STATEMENT OF FAITH

 

1. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final rule of faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16-17) We believe that the Scriptures are sufficient to meet every need of life and Godliness.

 

2. We believe God exists eternally in three persons, namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19).

a. that there is only living and true God, infinite in every excellence, Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all worship, confidence and love. (Ex. 15:11; Ex. 20:2, 3; Rev. 4:1)

b. that in the unity of the Godhead there are three person, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct buy harmonious offices. (Matt. 28:19;John 15:26, I Cor. 12:4-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor.13:14)

c. In the person of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1) in His absolute deity, that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing for all eternity and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. (John 1:1-3; Col 2:8-10; Heb. 1:2,3,8; Micah 5:2)

2) that in His voluntary humiliation He did not lay aside His deity. (Matt. 1:21-22; 28:18; Mark 14:61, 62; John 10:30, 32, 33; 14:9; 20:28; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 1:15-17; I John 1:1,2; 5:20)

3) that at His incarnation He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary as no other man was or can ever be born. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14;Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14)

d. Of the Holy Spirit,

1) that He is a divine person, equal with God the Father and Son, and of the same nature. (John 14:16; 17, 26; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14)

2) that He was active in creation. (Gen. 1:1-3)

3) that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. (II Thess. 2:7)

4) that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness. (John 16: 8-11)

5) that He bears witness to and empowers the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. (John 15:26,27; Acts 5:30-32)

6) that His purpose in this age is to glorify the Son.

7) that He is the agent of the new birth. (John 3:5,6)

8) that He indwells, seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps believers until the day of redemption. Eph. 1:13, 14, 4:30; John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 11:16; Rom. 8:9,14,16; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2;Rom. 8:26, 27)

9) that He never depreciates the completeness that is in Jesus Christ by exalting anyone, or anything above or as an addition to Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 12:3; Col. 2:10)

10) that He gives to the believer at salvation, gifts of service according to His will (I Cor. 12:11) and to be used only for the edification of the body. (I Cor. 13:5; Eph. 4:16)

 

3. We believe God created man by a special act, and that our parents were in the image of God, upright, holy beings, capable of enjoying God, and obeying Him. (Gen. 1:26-27).

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and:

a. that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively. (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer. 10:10)

b. that man was created directly by God and in God’s own image and after His own likeness. (Gen. 1:27; I Cor. 11:7)

c. that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through long periods of time from lower to higher forms. (Gen. 2:7; 21-23; John 1:3)

d. that all animal and vegetable life was created directly and to reproduce “after its own kind”. (Gen. 1:11, 24; Col 1:16, 17)

 

4. We believe our first parents sinned, and because of their position as federal heads of the human family, caused all to be born with a sinful nature. We are the degenerate plants of a strange vine, and sin because it is our nature to do so; hence we justly deserve the curse of God’s holy law. (Rom. 5:12)
We believe:

a. that man was created in innocence. (Gen. 1:27)

b. that by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state. (Gen.3; Rom. 5:12,19)

c. that consequently, all men are now sinners by inheritance from Adam and by individual choice and until regenerated are dead in sin. (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:10-13)

d. that all men are by nature utterly void of the righteousness required by the law of God, and definitely inclined to evil (Rom, 3:11; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:1-3; Ps. 40:12)

e. that man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse.(Rom 3:9-20, 23; Rom. 1:19, 20; 2:1, 12-15)

f. that man’s only hope of eternal life is through redemption in Jesus Christ. (John 3:3, 5; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8,9; Gal. 3:26)

 

5. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, substitutionary sacrifice, resurrection and ascension to become the mediator of the new covenant, and in His second coming. We believe Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. (I Cor. 15:3;
Rom. 5:9)

Of Christ’s Atonement For Sin:

a. that the salvation of sinners is wholly of God’s grace; and (Eph. 2:8, 9; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24, 25) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Him the form of a man, was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin in nature or deed, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sin. (John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil 2:7,8; Heb. 2:14; Heb. 4:15; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; Isa. 53:6; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21)

b. that His atonement consisted not in setting an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. (John 10:18; Phil. 2:18; Gal. 1:4; I Pet 2:24; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Pet. 3:18)
c. that, having risen bodily from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way the suitable, compassionate, all sufficient Savior and the mediator for His believer priests. (Isa. 53:12; Heb. 7:25; 9:12-15; 10:10,12,14,18; I John 2:2)

d. that the blessings of this atonement are given to all who believe from the heart and confess to God this Lord and Savior as his own Lord and Savior. It is the immediate duty of man to obey the command to accept this offer of mercy. (Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:8,9,10)

Of Salvation By Grace:

a. that in order to be saved, all men must be born again. (John 3;3; Gal. 3:26)

b. that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. (II Cor. 5:17)

c. that it is instantaneous, and not a lengthy process. (John 3:5-7; Acts 16:30-33)

d. that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. (II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1, 4-9; Col. 2:13; Titus 3:5)

e. that the new creation is brought about in a manner above comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience by faith in the Gospel. (John 1:12, 13; 3:8)

f. that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith in the finished work and person of Jesus Christ and newness of life. (Rom.10:8-10; I John 5:1-5)

