What We Believe

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The chief purpose of the International Protestant Church of Ankara is to provide an opportunity for believers of various nationalities to glorify God in worshipping Him (I Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:3-14). In recognition of this purpose, we strive to be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His person, and responding in obedience to His leadership.

A resultant purpose of the International Protestant Church of Ankara is to provide an opportunity for believers of various nationalities to edify one another, that is, to build one another up toward Christ-like maturity (I Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:16). This calls for the sharing of God’s truth in the teaching and studying of God’s Word, for meaningful fellowship with fellow believers, and for the living of holy lives emphasizing total commitment of life, personality and possessions to the Lordship of Christ.

As well as edification, a resultant purpose of the International Protestant Church of Ankara is to provide an opportunity for believers of various nationalities to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community and throughout the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). In recognition of this purpose, we will minister unselfishly to all in Jesus’ name.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

PREAMBLE:   This church accepts the Bible as its Divinely inspired authority in all matters. The following is what we believe the Bible teaches regarding the Christian faith.

  1. We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired, the only infallible, authoritative inerrant Word of God. (1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:21)
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 10:30, 37, 38)
  3. We believe in the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit, truly God and truly man. We believe in His miracles, in His substitutional and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:23; John 2:11, 11:25; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 4:15, 9:12; Revelation 19:11-16)
  4. We believe that man is sinful by nature and that by sinning he separated himself from God, that salvation is by grace alone, received only through faith in the Lord Jesus, that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation. (John 3:16-19, 5:24; Romans 3:19,23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5,6)
  5. We believe in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. (John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:18)
  6. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved to eternal life and those who are lost to eternal damnation. (John 5:28-29)
  7. We believe that the life of a believer in Jesus Christ is to be by faith, trusting the Lord for all things; that we are called to a Spirit filled life, and that we are to be separated from all worldly and sinful practices. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-28)

STATEMENT ON GENERAL MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

  1. We recognize that God has equipped many people in the church for different aspects of public and pastoral ministry.  The public ministries of preaching, teaching and leading worship will be shared among these people.  The Board of Elders is responsible for selecting those who are to minister in each service, but such ministry will not be limited to the Elders.
  2. The People in the church will be encouraged to minister to one another in encouragement, friendship and prayer. The Board of Elders will seek to ensure that no spiritual or physical needs are overlooked as this is done.
  3. It is our desire to draw believers together, not to emphasize differences.  In the interests of unity and harmony, we agree to proceed with love and gentleness in those areas where believers differ:
    1. We will avoid engaging in controversial practices in ways that are likely to cause offense.
    2. We will avoid criticism of believers whose practice differs from ours.
    3. A speaker who deals with a controversial doctrine will make it clear that he is presenting only one of several possible views.
  4. The Board of Elders will be responsible for ensuring that no teaching or practice takes place in the church which is inconsistent with the clear teaching of Scripture or with this church’s statements of purpose, faith and ministry.