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STATEMENT OF FAITH SECTION 1 – SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible[1] as originally written was: (a) verbally inspired[2] and the product of God through Spirit-controlled men. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21) (b) and is truth without any error. (Psalm 119:105, 130, 160; Luke 24:25-27, 44, 45; John 17:17)
(c) 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 authority by which all human conduct, creed, and opinions should be tried; and that man in their relationships with God must move from truth to experience and not from experience to truth. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Matthew SECTION 2 – TRUE GOD
We believe that: (a) there is only one 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. (Exodus 15:11, 20:2, 3; Revelation 4:11) (b) in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices. (Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:18) PART 1 – God the Father
We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. We rejoice that: (a) He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men. (Psalm 139:1-6; Job 38-41) (b) He hears and answers prayer. (Ezra 8:23; Hebrews 4:16) (c) He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus. (John 6:37; Romans 10:9,10,13) PART 2 – God the Son
We believe: (a) in His absolute deity, that He was divine as no other man can be, existing for all eternity and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:2, 3, 8; Micah 5:2) (b) that in His voluntary humiliation He did not lay aside His deity. (Matthew 1:21-22, 28:1; Mark 14:61, 62; John (c) 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. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14) (Our Lord Jesus Christ's work in atonement is seen in Article 4, Section 6.) PART 3 – God the Holy Spirit
We believe that: (a) He is a divine person, equal with God the Father and Son, and of the same nature. (John 14:16, 17, 26; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14) (b) He was active in creation. (Genesis 1:1-3) (c) in His relationship to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) (d) He convicts of sin, judgment, and righteousness. (John 16:8-11) (e) He bears witness to and empowers the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony. (John 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32) (f) He is the agent of the new birth. (John 3:5, 6) (g) He indwells, seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps believers until the day of redemption. (Ephesians 1:13, 14, (h) He gives to the believer at salvation gifts of service according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11) which are to be used only for the edification of the body. (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:16) SECTION 3 – DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe 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. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:15-17) (b) drew after him a host of angels. (Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; John 14:30) (c) is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. (1Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3) (d) is man's great tempter. (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10-12) (e) is the enemy of God and His Christ. (1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3, 4) (f) is the accuser of the saints. (Revelation 12:10) (g) is the author of all false religions, the chief power promoting the present apostasy. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark (h) is the lord of the antichrist. (1 John 4:3; 2 John 7; 1 John 2:22) (i) is the author of all the powers of darkness. (Revelation 13:13, 14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11) (j) although powerful and to be respected,[3] is not omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent and cannot overcome the believer who is submitting in obedience to Jesus Christ and His Word in faith. (James 4:7; 1 John 4:4) (k) is destined to find defeat at the hands of God's Son through His death on the cross (Genesis SECTION 4 – CREATION
We believe the Genesis account of creation, and that: (a) it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26) (b) man was created directly by God, in God's own image, and after His own likeness. (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:7) (c) man's creation was not a matter of evolution, evolutionary change of species, or development through long periods of time from lower to higher forms. (Genesis 2:7, 21-23) (d) all animal and vegetable life was created directly and to reproduce "after its own kind." (Genesis 1:11, 24) SECTION 5 – FALL OF MAN
We believe that: (a) man was created in innocence. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:25) (b) by voluntary transgression man fell from his sinless and happy state. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12, 19) (c) consequently all men are now sinners by inheritance from Adam and by individual choice, and until regenerated, are dead in sin. (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-18) (d) all men are by nature utterly void of the righteousness required by the law of God and definitely inclined to evil. (Romans 3:10, 11; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3; Psalm 40:12) (e) man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 1:19, 20, 2:1) (f) man's only hope of eternal life is through redemption in Jesus Christ. (John 3:3, 5, 16; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Galatians 3:26) SECTION 6 – CHRIST'S ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that: (a) the salvation of sinners is wholly of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Acts (b) His atonement consisted not of 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; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:18) (c) having risen bodily from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven. He is in every way the suitable, compassionate, all-sufficient Savior and the mediator for His believer priests. (Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews (d) 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; Romans 10:8-10) SECTION 7 – SALVATION BY GRACE
We believe that: (a) in order to be saved, all men must be born again. (John 3:3) (b) the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17) (c) it is instantaneous and not a lengthy process. (Acts 16:30-33) (d) 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. (2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1, 4-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5) (e) the new creation is brought about in a manner above comprehension, not by culture, character, or 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) its proper evidence appears in the fruits of repentance and faith in the finished work and person of Jesus Christ and newness of life. (Romans 10:8-10; 1 John 5:1-5; Romans 6:4, 7:6) SECTION 8 – JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification, and that: (a) justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on the basis of Christ's righteousness and atonement. (Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:1, 9, 8:1)
(b) it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done or ever will do, but His righteousness is imputed to us solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. (Titus 3:5-7; Romans SECTION 9 – REPENTANCE
We believe: (a) in God's electing grace. (1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2) (b) that salvation is freely offered to all by the gospel. (Romans 10:9-13; Revelation 22:17) (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept this salvation by whole-hearted, penitent, obedient faith. (John 3:15-18; 1 Timothy 1:15; Acts 2:37-41; Romans 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 SECTION 10 – FAITH AND SALVATION
