Statement of Faith
I. OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was:
A. Verbally inspired and the produce of God through Spirit-controlled men.
B. And is Truth without admixture of error. (Ps. 119:105,130,160; Lk. 24:25- 27,44,45; Jn. 7:17)
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. Finally, men in their relationships with God must move from truth to experience and not from experience to truth. (II Tim. 3:16,17; Mt. 7:21-23; Prov. 30:5,6;
Rom. 3:4; I Pet. 1:23; Rev. 22:19; Jn. 12:48; Isa. 8:7-11; Jn. 1:45-47; Jn. 5:39)
(Explanatory)
1. By “THE HOLY BIBLE” we mean that collection of sixty-six 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 “INSPIRATION” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by Holy Men of God 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 been or ever will be.
II. OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe:
A. That there is only one living 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; 20:2,3; Rev. 4:11)
B. That 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. (Mt. 28:18; Jn. 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14)
C. In the person of God the Father, concerning Him we believe:
1. He is recognized as Father by the Old Testament saints. (Jer. 3:19;
Mal. 1:6)
2. He is recognized as Father by the New Testament apostles. (Rom. 1:7; Eph. 4:6)
3. He is revealed as our Heavenly Father by the Son. (Mt. 5:16)
4. He provides authority for the church and participates in the process of church discipline. (Mt. 18:18-20)
5. He is to be addressed in prayer and was so addressed by the Son. (Mt. 6:6; John. 17:1)
D. In the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning Him, we believe:
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. (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 2:8-10; Heb. 1:3,8; Micah 5:2)
2. That in His voluntary humiliation, He did not lay aside His Deity. (Mt. 1:21- 22; 28:18; Mk. 14:61,62; Jn. 10:30,32,33; 14:19; 20:28; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 1:15-17; I Jn. 1:1,2; 5:20)
3. That as 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; Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:14)
(Our Lord Jesus Christ’s WORK in Atonement is seen in VI.)
E. In the person of the Holy Spirit concerning Him, we believe:
1. He is Divine Person, equal with God the Father and Son, and the same nature. (Jn. 14:16,17,26; Mt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14)
2. He was active in creation. (Gen. 1:1-3)
3. In His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. (II Thes. 2:7)
4. He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness. (Jn. 16:8-11)
5. He bears witness to and empowers the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. (Jn. 15:26,27; Acts 5:30-32)
6. His purpose in this age is to glorify the Son. (Jn. 16:14)
7. He is the agent of the New Birth. (Jn. 3:5,6)
8. He indwells, seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps believers until the day of redemption. (Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30; Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Acts 11:16; Rom. 8:9,14,16; II Thes. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26,27)
9. 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. 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. 13:5b; Eph. 4:16)
III. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN
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 Pet. 2:2; Jn. 14:30)
C. Is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. (I Thes. 3:5; Mt. 4:1-3)
D. Is man’s great tempter. (I Pet. 5:8)
E. Is the enemy of God and His Christ. (Zech. 1:3; I Jn. 3:8; Mt. 13:25,37-39;
Lk. 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; Mk. 13:21,22)
H. Is the lord of the Anti-Christ. (I Jn. 4:3; II Jn. 7; I Jn. 2:22)
I. Is the author of all powers of darkness. (Rev. 13:13,14; II Thes. 2:8-11)
J. Although powerful and to be respected, is not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent and cannot overcome the believer who is submitting in obedience to Jesus Christ and His Word in faith. (Jas. 4:7; I Jn. 4:4)
K. Is destined to find defeat at the hands of Christ through His death on the cross (Gen. 3:15; Rev. 19:11,16,20; 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; Mt. 25:41)
IV. OF THE CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that:
A. 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; Jn. 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23- 26; Jer. 10:10)
B. 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. 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; Jn. 1:3)
D. All animal and vegetable life was created directly and is to reproduce “after its own kind.” (Gen. 1:11,24; Col. 1:16,17)
V. OF MAN AND HIS FALL
We believe that:
A. Man was created in innocence. (Gen. 1:27)
B. By voluntary transgression man fell from his sinless and happy state. (Gen. 3; Rom. 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. (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:10- 13)
D. 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. 2:13; Ps. 40:12)
E. Man is under just condemnation without defense of excuse. (Rom. 3:9-20,23; 1:19,20; 2:1,12-15)
F. Man’s only hope of eternal life is through redemption in Jesus Christ. (Jn. 3:3,5; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8,9; Gal. 3:26)
VI. OF CHRIST’S ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that:
A. The salvation of sinners is wholly of God’s grace; (Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24,25) and 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 sins. (Jn. 3:16; Mt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7,8; Heb. 2:14; 4:15; Rom. 3:25; I Jn. 4:10; Isa. 53:6; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21)
B. His atonement consisted not in setting an example for us 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. (Jn. 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Pet. 3:18)
C. Having risen bodily from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His Wonderful Person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way the suitable, compassionate, all sufficient Savior and the mediator for His believer priests.
