The Sacandaga Bible Conference (SBC) Statement of Faith serves two primary purposes: it informs interested parties what the SBC ministry believes and teaches; it also provides a doctrinal basis for accountability. In the interest of Christian harmony and a testimony to our SBC family and surrounding community, the SBC board asks that all individuals and groups respect and uphold the SBC Statement of Faith and Standards of Conduct in a spirit of Christian charity.

Preamble. The Sacandaga Bible Conference Statement of Faith serves two primary purposes:  it informs interested parties what the ministry believes and teaches;  it also provides a doctrinal basis for accountability.  In the interest of Christian harmony and a testimony to our family and surrounding community, the board asks that all individuals and groups respect and uphold the Statement of Faith and Standards of Conduct in a spirit of Christian charity.

The Holy Scriptures.  We believe that the Holy Scriptures in the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, inerrant in the original writings, and the supreme and final authority in faith and life.  II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21.

The Godhead.  We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We believe that these three are one in essence and attributes, yet distinct in offices and activities.  Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:33.

Jesus Christ.  We believe that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh (John 1:1,14), came to earth born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23), lived a sinless life (Hebrew 4:15), and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sinners by dying on a cross (1 Peter 1:19).  He arose from the dead (Luke 24:6), appeared among men (John 20-21), ascended to heaven from where He rules all creation today (Acts 1:1-11), and will return again someday to reign on earth (Revelation 20:1-10).  In the present age (or, until He returns) He calls us to believe in Him as the only way of salvation (John 14:6), to grow spiritually in His image (2 Peter 3:18), to consider Him precious in our sight (1 Peter 2:7), to glorify Him and to continue His mission of evangelizing the lost (John 20:21).

The Holy Spirit.  We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer from the time of his salvation, that He equips believers with power for fruitful service and operates in the edifying and building up of the Church through the believers.  John 3:3-5; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9, 11; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:4, 11-13; Ephesians 4:4-16; I John 4:13.  Although the sign gifts (tongues speaking, faith healing, etc.) are not for this age.

The Fall of Man.  We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical, but spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and become sinners in thought, word, and deed.  Therefore, all need salvation.  Genesis 1:26, 27; John 8:44; Romans 3:21-26; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-2.

The Incarnation.  We believe that Jesus the Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is both true God and true Man.  Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:30-35; Philippians 2:5-11.

The Atonement.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, so that all who believe in Him are justified through His shed blood.  Ephesians 1:7-12; Romans 5:1, 8; 4:24; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 3:13; Titus 2:14.

The Resurrection of our Lord.  We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His intercession for believers as High Priest and Advocate.  Romans 8:34; Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25-27.

The Second Coming.  We believe in the personal return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as the “blessed hope” of all believers.  John 14:1-3; Titus 2:11-13; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Bodily Resurrection.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.  Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:46; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:28-29.

Salvation.  We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God.  John 1:12-13; Galatians 4:4-7; Romans 8:14-16.  Those genuinely saved in Jesus Christ cannot lose their salvation.  John 10:26-29;  1 John 5:13, John 6:39-40.

Marriage and Sexuality. We believe that marriage is a union of one man and one woman. God created and sanctioned marriage to bring together men and women by joining them in “one flesh” unions, Gen. 2:18-25. Marriage between one man and one woman for life reflects Christ’s relationship with His church, Eph 5:21-33. Marriage also serves as the foundational unit of a stable society, 1 Cor. 7:2.  Gender, likewise matters. God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and these distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God, Gen 1:26-27. An individual who rejects this would be rejecting God’s design and the person He created them to be. We believe that any form of immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God, Matt. 15:18-20, Cor. 6:9-10.

Sanctity of Human Life. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. This includes 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, Psalm 139.