STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe:
I. Authority of Scriptures. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21.
II. God. That God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that these three persons have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; and are worthy of the same homage, confidence, and obedience. Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 13:14; Heb. 11:6.
III. Man. That man was created holy and upright in the image of God; that he fell from this condition through disobedience; and that in consequence, the whole human race is by nature dead in trespasses and sins. Gen. 1:26; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3.
IV. God the Son.
A. That the Lord Jesus Christ in the eternal Son of god; that He became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that he might redeem man from sin. Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; Heb. 2:14.
B. That He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice;
and that our justification is assured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. Rom. 4:25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 18, 19;
2:24.
C. That He ascended to heaven, is now exalted the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He is our intercessor and
advocate. Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2.
D. That He will come again to receive us to Himself, and that this return of our Lord Jesus Christ will be personal, physical, and
premillennial. Luke 17:26-29; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 15:14-17; I Thess. 4:16-17; II Tim. 3:1-5; Rev. 20:4-6.
V. God the Holy Spirit.
A. That the Holy Spirit is that person of the Holy Trinity who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. John
16:8-11. He is the divine agent in regeneration. Rom. 8:9. He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. I Cor. 12:12-14. He
indwells and seals them unto the day of redemption of the body. Eph. 1:13-14.
B. That the Holy Spirit is the Divine teacher, who guides believers into all truth. John 14:26; 16:3; I John 2:20, 27. He will fill and
control the life of all believers who yield to him. Gal. 5:18. Speaking in tongues and working sign miracles are not necessary
evidence of a Spirit-filled life. I Cor. 12:4-11; 14:1-40.
VI. Satan. That Satan is a personal being, the strongest personality apart from God, the avowed enemy of God and man, the agent of the fall of man in the Garden, and shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev.
20:10.
VII. Angels. That the angels of God are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Heb. 1:14.
VIII. Afterlife. That the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass in His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when spirit, soul, and body re-united shall be associated with Him in the glory; but the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium, when spirit, soul, and body re-united shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Mark 9:42-48; Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:2-3; I Thess., 4:13-18; II Thess. 1:7-9.
IX. Salvation.
A. That our salvation has been accomplished solely by our Lord Jesus Christ through the offering of His precious blood on Calvary,
where He was made to be a sin offering for us, dying in our place in order that we might be made righteous in Him before God
forever. I Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 1:18-19.
B. That this salvation is offered to us by the grace of God apart from works of merit on our part whatsoever. Eph. 2:8-9.
C. That this salvation becomes ours when we repent of our sins and receive Him by faith. Luke 13:3; John 1:12; Rom. 6:13; Eph.
2:10; I Thess. 1:9.
X. Old and New Natures. That those that are born of the Spirit possess two natures. They may be victorious over the old through the power of the new by the indwelling Sprit, and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature resulting in sinless perfection in this life are unscriptural. Rom. 6:13; 8:1-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; I John 1:8-10.
XI. Christian Life. That all the saved should live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations. Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; I Cor. 6:14-7:1; I Pet. 1:13-16; I John 2:15-17; II John 1:7-11.
XII. Witnessing. That it is the obligation and blessed privilege of the saved to witness by life and word to the truths of Holy Scriptures and to proclaim the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:9, 10; II Cor. 5:14-20.
XIII. Baptism. That the saved should be baptized with water as a public testimony that they have identified themselves by faith with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection; and that they resolve to walk with Him in newness of life. Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 18:8; Rom. 6:1-4.
XIV. Communion.
A. That all believers should regularly observe the Memorial Supper of the lord in obedience to and remembrance of Him, the
elements of the bread and wine being emblems of His body and of His blood.
B. That only true believers are proper participants in the observance of the Memorial Supper. Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 10:16;
11:23-32. Each believer should examine himself before participating in the Memorial Supper. I Cor. 11:27-32.
C. That the Memorial Supper should be considered purely testimonial and as a memorial of our Lord and not as a means of
securing forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sin is to be sought at once through self-judgment and confession to our one and
only High Priest and Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-15; I John 1:9.
XV. The Church.
A. That the church of Jesus Christ universal is made up of all true believers irrespective of color, race, or denomination.
Matt. 16:18; Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:13.
B. That it is an organism constituting the body, or bride of the Lord Jesus Christ which he is building now and will someday
present to Himself a glorious church not have a spot or wrinkle. I Cor. 12:12-20; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:12-26; 5:25-32.
C. That a local church of Jesus Christ is a company of believers organized for more efficient and effective service Christ and
observing forms, ordinances, and principles laid down in the New Testament. Acts 2:41-47; Rom. 6:17; I Cor. 1:2; 11:2;
Eph. 4:11-12; I Tim. 3:1-15; II Tim. 1:13; Titus 1:5; I Pet. 5:1-4.
XVI. Marriage
A. That God instituted marriage when He presented Eve to Adam, and ordained that there be but one man and one woman in marriage (Gen. 1:27-28a; 2:20-24; Eph. 5:31). It is established on the basis of their mutual commitment of loyalty to each other, to which God is the highest Witness (Pro. 2:17; Mal. 2:14).
B. That sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God that is only to be expressed between a man and a woman within the love and bonds of marriage. Therefore, any other form of sexual intimacy is both immoral and a perversion of God’s gift (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 22:13-30; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:3-6; Heb. 13:4).
C. That the marriage covenant is binding as long as both live, for God commanded that Adam should cling to his wife (Gen. 2:24). He further declared that He hates divorce (Mal. 2:16) and that no man should separate that which God has united in marriage (Matt. 5:32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10-11).
D. That marriage is ordained by God for both believers and unbelievers, yet believers are to marry only believers (2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Cor. 7:39).
