Who We Are

We believe in the Bible, the Old and New Testament as verbally inspired of God and determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant, and we believe that the Bible is the supreme and final authority in faith and life. (Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 5:18; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). We furthermore believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scriptures and that they contain all the words of God that we need in order to completely trust and obey Him. The Scriptures are inerrant in their original writings (Psalm 119:97–104; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46–47; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15–16), and are infallible in their instruction (Proverbs 6:32; 2 Peter 1:19), eternal in duration (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:23–25); the final authority and the standard for faith and practice (Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119); and sufficient for counsel in every issue of life (Psalm 19:14–17; 2 Timothy 3:16). We believe that the very words of Scripture in the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic are inspired by God. Therefore, we believe that the Bible versions which translate God's Word most literally into modern English should be preferred.

We believe in One God, The Creator of all, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, and distinct from each other, yet one. The doctrine of God's Triune nature is called the Trinity. (Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3, 14; Luke 1:35; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 4:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Hebrews 3:7-11; Colossians 1:2; 1 John 5:7)

We believe that Jesus Christ came into the world for the purpose to save sinners. Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and  died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitute sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of Him shedding His blood for sin. He rose from the dead three days after He was crucified according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.  (Genesis 6:14, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, 14-29, Luke 1:26-35, John 20:28, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:20-26, John 3:14-16, Matthew 26:28, Philippians 2:5-6, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 Timothy 3:16-17)

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. According to the Scriptures, The Holy Spirit comforts us, teaches us, gives gifts to us, reminds us of everything Jesus has spoken, and leads us into all truth. We believe that all who by faith receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, are born again into the family of God, and that they are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ which is His true church. (John 14-16; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 1:2)

We believe that God created Man in His own image and likeness as an upright moral and spiritual being. By voluntary transgression against God’s Word, man sinned; thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in the case of those who reach the age of moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed. Man sinned; and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8-21, 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:1-12)

We believe the fall of man caused separation between God and all people. This free choice to sin caused man ultimately to be hopeless and in danger of eternal damnation. God in His love, not wanting anyone to perish, sent Christ into the world. We believe Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. The sacrificial death of Jesus, and His blood shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ the ultimate, full and sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through any self-effort. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-13; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6; Hebrews 9:22)

We believe that The Church is the local and global community of believers who acknowledge Jesus as their Savior. The Church is not a location, religious institution, or weekly event. The Church is the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and made up of born-again believers who carry the divine mission of spreading the Gospel to the whole world. Locally, our church meets together every week corporately to worship, pray, grow through biblical instruction, and to strengthen, encourage and support each other. The purpose of our church community is the clear presentation of the Gospel, and as we meet together we want to ensure sound preaching and teaching of the Word of God, the administration of the ordinances of the New Testament, the spiritual development of believers, the ministry of the gospel to the community, and the spread of the Gospel to all the world. (Matthew 16:13-18; John 17:11-23; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23)

We believe it is the focus, opportunity, and privilege of every believer and local church fellowship to glorify God by responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. At TBC, we believe the primary focus and priority of this call is centered on establishing, strengthening, and reproducing biblically-based churches, locally, nationally and internationally, which will then plant churches that plant churches for future generations and God’s glory. (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Titus 1:5)

We believe that Jesus Christ will return at an appointed time only known by God himself to bring believers to heaven in what we refer to as the Rapture. We believe in and expectantly await the glorious, visible, personal, premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed hope of his return has a vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer. The Bible tells us that we will not know the day but we can know the signs and season of the time when the Rapture is near. Jesus will later also physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. After living one life on earth, unbelievers will be judged by God and eternally separated from Him and tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels in the lake of fire. Believers will spend eternity with God in a conscious state of bliss, thanking Him for all eternity for the victory of overcoming this life; they will enter into eternal blessing. The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God. (Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 9:43-48; John 5:28-29; John 14:1-6; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:12-15; Revelation 21:1-5)

We believe church membership at TBC begins with a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior. We welcome as members those who are actively demonstrating their faith by a life which is consistent with the principles of Christian conduct as revealed in the New Testament. We also believe in the importance of serving the body of Christ by offering clear paths for people to start and develop healthy and growing relationships with others in the church body. We value an intentional plan to help every interested person enjoy godly relationships in the church. Church membership is a by-product of people who are growing in Christ and who grasp the importance of serving the Lord by using their gifts to serve others in the local church.  

New members will be publicly received into TBC upon confession of their faith in Jesus Christ, a baptismal service conducted at TBC or a meeting with TBC staff to discuss their letter of transfer from another church. As a new member of Thoroughfare Bible Church, a member is offered a structured, stable, supportive community that fosters a shared purpose, sense of belonging, spiritual growth to lead to maturity in their faith, spiritual accountability, church community care, spiritual protection, opportunities to serve, intentional relationships with fellow believers, and a clear, biblical commitment to the local body.

We belive that following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the newly saved convert of Jesus Christ is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Scripture shows that a person was baptized after personally receiving forgiveness of sin through accepting Jesus Christ. The water baptism is a symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life that happens when we become a new creation in Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12-38; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:12)

We believe in a unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and juice are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Communion is the commemoration by believers of Christ's death and a reminder—through the bread and the juice—of the Savior's broken body and shed blood. Communion is to also be a time of confession of our sin and should be preceded by careful self-examination. This unique time of communion is held monthly at TBC. (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 4:13; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)