Statement of Faith

The doctrines and beliefs of the Davenport Christian School fully embrace those truths emphasized in the holy scriptures and the great universal church creeds such as the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. We are Wesleyan-Arminian in theology. Thus we believe that in God’s sovereignty He ordained to make people responsible to respond to his call and through the work of prevenient grace gave all people the assurance of his aid in responding to the divine command to be reconciled to God. We believe that reconciliation only happens by faith, and that through truly believing the sinner is changed from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God. We believe that the heart, corrupt  by nature and sinful from conception can be cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness and thereafter it is the solemn duty of the Christian to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God, until the Lord returns or calls us home. We love all people regardless of background, race, social status or identity, and our love compels us to pray for the salvation of all people. We hate those things that God condemns and warn people faithfully and in love that those who refuse to allow God to separate them from their sin, will on the solemn day of judgment be permanently joined to their sin and banished in eternal separation from God. We join the work of the Holy Trinity as ambassadors to call all men to repent of sin and to turn to serve the living God who one day will judge the living and dead.

  • We believe that the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments were given by divine inspiration (II Timothy 3:16) and are the Word of God. We believe the Holy Scriptures inerrantly reveal the will of God concerning all things necessary to our salvation so that whatever is not contained therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be enjoined as an article of faith (II Peter 1:20-21).

  • We believe that original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God, without spiritual life and inclined to evil and that continually (Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:12, 5:12-18; I Corinthians 15:22). In the Scriptures, it is spoken of as the carnal mind, the old man and the flesh (Romans 6:6, 7:14, 8:5-8). We further believe that original sin continues to exist after regeneration, though suppressed, until crucified (eradicated) and destroyed by the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 15:8-9; I John 3:8).

  • We believe there is but one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity--the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

  • e believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead, that He was eternally one with the Father, that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, was born of the Virgin Mary and became incarnate so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and manhood, are thus united in one person, very God and very man, the God-man.

    We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and not only for actual sins but also for original sin, that He might reconcile us to God. He arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us (Luke 1:27-35; John 1:14, 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:10; Hebrews 7:25).

  • We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Triune Godhead, that He proceeds from the Father and the Son as the true and eternal God, of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:32; Romans 8:9-11). He is ever present and efficiently active in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers and guiding into all truth as it is in Jesus (John 3:5-8, 16:8, 13; Acts 15:8-9).

  • We believe that Jesus Christ by His suffering (Acts 3:18), by the shedding of His own blood (Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 9:12) and by His meritorious death on the cross (Ephesians 2:13-16) made full atonement (Romans 5:11) for all sin and that this atonement is the only ground for salvation (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7), its being sufficient for every individual of Adam's race (John 3:16; I John 2:2). The atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible, the righteous who have become irresponsible (Romans 4:5) and children in innocency (Mark 10:14) but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe (Luke 24:47; Acts 16:30-31, 17:30).

  • We believe that man was created with the ability to choose between right and wrong and thus was made morally responsible. The condition of man since the fall is such that he cannot prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God. But the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all men, enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight."...whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17) (John 4:14). We further believe that man, though in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless he repents of his sin, be hopelessly and eternally lost.

  • We believe that justification is that gracious and judicial act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed and accepts as righteous all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour (Romans 3:23-25, 5:1). We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is spiritually quickened and given a distinctly spiritual life capable of faith, love and obedience (II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:23). We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God. We believe that justification, regeneration and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith in the merits of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, preceded by repentance, and that to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

  • We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God and the holy obedience of love made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Ghost and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided through the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by faith preceded by entire consecration, and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness (Romans 6:6, 11, 13, 22; 12:1, 15:16; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 10:14-15, 13:12-13). This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as "Christian Perfection," "Perfect Love," "Heart Purity," "the Baptism with the Holy Ghost," "the Fullness of the Blessing" and "Christian Holiness."

  • The purpose of the Christian school is to educate children for a life of obedience to their calling in this world as image bearers of God. This calling is to know God’s Word and His creation, to dedicate their lives to God, to love all people, and to be stewards in their God-given tasks, talents, and calling. The Christian school enables and equips all its children to serve the Lord, to love their fellow human beings, and to care for God’s creation. The school provides an environment of love and care with which students are nurtured. As an indispensable partner with the home and the church, the Christian school leads children to live according to biblical wisdom.

  • The primary responsibility for education rests upon parents to whom children are entrusted by God. Christian parents should accept this obligation in view of the covenantal relationship that God established with believers and their children. Parents partner with the Christian school to train up their children in the way they should go.

  • Because God’s covenant embraces not only parents and their children but also the entire Christian community to which they belong, and because Christian education contributes directly to the advancement of God’s Kingdom, it is the obligation not only of parents but of the entire Christian community to establish and maintain Christian schools, to pray for them, to work for them, and to give generously for their support.

  • Staff members of the Christian school, living in joyful fellowship with God, model the love of Christ to children. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism, Christian staff members view their work as a calling. The calling of a Christian staff member is to pass on the wisdom of the Christian tradition to students and to help them understand and apply the transforming power of the gospel to contemporary society and culture. In all things, they cooperate with parents, who have the ultimate responsibility for their children.

  • Students are God’s image bearers, entrusted to parents and the Christian community as His gifts. The Christian school encourages students to develop their gifts in response to God and in loving service to fellow human beings. Students are led to know God and to respond to Him in every dimension of the creation and in every aspect of their lives in obedient and faithful service. Christian schools must take into account the variety of abilities, needs, and responsibilities of students, and adults should view students as fellow disciples.

  • The Christian school curriculum is developed and organized so that children may come to know God more deeply and richly and live for Him more faithfully. Since human experience in all its rich variety is a good gift from the Creator who remains involved in His world, the Christian school curriculum explores all dimensions of creation. God’s design for the creation and His will for human society and culture must be understood and obeyed. This is the way of godly wisdom. Students are taught to recognize the brokenness that sin brings to God’s carefully designed world and are challenged to bring the healing power of Jesus Christ to a fallen world.

  • Christian schools, organized and administered in accordance with legitimate standards and provisions for schools, should be fully recognized in society as free to function according to these principles.

  • God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person and is against Christian belief and practice.

  • The term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. Any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, cohabitation, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.

  • All human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.