1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
Commentary: The Bible is altogether true because it is a revelation from God (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, it is the final rule of belief and conduct over the believer and actions of the ministry.
Paris Pregnancy Care Center does not recognize the validity or truth of extra-biblical sources of revelation, such as the Book of Mormon or other so-called Scriptures. The 66 canonical books of the Bible are our final authority.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Commentary: No one denying the Trinity (Matthew 28:1-9) should be allowed to serve in the PPCC ministry.
Some groups deny the existence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons, opting instead to believe that these are mere manifestations or forms which God reveals. Other religions deny the absolute deity of Christ (John and 14, Romans 9:5).
Only those individuals who affirm the traditional orthodox teaching of the Trinity and attend a church that proclaims the same are qualified to serve in the PPCC.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless Life, in His miracles, in His vicarious 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.
Commentary: Acceptance of the historical facts of the Gospel is essential for the faith (1 Corinthians 15:16). Regardless of their claims of allegiance, persons who deny, or doubt the physical resurrection of Christ or the other miraculous facts of His life as presented in the Bible, should not be permitted to serve in the ministry.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential and that this salvation is received through faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and not as a result of good works.
Commentary: The Apostle Paul reserved his harshest warning for those who abandoned, added, or distorted the Gospel he preached (Galatians 1:8-10). These warnings were necessary because of the tendency within men and women to deny that their condition before God is so wretched, so hopeless, and futile that they can do nothing to please God or earn His favor (Ephesians 2: 1, Romans 1:18-32; 3:1-19).
Denying their hopeless position, they distort the Gospel into a “faith plus” proposition in which God provides a measure of mercy, but it is up to men and women to complete what is necessary for salvation through works of righteousness.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christians enabled to live a godly life and to perform good works.
Commentary: Although good works are not a means of salvation, they are fruits or results of salvation. After stating that salvation is by grace through faith, the Apostle Paul immediately went on to admonish the Ephesians: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)
GENUINE FAITH IS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY WORKS OF FAITH.
James said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). The Holy Spirit is present in the life of every believer. Although there is controversy over the nature and expressions of the Spirit’s work in the church, this controversy has no place in the PPCC ministry.
For example, a believer’s position on charismatic worship and practices should not be a determining factor in whether he or she may volunteer or be a board member. However, those who engage in dialogue inconsistent with this statement of faith should be admonished to refrain from such activity.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
Commentary: Heaven and hell are both realities taught by our Lord (Matthew 25:31). Understanding the eternal consequences of unbelief is especially important in the PPCC ministry because of our commitment to evangelism.
We are concerned not only with the life and death of unborn children but with the eternal destiny of our clients. Paris Pregnancy Care Center rejects universalism (that everyone ends up in heaven) and annihilation (that some souls are destroyed and do not spend eternity in hell).
Because of this belief, evangelism has a very high priority in our ministry.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Commentary: While there are many local expressions of the body of Christ, the church is one (Ephesians 4:17). Because of this spiritual unity of believers, PPCC and its affiliates are inclusive in allowing Bible-believing Christians from different denominations and Church traditions to serve.
Working together with believers from many backgrounds is an especially gratifying aspect of the PPCC ministry.
(Adapted from the National Association of Evangelical’s Statement of Faith)