Statement Of Faith
The SHEPHERD RADIO NETWORK abides by the following statement of faith as our theological basis for understanding the Scriptures:
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe in the Bible – 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament. We believe that the Bible is essential and infallible, the very record of God’s self-disclosure to His creation. We believe the Scriptures to be the authoritative Word of God, and are to be used as our guidelines for everyday living.
GOD IS TRIUNE
We believe in one God – who is infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love. In the unity of the godhead there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal, co-eternal.
GOD THE FATHER
We believe God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. By his word and for his glory, he freely and supernaturally created the world of nothing. Through the same Word he daily sustains all his creatures. He rules over all and is the only Sovereign.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and was the eternal Word made flesh. He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He was perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. He is fully God and fully man. He is the only Savior for the sins of the world, having shed his blood and died a vicarious death on Calvary’s cross. By his death in our place, he revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, he intercedes for his people and rules as Lord over all. He is the Head of his body, the Church, and should be adored, loved, served, and obeyed by all.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that The Holy Spirit is the Giver of life, wo convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Through the proclamation of the gospel he persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit a person is led to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, and dwells within the regenerate.
MAN
God made man – male and female – in his own image, as the crown of creation, that man might have fellowship with him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Being estranged from his Maker, yet responsible to him, he became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and, apart from a special work of grace, utterly incapable of returning to God. This depravity is radical and pervasive.
THE GOSPEL
Jesus Christ is the gospel, the good news that was revealed in his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel, his resurrection is the power of the gospel, and his ascension is the glory of the gospel. Christ’s death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases his holy wrath.
SANCTIFICATION
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce his fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping his commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
In addition to opening the way for regeneration and sanctification, the Holy Spirit also empowers believers for Christian witness and service. While all genuine believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at conversion, the New Testament indicates the importance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit subsequent to conversion as well.
THE CHURCH
God by his Word and Spirit creates the Church, calling sinful men out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ’s Body. By the same Word and Spirit, he guides and preserves that new redeemed humanity. The Church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and, by faith, have personally appropriated the gospel into their lives. The physical manifestation of this reality – genuine followers of Jesus Christ – is best expressed and understood in THE LOCAL CHURCH, led by called and faithful believers as described in Ephesians 4:11, whose work it is to equip the saints of God (believers of Christ) for works of service, in and through the local church.
MARRIAGE
We believe that Scripture teaches the creation of man and woman and their one-flesh union as husband and wife is the crowning achievement of God’s creation (Genesis 1:31). Marriage is to be a reflection of Jesus Christ love for His Bride, the church and the Bride’s love, submission and respect to Her Husband (Eph. 5:25-35).
THE CONSUMMATION
The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. Married to Christ as his Bride, the Church will be in the presence of God forever, serving him and giving him unending praise and glory.