Of Justification,

a. that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and atonement.
(Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Rom. 5:1, 9; 8:1)

b. that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done or ever will do, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is then imputed to us. (Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 4:24, 25; 5:1, 17; Gal. 3:11)

Of the Freeness of Salvation,

a. in God’s electing grace. (I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2)

b. that salvation is freely offered to all by the Gospel. (Rom. 10:9-13; Rev. 22:17)

c. that it is the immediate duty of all to accept this salvation by whole-hearted, penitent and obedient faith. (John 3:15-18; I Tim 1:15; Acts 2:37-41; Rom. 10:8, 9)

d. that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel. A rejection which brings upon man the condemnation of God’s wrath. (John 3:18, 36; Rom. 1:18, 20; 2:1, 4, 5)

Of Repentance and Faith,

a. are inseparable graces. (Mark 1:15)

b. are solemn obligations (Acts 20:21)

c. are wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God who convicts the believer of guilt, danger, helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, so that the believer turns to God with unfeigned contrition,. and confesses to God his wholehearted faith in the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ as his all sufficient Savior. (Acts 2:27, 28; Rom. 10:9-13)

Of Sanctification,
We believe that biblical sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, the believer is set apart from sin, unto Christ, and has three aspects:

a. the believer has been set apart positionally before God the moment he believes. ( I Cor. 1:30, 6:11; II Thess. 2:13; Heb. 10:10,14)

b. the believer is being set apart progressively in his walk day by day as he grows in grace toward the likeness of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, watchfulness, prayer and yielding to the spirit through biblical change.
(John 17:17; Rom. 8:13; II Pet. 3:18; Rom. 8:28, 29; II Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:11-16; I Tim. 4:7; Heb. 5:12-14; I John 3:3; Rom. 12:1, 2; Eph. 4:22, 24)

c. the believer is to be set apart prospectively from the very presence of sin when his sanctification is completed at the coming of Christ for the church. (I John 3:2; I Thess. 3:13; 5:23)

 

6. We believe the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity. He is active in the work of redemption, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come. He magnifies Christ, regenerates believers, and baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (which is the church). (John 15:26-27; 16:7-8; 13-14; Gen. 1:3; Job 33:4; John 3:3-5; 16: 8-11)

 

7. We believe that all who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are eternally secure in Him. And, that it is our privilege to know that we are safe in Him. (John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil 1:6; I John 5:11-13)

Of the Security of the Believer or Perseverance of the Saints,
We believe this is the design of God’s plan:

a. that every person, immediately upon acceptance of Christ as personal Savior and Lord, receives eternal life and is made at once a son of God. (I John 5:11-13; John 1:12)

b. that believers are kept by the power of God through faith, are kept in a state of grace, and are eternally secure apart from any human works.

c. that such only are believers who endure to the end. (Phil 1:6; John 8:31; Rev. 21:7, 8; Eph. 2:10)

d. that the believers’ persevering attachment to Christ and His own and their growth in the likeness of Christ are God’s marks which distinguish them from superficial professors. (Rom. 8:28,29a; John 14:21-23; John 10:27-29; I John 2:19; 5:1-3; John 13:34, 35; Eph. 2:10, Titus 2:11-13; James 2:14-20)

 

8. We believe Satan is a person. He is the unholy god of this age, the prince and power of the air, and the prince of this world. He is a murderer, the father of lies, and enemy of both God and man. He is destined to punishment in the lake of fire. (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2; II Cor. 4:4;
Matt. 4:1-10; I Peter 5:8; Rev. 20:10)

We believe that Satan is a distinct personality who:

a. was once holy and enjoyed heaven’s honors, but, through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell. (Isa. 14:12-13; Ezek. 28:15-17)

b. drew after him a host of angels. (Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Peter 2:2; John 14:30)

c. is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. (I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3)

d. is man’s great tempter. (I Pet. 5:8)

e. is the enemy of God and Christ. (Zech. 1:3; I John 3:8; Matt. 13:25. 37-39; Luke 22:3, 4)

f. is the accuser of the saints. (Rev. 12:10)

g. is the author of all false religions, the chief power promoting the present apostasy. (II Cor. 11:13-15; Mark 13: 21, 22)

h. is the lord of the antichrist. (I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22)

i. is the author of all the powers of darkness. (Rev. 13:13, 14; II Thess. 2:8-11)

j. although is powerful and to be respected, is not omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent and cannot overcome the believer who is submitting in obedience to Jesus Christ and His Word in faith. (Jas. 4:7; I John 4:4)

k. is destined to find defeat at the hands of God’s Son, through His death on the cross (Gen. 3:15; Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; 20:1-3), and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Rev. 20:10-15; Matt. 25:41)

 

