We believe that God created everyone to Encounter Him in a life-transforming way, to Encourage one another in context of Christ-centered community and to Engage our world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Section 1.1. There is one God (Deut. 6:4), Creator of all things (Rev. 4:11), who is infinitely perfect (Matt. 5:48), existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
Section 1.2. Jesus Christ is the true God and true man (Phil. 2:6–11). He was sent by the Father (John 20:21), conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary (Luke 1:34–38). He died on the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Pet. 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Heb. 2:9), and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Rom. 5:9). He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3–4). He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest (Heb. 8:1). He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace (Isa. 9:6–7).
Section 1.3. The Holy Spirit is a divine person (John 14:16–18), sent to indwell, guide, teach, gift, empower, and bear His fruit in every believer (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 12:4, 11; Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:22–23). He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7–11).
Section 1.4. The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for our salvation. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (2 Pet. 1:20–21; 2 Tim. 3:15–17).
Section 1.5. Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God: 16 he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, 17 are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.18 The portion of the impenitent and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; 19 and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss.20 (16Genesis 1:27, 17Romans 3:23, 181 Corinthians 15:20–23, 19Revelation 21:8, 20Revelation 21:1–4)
Section 1.6. Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people (1 John 2:2). Those who repent and believe in Him are justified by grace through faith (Rom. 3:21–24), born again of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4–7), delivered from the dominion of darkness, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Col. 1:13), granted the gift of eternal life, and adopted as the children of God (Rom. 8:14–16; John 1:12).
Section 1.7. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, 22 being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service.23 This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.24
(221 Thessalonians 5:23, 23Acts 1:8, 24Romans 6:1–14)
Section 1.8. Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the whole person (Isa. 53:4–5; Matt. 8:16–17). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures (James 5:13–16) as privileges for the Church in this present age (Acts 4:30).
Section 1.9. The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, 27 which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.28
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.29 (27Ephesians 1:22–23, 28Matthew 28:19–20, 29Acts 2:41–47)
Section 1.10. There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; 30 for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.31 (301 Corinthians 15:20–23, 31John 5:28–29)
Section 1.11. The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent32 and will be personal, visible, and premillennial.33 This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.34 (32Hebrews 10:37, 33Luke 21:27, 34Titus 2:11–14)
NOTE: Edits to Sections 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, and 1.11 (including a Preamble) were presented to 2023 General Council. All but one were adopted but need to be adopted verbatim at 2025 General Council in order to be final. The proposal to Section 1.7 was sent back to the Board of Directors for further refinement and will be brought back for adoption at two future General Councils.
At MAC we practice open communion which means you do not have to be a member of Millard Alliance Church to share in the Lord’s Supper together. All who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior & Lord are welcome to share in this celebration. Parents, we leave it up to you to decide for your children at what age this is appropriate for your family. This is a practice instituted by the Lord Jesus (1 Cor 11:23-26) that is not to be undertaken flippantly and carries with it a significant warning from Scripture:
…whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. I Cor 11:27-32
Jesus introduced water baptism in connection with His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). He said that new disciples were to be baptized in the Name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Alliance believes Jesus meant this to be a permanent practice, called an ordinance. Our churches encourage water baptism.
In New Testament times, baptism followed repentance and faith. Peter invited his listeners on the day of Pentecost to “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Three thousand people responded to the invitation, and “those who accepted his message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
When the apostles took the gospel across the Roman Empire from Jerusalem, new churches were planted, and believers were baptized soon after they turned away from sin and put their trust in Christ for salvation. Acts 18:8 says, “Many of the Corinthians who heard [Paul] believed and were baptized.”
Millard Alliance Church follows the same practice of baptism subsequent to conversion to Christ. Those who have repented of sin and put their faith in Jesus for eternal life are encouraged to take this step of obedience.