Go Fish Resources Statement of Faith

The Word of God.

We believe that the Bible is the fully inspired Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 
Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; 20:31; Acts 20:32; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21.

The Trinity.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
Gen. 1:1, 26; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1,3; 4:24; Rom. 1:19-20; Eph. 4:5,6.

God the Father.

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, judgment, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He justly executes His wrath upon those who disobey, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 
Matt. 23:9, Luke 10:21-22; John 3:16; 6:27 Rom. 1:7; I Tim. 1:1-2, 2:5-6; I Peter 1:3; Rev. 1:6.

Jesus Christ.

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God, He now is interceding for His people and one day soon will visibly return to earth. 
Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28, 30-31; Acts 1:11; Rom. 5:6-8; 6:9-10; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:4-5; I Peter 2:21-24; Heb. 7:25; 9:28; Mat. 20:28.

Holy Spirit.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, that He is received by grace, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. 
John 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-14; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 3:16; Rom. 15:16.

Regeneration.

We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and receive by faith Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are born again by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, and receive eternal life.
Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 3:19; 5:2; Psalm 51:7; Prov. 28:13; Eccl. 2:11; Jer. 17:9; John 1:12-13; 3:14; 5:24 30; 8:12; 10:26-28; Rom. 3:19-20; 5:19; 8:1; 9:22; II Cor. 5:17; II Thess. 1:9; I John 1:9; James 1:14; Rev. 20:10, 14-15; 21:1-8.

The Church.

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. 
Acts 1:8; 2:41-42; Eph. 2:19-22; 5:19-21; Heb. 10:23-25.

Christian Conduct.

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow-man; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of the time and possessions God has given him; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. 
John 14:15, 23-24; Rom. 12:1-2; I Cor. 10:31; II Cor. 9:6-13; Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:9-10, 28; Heb. 12:1-2; I John 2:3-6.

The Ordinances.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for remembrance of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered by born again believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ until His return. 
Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-16.

Religious Liberty.

We believe that every human being ought to have direct relations with God, and is ultimately responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, the institutionalized church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other. 
Rom. 14:7-9, 12: I Tim. 2:5.

The Last Things.

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the eternal happiness of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. These last things have a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. Matt. 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Cor. 4:5; 15:20-24, 35-38; Phil. 3:20; I Thess. 4:14-18; II Thess. 1:6-10; II Tim: 4:1; Titus 2:13; Rev. 20:4-15.