Statement of Faith

statement of faith

As a ministry of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, Colonial Christian School adheres to the CHBC Statement of Faith. Employees of Colonial Christian School reaffirm their agreement with this position at the beginning of each school year. Families who make application must indicate their agreement and support for these principal tenets of faith as a requirement for admission.

We accept the Holy Bible as the Word of God and recognize that the New Testament, in particular, is the infallible guide in faith and practice for the church.  We adopt the following Declaration of Faith as a declaration of the principal tenets of our belief.

The Scriptures – We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction set forth in sixty-six books; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinions should be tried, and is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice. (Luke 16:29-31; II Tim. 3:15-17; Eph. 2:20; Heb. 1:1; II Pet. 1:19-21; John 16:13-15; Matt. 22:29-31; Psalm 19:7-10; Psalm 119:1-8)

God – There is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections, to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.  He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Gen. 1:1; I Cor. 8:4-6; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12; Deut. 5:7; Ex. 3:14; Heb. 11:6; John 5:26; I Tim. 1:17; John 15:26; Gal. 4:6; Matt. 28:19; John 1:14-18)

Creation – We believe the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that the world, and all that is in it, including mankind, was created by a direct work of God in six literal contiguous 24-hour days (Gen. 1:1-2:25; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:1-3) followed by a 24-hour day of rest, thus initiating the Biblical concept of a week.

The Fall of Man – Man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis.  “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Gen. 1:27) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7)
He was created in a state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.  (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:7; John 1:23; Gen. 3:4-7; Gen. 3:22-24; Rom. 5:12,14,19,21; Rom. 7:23-25; Rom. 11:18,22,32,33; Col. 1:21)

The Way of Salvation – The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary and took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by His death.  Being risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections. He is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour. (Col. 1:21,22; Eph. 1:7-10; Gal. 2:19,20; Gal. 3:13; Rom. 1:4; Eph. 1:20; Eph. 1:21-23; Matt. 1:21-25; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:25)

Justification – Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ.  The blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ.  It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other needed blessing. (Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:2; Rom. 5:1,2; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:7; I Cor. 1:30,31; II Cor. 5:21)

The Freeness of Salvation – The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel.  It is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith.  Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour, and Lord. (Eph. 1:5; Eph. 2:4-10; I Cor. 1:30,31; Rom. 5:1-9; Rev. 22:17; John 3:16; Mark 16:16)

Regeneration – Regeneration, or the new birth, is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby we become partakers of the divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness.  It is a work of God’s free grace conditioned upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit of the glory of God. (John 3:1-8; John 1:16-18; Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:1,5,6,8,10; Eph. 4:30,32; Col. 3:1-11; Titus 3:5)

Repentance and Faith – We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Luke 22:31-34; Mark 1:15; I Tim. 1:13; Rom 3:25,27,32; Rom. 4:3,9,12; Rom. 4:16,17; John 16:8-11)

God’s Purpose of Grace – Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.  It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable.  It excludes boasting and promotes humility. (Rom. 8:30; Rom. 11:7; Eph. 1:10; Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:17-19; II Tim. 1:9; Psalm 110:3; I Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:5; John 6:44,45,65; Rom. 10:12-15)

Sanctification – Sanctification is the process by which the regenerate gradually attains to moral and spiritual conformity to Christ-likeness through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in his heart.  It continues throughout the earthly life and is accomplished by the use of all the ordinary means of grace, and particularly by the Word of God. (Acts 20:32; John 17:17; Rom. 6:5,6; Eph. 3:16; Rom. 4:14; Gal. 5:24; Heb. 12:14; Rom. 7:18-25; II Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16,25,26)

Perseverance – All real believers endure to the end.  Their continuance in well-doing is the mark which distinguishes them from mere professors.  A special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.  (John 10:28,29; II Tim. 2:19; I John 2:19; I Cor. 11:32; Rom. 8:30; Rom. 9:11-16; Rom. 5:9,10; Matt. 26:70-75)

A Gospel Church – A church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.  Its two Scriptural officers are pastor (bishop/elder) and deacon. (Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:15-18; Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 1:2; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 5:13,14; II Cor. 9:13; Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 4:14; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:3,5,6; Heb. 13:17; I Cor. 9:6,14)

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper – Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The act is a symbol of our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour. It is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church commemorate the dying love of Christ. (Matt. 28:19,20; I Cor. 10:4; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Mark 1:4; Matt. 3:16; John 3:23; I Cor. 10:16,17,21; Matt. 26:26,27; Acts 8:38,39; Mark 1:9-11)