9. We believe the church universal is a New Testament institution. Unknown to the Old Testament prophets, but revealed by the New Testament apostles, built by Christ it’s head, composed of believers, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the separation of church and state. (Matt. 19L15-17; I Cor. 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17 and Eph. 2:1 through 3:13)

We believe:
that the church universal is established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole head; revealed through the apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory. It began with the New Testament Saints at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Eph. 1:22, 34; 3:21; 5:23-32; I Thess. 4:13-18)

 

10. We believe the local church should be composed of baptized believers, joined together to glorify God, to edify one another, and to promote the spread of the Gospel to all living as expressed in the great commission. (Matt. 28:1-20 and Acts 1:8) (Baptism is to singly immerse a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.)

a. that the church universal is manifested through the local church which is;

1) a congregation of baptized believers, associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. (Acts 2:41, 42)

2) observing the ordinances of Christ. (I Cor. 11:2)

3) governed by His laws. (Eph. 2:22,23)

a. exercising the gifts, responsibilities and privileges invested in them by His atoning work. (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor.12:4; 8:11)

b. that its scriptural offices are those of pastors, elders or bishops, and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. (Acts 14:23; 6:5,6; 15:23; 20:17-28; I Pet. 5:1-4;I Tim. 3:1-13)

c. the true mission of the church is expressed in the New Testament and abbreviated in Matt. 28:19, 20; Eph. 4:11-16

..To make individual disciples.
.. To baptize them into a properly organized and functioning local church.
..To teach them to obey His Word as He has commanded. This includes assisting parents in teaching truth.

d. that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit’s direction by the Word. (Col 1:18; Eph. 5:23, 24; I Cor. 16:1-3)

e. that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel and that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. (Acts 15:22; Jude 2,3; II Cor. 8:23,24; I Cor. 16:1-3)

f. that on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence, the will of the local church following the Word of God is final. (Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32; I Cor. 5:11-13)

 

11. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances given to the church by Christ to be continued until His rapture. (I Cor. 11:23-28)

a. We believe that Christian baptism is:

1) the immersion in water of a believer. (Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; John 3:23; Rom. 6:4, 5; Matt. 3:16)

2) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)

3) to show forth in a solemn testimony and picture of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. (Rom. 6:3, 5; Col 2:12)

b. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes, by the sacred use of broken bread and the freshly pressed juice of the vine as symbols of the price He paid for us. This commemoration should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. (I Cor. 11:23-28)

 

12. We believe the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and that it ought to be devoted to the duties of Christian activity.

 

13. We believe the government of the church should be vested in its voting members, all of whom shall agree that the Scriptures are the final rule of faith and practice, and who will likewise look at the Holy Spirit for guidance.

 

14. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, and that those who receive Christ by faith as Lord and Savior shall rejoice forever in God’s presence; and those who refuse to receive Him as Lord and Savior shall be forever separated from God. (John 5:20-29; Rev. 20:14-15)

 

15. We believe in the bodily, personal and pre-millennial return of Christ; that He will come before the seven years of tribulation to catch away His ransomed church, at which time He will come only in the air; and that He will come with His church at the close of the tribulation to the earth to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom. (I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 19:11-21)

a. there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. (Gal. 3:22, 26; Gen. 18:23, Rom. 6:17, 18; I Pet 4:18; Pro. 11:31)

b. such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified or set apart by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in their standing before God. (Rom. 1:17; I Cor. 15:22; John 5:24; Rom. 3:22-24; 4:22-24; Eph. 1:6, 7)

c. all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and are under the curse. (I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 6:23; 7:5)

d. this distinction holds among men both before and after death, in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Matt. 25:34,41,46; Luke 9:26; 16:25,26; John 8:21, Rom 6:23; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:10-15)

 

16. We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their full and face value. These beliefs include:

a. Christ’s bodily resurrection from the tomb. (Matt. 28:6,7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor.15:4-8; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6; Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 4:2; Rom. 4:25)

b. His ascension to the Father’s right hand. (Acts 1:9, 11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Heb. 10:12)

c. His present High Priesthood. (Heb. 4:14-16; Heb. 7:24,25; 8:6 I Tim 2:5; I John 2:1)

d. His future appearing in the air to receive His saints. (I Thess. 4:16,17; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28)

e. the resurrection of the righteous dead. (I Thess. 4:16; I Cor. 15:42-44; 15:52)

f. the physical change of the living in Christ. (I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:17; Phil 3:20, 21)

g. the believer’s response to God’s Word will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ for reward or loss. (II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:11-15; Rom. 14:10; II Tim. 4:8; Rev. 22:2)

h. Christ’s bodily return to the earth to reign from the throne of David. (Pre-Millennial) (Matt. 24:29-32; Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6, 7; Acts 2:29, 30; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4,5; 32:1; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4,6)

i. the White Throne Judgment of the unsaved, and the new heaven and the new earth. (Rev. 20:11-15, 21:1, 2)