Doctrinal Statement
Shanti Sadan is committed to the fundamental truths of historic biblical Christianity, in accordance with which we affirm:
1.God
There is one eternal God, Creator, and Lord of the universe who, in the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, both governs all things according to His will and is accomplishing His purpose in the world and in the Church.
2. The Holy Scripture
The Holy Scripture in its entirety is inspired by God’s Spirit through human authors and constitutes the revelation of God’s truth to humanity.
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It is wholly true and trustworthy in all that it affirms.
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Whatever the Bible, rightly interpreted, teaches, we are bound to believe and obey.
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It is our supreme authority in every matter of belief and conduct.
3. Humanity
All human beings are created in God’s own likeness and therefore have inherent value and equality before God.
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Human sin and guilt since the fall have rendered us subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.
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This has resulted in our alienation from God’s life, suppression of God’s truth, and hostility to God’s law.
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God’s love desires all to come to repentance and be reconciled rather than condemned.
4. Salvation
Salvation from the guilt, penalty, and all other consequences of sin has been achieved solely through the work of Jesus Christ:
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His perfect obedience
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Substitutionary death
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Bodily resurrection
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Exaltation as Lord
Jesus alone is truly God and truly human, the only mediator between God and humanity.
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There is salvation through no other person, creed, process, or power.
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Each sinner is justified and reconciled to God only by divine grace appropriated by faith alone.
5. The Holy Spirit
The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for:
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The individual’s new birth and growth to maturity
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Empowering and indwelling the Church
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Constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, ministry, power, and mission
6. The Church
There is one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong.
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The Church’s calling is to worship God forever and to serve Him in the world.
As the Father sent the Son into the world, so the Lord Jesus Christ sends His Church to participate in God’s mission through words and works.
The Church is called to:
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Make Christ known
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Proclaim God’s truth and the gospel of His grace
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Make disciples among all nations
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Exhibit God’s character through compassionate care for the needy
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Demonstrate the reality of God’s Kingdom through:
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Creative and sacrificial living
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Community of love
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The quest for righteousness, justice, and peace
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Care of God’s creation
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7. The Return of Christ
As the Lord Jesus ascended to His Father, so He will return personally, visibly, and in glory.
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He will raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to final completion.
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God will then fully establish His Kingdom and finish the new creation:
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A new heaven and a new earth
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Free from all evil, suffering, and death
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Where God will be glorified forever
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8. Gender and Sexuality
Though He is gracious, we believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.
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These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.
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They are made to glorify Him and designate the fundamental distinction that God has embedded in human biology:
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“Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:27-28).
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9. Marriage
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Shanti Sadan Ministries will:
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Only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman.
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Pastors and staff shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:25-31).
10. Sanctity of Life
We believe that all human life, from the point of conception, is sacred and created by God in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).