STATEMENT OF FAITH

ACA is a diverse body of believers representing more than 85 churches. Our Statement of Faith is steeped in biblical truth and represents the doctrinal distinctives that unify our families, administration, faculty and staff.

The Bible. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as inspired of God and inerrant in the original writings and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21).
The Triune God. We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 1:14, John 10:30; 2 Cor. 13:14).
God the Father. He is the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God who is sovereign over all. His sovereignty is seen in acts of creation, salvation, and continual care (I John 5:7, Genesis 3:22, Psalm 2:7-8, Psalm 110:1).
God the Son. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His atonement for our sins by His blood sacrifice, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His personal return in power and glory (Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1, John 1:14, John 8:58, Romans 4:25, II Corinthians 5:21, Titus 2:13).
God the Holy Spirit. We believe in God the Holy Spirit who acts in and through people’s lives today (John 16:8,1 John 2:27, Acts 13:2, Romans 5:5, 8:9, 8:26, Galatians 4:6).
Salvation. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s grace. Salvation is effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by man’s works or personal merit. Salvation is only appropriated by a person placing his faith in the finished work of Christ. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and is a part of but not separate from believing faith. “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption” being kept by the power of God (Eph. 1:7:13-14; John 1:12-13, John 3:1-7, John 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 8:14-17, Rom. 31-39; John 10:27-29, Rom. 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).
The Church. We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head and whose members are those who have received Christ by faith. The local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the body of Christ are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a genuine interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to unsaved people and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23, Eph. 4:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20; John 17; Col. 1:24-29).

DOCTRINAL DISTINCTIVES STATEMENT

The statement of faith is a document that was developed by the founders of Ankeny Christian Academy for the purpose of clarifying the beliefs by which this non-denominational association would agree theologically. These truths are taught at ACA without apology or exception. There are many other denominational teachings, traditions, practices and distinctives. The teachers, staff, administration and anyone representing ACA will avoid taking a position on or influencing a student by sharing their personal opinion or belief on such controversial theological or denominational topics. A student is to be referred to their parents and church if a debatable topic arises of a theological nature.

These topics may include adult versus infant baptism, predestination, speaking in tongues, divine healing, personal viewpoint of pre/post/mid-tribulation rapture, women in leadership or ministry, and contemporary prophetic or apostolic ministry.