The Lord’s Day – The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day.  It is a Christian institution for regular observance.  It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.  (Ex. 20:3-6; Matt. 4:10; Matt. 28:19; I Tim. 4:13; Col. 3:16; John 4:21; Ex. 20:5; I Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:1; Matt. 12:1-13)

The Righteous and the Wicked – There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked.  Those only who are justified through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit are truly righteous in His sight.  Those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and are under condemnation. This distinction between the righteous and the wicked holds in and after death, and will be made manifest at the judgment when final and everlasting awards are made to all men.  (Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36; Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Mark 9:48; I Cor. 15:51,52; I Thes. 4:17; Phil. 3:21; I Cor. 6:3; Matt. 25:32-46; Jn 3:36; Rom. 9:22,23; I Thes. 1:7-10; Rev. 22:20)

The Resurrection – We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations.  He ascended into heaven and now exists in His glorified body at God’s right hand. There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. The bodies of the righteous will conform to the glorious spiritual body of Jesus.  (I Cor. 15:1-58; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Thess. 4:17; John 5:28,29; Phil. 3:21; Acts 24:15; John 20:9; Matt. 28:6)

The Return of the Lord – We believe the Scriptures teach that at death the spirit and soul of the believer pass instantly into the presence of Christ and remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when  1) Christ comes for His own; 2) the blessed hope of the believer takes place, which is the imminent, personal, pre-tribulational, pre-millenial appearance of Christ to rapture the church, His bride;  3) His righteous judgments will be poured out on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation (the seventieth week of Daniel), the last half of which is the Great Tribulation; 4) the climax of this fearful era takes place, which is the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to introduce the Davidic Kingdom;  5) Israel will be saved and restored as a nation; 6) Satan will be bound and the curse will be lifted from the physical creation; 7) and following the Millenium, the Great White Throne Judgment will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be reunited and cast into the Lake of Fire (II Cor. 5:8; I Cor. 15:51-57; Titus 2:13; I Thes. 4:14-17; Matt. 24:21; Rev. 19:11-16; Rom. 11:26,27; Rev. 20:2,3; Rev. 20:11-15). 

We believe the eternal state of the unsaved is a physical existence in hell. Jesus Christ taught us that there is a literal hell where the unsaved will suffer real punishment (Matt. 25:46) for a real eternity (Matt. 10:28; 25:41; Luke 12:5).

We believe that Christians will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:9-10), but that we will not be punished (John 3:18; Rom. 8:1) because our sins are not remembered (Heb. 10:17), but rather the judgment from Christ may result (1 Cor. 3:13-15) in a reward of a crown (2 John 8), that we will place before him in worship (Rev. 4:10).

Separation – We believe that all believers should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and upon His church; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God in His Holy Word (II Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; I John 2:15-17).

We stand opposed to neo-orthodoxy, new-evangelicalism, and the charismatic movements because of their compromise of the Word of God in placing experience, fellowship, and service above obedience to God’s Word and causing division and confusion in the body of Christ.

We reject liberalism and ecumenism because they reject the authority of the Word of God, deity of Christ, and other doctrines basic to our faith (I Sam. 15:22; I Cor. 3:3; I Tim. 6:3-5; II John 8-11).

Human Sexuality: Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality – We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male and female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27).  Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25).  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (I Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; I Cor. 6:9-10).  

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Colonial Hills Baptist Church as a local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Colonial Hills members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Colonial Hills Baptist Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this
statement on marriage, gender, and sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; I Thess. 5:22).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 10:9-10; I Cor. 6:9-11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mk. 12:28-31; Lk. 6:31).  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Colonial Hills Baptist Church.)


Sanctity of Life – We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image.  Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death.  We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139).

Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit – We believe that certain “miraculous gifts” such as tongues, healing, and prophecy, were given to authenticate the work of the apostles (2 Cor. 12:12) and the veracity of the Spirit’s work until the Canon of Scripture was closed (1 Cor. 13:8-12; Heb. 2:2-4). We do not believe that the so-called miraculous gifts are continuing today, but that they will re-appear during the time of the Tribulation (Rev. 11:2ff).

PHONE

(317) 253-0649

FAX

(317) 254-2840

Address

8140 Union Chapel Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46240

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: Colonial Christian School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.