BELIEFS
ARTICLES OF FAITH
WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A CHURCH
Of The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20;
Luke 16:31; 24:25-27, 44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17;
Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17;
1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19
Of The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5;
Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26;
17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6;
2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6 Philippians 2:5-6;
1 Timothy 1:17; I John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
Of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1;
Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:47; 1 John 5:20
Of The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49;
John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13;
Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14;
2 Thessalonians 2:7, 13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2
Of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18, 20, 28, 32;
3:10 19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1, 3
Of The Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39;
Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2;
2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6;
Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11, 16, 20; 20:1-3,10
Of Salvation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our 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 to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23;
2 Corinthians 5:17, 19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9;
Colossians 2:13; 1 John 5:1
Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20; 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 16:8;
Romans 8:28, 35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14;
1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:19
Of The Church
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Church is a body of Christ, of which Christ is the head, and is established for the purpose of worship, fellowship and service. A visible church (local church) is a congregation of believers, associated by a covenant of the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the Ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:40-42; Ephesians 1:22-23
Of The Resurrection and Return Of Christ and Related Events
We believe that Christ rose bodily “The third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,” bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.”
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27-42; Matthew 28:6-7;
Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4,6,39, 51; John 14:3; John 20:27;
Acts 1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians 4:16;
1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2
Of Baptism and The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39;
Romans 6:3-5