We believe:
I. Authority of Scriptures. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21.
II. God. That God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that these three persons have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; and are worthy of the same homage, confidence, and obedience. Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 13:14; Heb. 11:6.
III. Man. That man was created holy and upright in the image of God; that he fell from this condition through disobedience; and that in consequence, the whole human race is by nature dead in trespasses and sins. Gen. 1:26; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3.
IV. God the Son.
A. That the Lord Jesus Christ in the eternal Son of god; that He became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that he might redeem man from sin. Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; Heb. 2:14.
B. That He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice;
and that our justification is assured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. Rom. 4:25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 18, 19;
2:24.
C. That He ascended to heaven, is now exalted the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He is our intercessor and
advocate. Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2.
D. That He will come again to receive us to Himself, and that this return of our Lord Jesus Christ will be personal, physical, and
premillennial. Luke 17:26-29; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 15:14-17; I Thess. 4:16-17; II Tim. 3:1-5; Rev. 20:4-6.
V. God the Holy Spirit.
A. That the Holy Spirit is that person of the Holy Trinity who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. John
16:8-11. He is the divine agent in regeneration. Rom. 8:9. He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. I Cor. 12:12-14. He
indwells and seals them unto the day of redemption of the body. Eph. 1:13-14.
B. That the Holy Spirit is the Divine teacher, who guides believers into all truth. John 14:26; 16:3; I John 2:20, 27. He will fill and
control the life of all believers who yield to him. Gal. 5:18. Speaking in tongues and working sign miracles are not necessary
evidence of a Spirit-filled life. I Cor. 12:4-11; 14:1-40.
VI. Satan. That Satan is a personal being, the strongest personality apart from God, the avowed enemy of God and man, the agent of the fall of man in the Garden, and shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev.
20:10.
VII. Angels. That the angels of God are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Heb. 1:14.
VIII. Afterlife. That the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass in His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when spirit, soul, and body re-united shall be associated with Him in the glory; but the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium, when spirit, soul, and body re-united shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Mark 9:42-48; Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:2-3; I Thess., 4:13-18; II Thess. 1:7-9.
IX. Salvation.
A. That our salvation has been accomplished solely by our Lord Jesus Christ through the offering of His precious blood on Calvary,
where He was made to be a sin offering for us, dying in our place in order that we might be made righteous in Him before God
forever. I Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 1:18-19.
B. That this salvation is offered to us by the grace of God apart from works of merit on our part whatsoever. Eph. 2:8-9.
C. That this salvation becomes ours when we repent of our sins and receive Him by faith. Luke 13:3; John 1:12; Rom. 6:13; Eph.
2:10; I Thess. 1:9.
X. Old and New Natures. That those that are born of the Spirit possess two natures. They may be victorious over the old through the power of the new by the indwelling Sprit, and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature resulting in sinless perfection in this life are unscriptural. Rom. 6:13; 8:1-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; I John 1:8-10.
XI. Christian Life. That all the saved should live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations. Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; I Cor. 6:14-7:1; I Pet. 1:13-16; I John 2:15-17; II John 1:7-11.
XII. Witnessing. That it is the obligation and blessed privilege of the saved to witness by life and word to the truths of Holy Scriptures and to proclaim the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:9, 10; II Cor. 5:14-20.
XIII. Baptism. That the saved should be baptized with water as a public testimony that they have identified themselves by faith with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection; and that they resolve to walk with Him in newness of life. Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 18:8; Rom. 6:1-4.
XIV. Communion.
A. That all believers should regularly observe the Memorial Supper of the lord in obedience to and remembrance of Him, the
elements of the bread and wine being emblems of His body and of His blood.
B. That only true believers are proper participants in the observance of the Memorial Supper. Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 10:16;
11:23-32. Each believer should examine himself before participating in the Memorial Supper. I Cor. 11:27-32.
C. That the Memorial Supper should be considered purely testimonial and as a memorial of our Lord and not as a means of
securing forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sin is to be sought at once through self-judgment and confession to our one and
only High Priest and Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-15; I John 1:9.
XV. The Church.
A. That the church of Jesus Christ universal is made up of all true believers irrespective of color, race, or denomination.
Matt. 16:18; Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:13.
B. That it is an organism constituting the body, or bride of the Lord Jesus Christ which he is building now and will someday
present to Himself a glorious church not have a spot or wrinkle. I Cor. 12:12-20; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:12-26; 5:25-32.
C. That a local church of Jesus Christ is a company of believers organized for more efficient and effective service Christ and
observing forms, ordinances, and principles laid down in the New Testament. Acts 2:41-47; Rom. 6:17; I Cor. 1:2; 11:2;
Eph. 4:11-12; I Tim. 3:1-15; II Tim. 1:13; Titus 1:5; I Pet. 5:1-4.
XVI. Marriage
A. That God instituted marriage when He presented Eve to Adam, and ordained that there be but one man and one woman in marriage (Gen. 1:27-28a; 2:20-24; Eph. 5:31). It is established on the basis of their mutual commitment of loyalty to each other, to which God is the highest Witness (Pro. 2:17; Mal. 2:14).
B. That sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God that is only to be expressed between a man and a woman within the love and bonds of marriage. Therefore, any other form of sexual intimacy is both immoral and a perversion of God’s gift (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 22:13-30; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:3-6; Heb. 13:4).
C. That the marriage covenant is binding as long as both live, for God commanded that Adam should cling to his wife (Gen. 2:24). He further declared that He hates divorce (Mal. 2:16) and that no man should separate that which God has united in marriage (Matt. 5:32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10-11).
D. That marriage is ordained by God for both believers and unbelievers, yet believers are to marry only believers (2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Cor. 7:39).
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