Israel are both equally in God’s plan of salvation, yet the true church will always be a mixture of ethnicity, a sovereign gathering of people of all nations, those people who call on the Name of the Lord.
(Deuteronomy 30:1-8; Romans 11:11,25-27; Jeremiah 31:10; Gal. 3:29 )