OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Believe –
I. Scriptures
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by God the Holy Spirit, are completely inerrant in the original writings, and serve as supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5)
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by God the Holy Spirit, are completely inerrant in the original writings, and serve as supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5)
II. God
We believe there is one God, and only one, who is self-existent, eternal, and infinite in every excellence, and who has revealed Himself as a triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-13, 14:26, 15:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 112:11; 1 Timothy 3:16)
We believe there is one God, and only one, who is self-existent, eternal, and infinite in every excellence, and who has revealed Himself as a triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-13, 14:26, 15:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 112:11; 1 Timothy 3:16)
III. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in His life, true God and true man, who came into the world to save men from guilt and condemnation of sin, dying on a cross, offering His blood as an atonement and making it available to all who exercise faith in Him. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension and visible return to the world according to His promise. (Matthew 26:28; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-29, 3:14-16, 6:35; Acts 1:11, 4:12, 16:31; Romans 3:20-26, 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 9:11-15)
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in His life, true God and true man, who came into the world to save men from guilt and condemnation of sin, dying on a cross, offering His blood as an atonement and making it available to all who exercise faith in Him. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension and visible return to the world according to His promise. (Matthew 26:28; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-29, 3:14-16, 6:35; Acts 1:11, 4:12, 16:31; Romans 3:20-26, 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 9:11-15)
IV. Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit the third person of the Godhead. God the Holy Spirit shared in the creation of the universe, is responsible for the Scriptures, and at the present time He convicts or reproves the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. In respect to the believer he is the agent of the new birth, He seals, baptizes, infills, teaches, sanctifies and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 3:5, 16:8-11; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Hebrews 9:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
We believe in the Holy Spirit the third person of the Godhead. God the Holy Spirit shared in the creation of the universe, is responsible for the Scriptures, and at the present time He convicts or reproves the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. In respect to the believer he is the agent of the new birth, He seals, baptizes, infills, teaches, sanctifies and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 3:5, 16:8-11; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Hebrews 9:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
V. Man
We believe that man, was originally created in the image of God, but through Adam's voluntary disobedience to God's commands, fell from his innocent and holy state. In consequence, and has received from Adam, a fallen nature which has been transmitted to the entire human race. All persons are born with a sinful nature and are constrained to choose to obey Satan. Therefore, they are sinners under the judgment of God being condemned without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18-32, 5:12, 10:19, Ephesians 2:1-3)
We believe that man, was originally created in the image of God, but through Adam's voluntary disobedience to God's commands, fell from his innocent and holy state. In consequence, and has received from Adam, a fallen nature which has been transmitted to the entire human race. All persons are born with a sinful nature and are constrained to choose to obey Satan. Therefore, they are sinners under the judgment of God being condemned without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18-32, 5:12, 10:19, Ephesians 2:1-3)
VI. Salvation
We believe that because of the universal depravity and spiritual death of man, there is only one way of salvation of man, this being through repentance for sins, and trust in Jesus Christ as personal and all-sufficient savior. (Acts 2:38; Romans 4:4, 5:1, 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:17, 2:8-9; Hebrews 7:25)
We believe that because of the universal depravity and spiritual death of man, there is only one way of salvation of man, this being through repentance for sins, and trust in Jesus Christ as personal and all-sufficient savior. (Acts 2:38; Romans 4:4, 5:1, 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:17, 2:8-9; Hebrews 7:25)
VII. Grace
We believe that God through His grace desires the salvation of all men. These desires are made effectual by the giving of His Son, and in the constraining and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit upon all who sincerely believe in Christ. But these purposes do not nullify the freedom of man's will, nor render inoperative the proclamation of the Gospel to all. (John 1:12-13, 3:6-8, 5:39-40, 6:44, 16:7-11; Romans 10:13-16; Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:2)
We believe that God through His grace desires the salvation of all men. These desires are made effectual by the giving of His Son, and in the constraining and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit upon all who sincerely believe in Christ. But these purposes do not nullify the freedom of man's will, nor render inoperative the proclamation of the Gospel to all. (John 1:12-13, 3:6-8, 5:39-40, 6:44, 16:7-11; Romans 10:13-16; Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:2)
VIII. Security of the Believer
We believe that nothing can separate true believers from the love of God; but they are "kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation," the sure proof of this being their patient continuance and progress in righteousness and true holiness. (Matthew 24:13; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 3:14; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
We believe that nothing can separate true believers from the love of God; but they are "kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation," the sure proof of this being their patient continuance and progress in righteousness and true holiness. (Matthew 24:13; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 3:14; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
IX. Ordinances
We believe that Christ left two ordinances for the church: Believers' Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Believers' Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in obedience to Christ's command, to show forth in a serious and meaningful way this testimony of personal faith in and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior. Baptism is a prerequisite for the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by serious self-examination. (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12)
We believe that Christ left two ordinances for the church: Believers' Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Believers' Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in obedience to Christ's command, to show forth in a serious and meaningful way this testimony of personal faith in and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior. Baptism is a prerequisite for the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by serious self-examination. (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12)
X. The Church
We believe that the Church is a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, instruction, work and fellowship.
We believe that these local churches were committed, for perpetual observance, the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world their need for acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24;
We believe that the Church is a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, instruction, work and fellowship.
We believe that these local churches were committed, for perpetual observance, the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world their need for acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24;
XI. Future Things
We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust - the just for blessedness and reward, the unjust for judgment and eternal doom. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 9:27; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-26, 20:35-38; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24, 42-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10; Revelations 20:11-15)
We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust - the just for blessedness and reward, the unjust for judgment and eternal doom. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 9:27; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-26, 20:35-38; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24, 42-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10; Revelations 20:11-15)
XII. Civil Government
We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the Scriptures and the will of Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Romans 13:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-1)
We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the Scriptures and the will of Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Romans 13:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-1)