EAST Doctrinal Statement of Faith

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.

We accept those large areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

We explicitly affirm our belief in basic Bible teaching as follows:

There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18; John 1:1-3, 18; Acts 5:3-4.
Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect deity and true humanity united in one person forever. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-37; John 1:1,14; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 2:9.
He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. John 10:17-18; Romans 3:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:5; 4:10.
He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died. John 20:24-29; Luke 24:36-43; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 14.
He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Genesis 1:26-27; 2:15-17; 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.
Man’s nature is corrupted and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Mark 7:20-23; John 3:1-21; Romans 3:9-20; Ephesians 2:1-7; Titus 3:5-7.
The salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works of goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight. Romans 3:21-26; 9:30-33; Galatians 3:1-14; 22-24; Ephesians 2:8-10.
It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Saviour. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written Word. John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 John 5:9-13.
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth, and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power, and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith. John 3:5-8; 16:7-15; Romans 8:2-4, 9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 3:2-3; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Titus 3:5.
Every believer is called to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit so that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18.
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures, and for mutual encouragement. Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 12:20-28; 16:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2; Hebrews 10:23-25.
At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. Luke 23:39-43; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23-24; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2.
At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgement and condemnation. Matthew 13:40-43; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:23-29; Revelation 20:10-15.
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth–personally, visibly, and bodily–to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; Revelation 19:1-22; 21.
The Lord Jesus commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfilment of the Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:7-8; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:19-20; Philippians 3:7-21.