We believe that repentance and faith that result in salvation are: (a) inseparable graces. (Mark (b) solemn obligations. (Acts (c) wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God who convicts the believer of guilt, danger, helplessness, and 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 person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as his all sufficient Savior. (John 16:7-11; Romans 10:9-13) SECTION 11 – SANCTIFICATION
We believe 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. (1 Corinthians (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 Holy Spirit through biblical change. (John 17:17; Romans 8:13; 2 Peter 3:18; Romans 8:28, 29a; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:7b; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 John 3:3; Romans 12:1, 2; Ephesians 4:22-24) (c) the believer is to be set apart from the very presence of sin when his sanctification is completed at the coming of Christ for the church. (1 John 3:2; 1 Thessalonians SECTION 12 – SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER OR PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe the design of God's divine plan is that: (a) every person, immediately upon acceptance of Christ as personal Savior and Lord, receives eternal life and is made at once a child of God. (1 John 5:11-13; John 1:12) (b) 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. (Ephesians 2:8,9; John 10:27-29; 2 Corinthians 1:21,22; Romans 8:38, 39) (c) true believers will demonstrate their faith throughout their lives. (John 15:5; John 8:31; Philippians 1:6) (d) 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. (Romans 8:28, 29a; John 14:21-23; John 10:27-29; 1 John
SECTION 13 – THE CHURCH
We believe that: (a) the church universal is a New Testament institution established by Jesus Christ, its sole head, revealed through the apostles, and empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit. The church is His "body" for service and His "bride" for glory. The church began with the New Testament saints at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the rapture. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8, 2:1-13, 41-47, (b) 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) observing the ordinances of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:18-20) (3) governed by His laws. (Ephesians 1:22, 23) (4) exercising the gifts, responsibilities and privileges invested in them by His work. (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 5, 11; Romans 12:6-8) (c) its two scriptural offices are those of pastors (also called 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; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 8-13; Titus 1:5-9) (d) the true mission of the church is expressed in the New Testament and abbreviated in Matthew 28:19, 20 and Ephesians 4:11-16. The church is to: (1) make individual disciples. (2) baptize them into a properly organized and functioning local church. (3) teach them to obey His Word as He has commanded. This includes assisting parents in teaching truth. (e) 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. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23, 24; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
(f) 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 3; 2 Corinthians 8:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3) (g) on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church following the Word of God is final. (1 Corinthians SECTION 14 – BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is: (a) the single immersion of a believer in water. (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4, 5) (b) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) (c) to show in a solemn testimony and picture our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, illustrating our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. (Romans 6:3, 5; Colossians 2:12) We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of our Lord's death by the use of unleavened bread and grape juice as symbols of the price He paid for us. This commemoration should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. (1 Corinthians 11:23-28) SECTION 15 – THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that: (a) there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. (Romans 6:17, 18; Romans 7:5,6) (b) only those who are justified through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus and are sanctified or set apart by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in their standing before God. (Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22; John 5:24; Romans (c) all those who continue in unrepentance and unbelief are wicked in His sight and are under the curse. (Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23, 7:5) (d) this distinction holds among men both before and after death in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:25, 26; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:10-15)
SECTION 16 – CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that: (a) civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. (Romans 13:1-7; Exodus 18:21, 22) (b) governing authorities are to be prayed for and conscientiously honored. They should be obeyed (Matthew 22:15-21; 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13, 14, 17), except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:19, 20, 5:29; Daniel 3:17, 18, 6:10, 11), who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. SECTION 17 – THE FAMILY
We believe that: (a) the marriage of a man to a woman is the plan of God and sacred in His sight. (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Ephesians 5:22-33; Malachi 2:13, 14) (b) the roles of husband, wife, parent, and child are clearly defined in Scripture. (Ephesians (c) the sexual relationship is sacred and fulfilling only within the bonds of marriage and is condemned outside of the marriage relationship. (1 Corinthians 7:3, 4; Hebrews 13:4) (d) children are a blessing of God and the responsibility for them rests solely upon the parent; they are to be brought up in loving, structured control and conscientious instruction in the truths of God and His principles of life. (Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6, 7; Psalm 78:1-7; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 17:6) SECTION 18 – RESURRECTION, RETURN OF CHRIST, AND RELATED EVENTS
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. (Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:2-6, 36-43; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4-8; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:24, 32, (b) His ascension to the Father's right hand. (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 10:12) (c) His present high priesthood. (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:24, 25; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1) (d) His imminent, pre-tribulation appearing in the air to receive His saints. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28) (e) the resurrection of the righteous dead. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52) (f) the physical change of the living in Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Philippians 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. (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Timothy 4:8) (h) Christ's bodily return to the earth to reign from the throne of David (pre-millennial). (Matthew 24:29-32; Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Revelation 20:4-6) (i) the Great White Throne Judgment of the unsaved, and the new heaven and the new earth. (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1, 2) [1] By the Holy Bible we mean that collection of 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God. [2] By inspired we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be. [3] As one respects a poisonous snake. |
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