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; Rom. 10:8,9,10)
VII. OF SALVATION BY GRACE
We believe that:
A. In order to be saved, all men must be born again. (Jn. 3:3; Gal. 3:26)
B. The birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. (II Cor. 5:17)
C. It is instantaneous, and not a lengthy process. (Jn. 3:5-7)
D. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and 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. Then new creation is brought about in a manner above comprehension, not by culture, or character, or by the will of man, but wholly and to secure our voluntary obedience by faith in the Gospel. (Jn. 1:12,13; 3:8)
F. 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 Jn. 5:1-5)
VIII. OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures on those who 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; Isa. 53:11; Rom. 5:1,9; 8:1)
B. It is bestowed, not in consideration of any works or righteousness which we have done or ever will do, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood in His righteousness imputed to us. (Titus 3:5; Rom. 4:24,25; 5:1,17; Gal. 3:11)
IX. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe:
A. In God’s electing grace. (I Thes. 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. (Jn. 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. (Jn. 3:18,36; Rom. 1:18,20; 2:1,4,5)
X. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith:
A. Are inseparable graces. (Mk. 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 whole-hearted faith in the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ as his all-sufficient Savior. (Acts 2:27,28; Rom. 10:9-13)
XI. OF SANCTIFICATION
We believe that biblical sanctification has three aspects and is the process by which, according to the will of God, the believer is set apart from sin unto Christ.
A. The believer is set apart positionally before God the moment he believes. (I Cor. 1:30; 6:11; II Thes. 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 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. (Jn. 17:17; Rom. 8:13; II Pet. 3:18; Rom. 8:28,29a; II Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:11-16; I Tim. 4:7b ; Heb. 5:12-14; I Jn. 3:3; Rom. 12:1,2: Eph. 4:22,24)
C. The believer will be totally sanctified bearing the image and likeness of Christ. (I Jn. 3:2; I Cor. 15:49; Rom. 8:17,18; Phil. 3:21)
XII. OF THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER OR PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe this is the design of God’s divine plan that:
A. 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 Jn. 5:11-13; Jn.1:12)
B. Believers are kept by the power of God through faith in a state of grace and are eternally secure apart from any human works.
C. Such only are believers who endure to the end. (Phil. 1:6; Jn. 8:31; Rev. 21:7,8; Eph. 2:10)
D. The believer’s 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; Jn. 14:21-23; Jn. 10:27-29; 5:1-3; Jn. 13:34,35; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:11-13; James 2:14-20)
XIII. OF THE CHURCH
We believe that :
A. The church is a New Testament institution established by Jesus Christ who is sole Head, revealed through the apostles, empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit, His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory. Initiated by Christ during His earthly ministry and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. (Mt. 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13,41-47; 15:14; Eph. 1:22,23; 2:21; 5:23-32; I Thes. 4:13-18)
B. The Church 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. 1:22,23)
4. Exercising the gifts, responsibilities, and privileges invested in them by His work. (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 12:4; 8:11)
C. 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)
D. The true mission of the Church is expressed in the New Testament and abbreviated in Mt. 28:19,20 and 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.
E. 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. The will of the local church following the Word of God is final on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolences. (Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23; I Pet. 5:1-4)
F. That each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with any other local church. (Acts 15:22; Jude 2,3; II Cor. 8:23,24; I Cor. 16:1-3)
XIV. OF THE ORDINANCES
A. We believe that Christian baptism is:
1. The immersion, in water, of a believer. (Acts 8:36-39; Mt. 3:6; Jn. 3:23;
Rom. 6:4,5; Mt. 3:16)
2. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Mt. 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. 11:23-32)
XV. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that:
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; Prov. 11:31)
B. Only through faith are we justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified or set apart by the Spirit of our God and are truly made righteous in our standing before God. (Rom. 1:17; I Cor. 15:22; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 3:22-24; Eph. 1:6,7)
C. All such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and are under the curse. (I Jn. 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. (Mt. 25:34,41,46; Lk. 9:26; 16:25,26; Jn. 8:21; Rom. 6:23; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:10-15)
XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe:
A. That civil government is of Divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. (Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21,22)
B. That magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; (Mt. 22:21; I Tim. 2:1,2; Titus 3:1; I Pet. 2:13,14,17; Dan. 1:8-15) except in areas where they oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 4:19,20; 5:29; Dan. 3:17,18; 6:10,11) Who is the only Lord of conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. In this connection we stand firmly for the separation of church and state. (Mt. 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Rev. 11:16; Phil. 2:10,11; Ps. 72:11)
XVII. OF THE FAMILY
We believe:
A. Marriage of a man to a woman is the plan of God and sacred in His sight. (Gen. 2:18-25; Mt. 19:3-9; Eph. 5:18-32; I Tim. 3:4,5,12; Mal. 2:13,14)
B. The roles of husband, wife, parent, and child are clearly defined in Scripture. (Eph. 5:21-32; Col. 3:16-21; I Pet. 3:1-7)
C. Sexual relationship is sacred and fulfilling only within the bonds of marriage and is condemned outside the marriage relationship. (I Cor. 7:3,4; Heb. 13:4)
D. Children are a blessing from God; the responsibility for raising 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. (Ps. 127:3; Eph. 6:4; Dt. 6:6,7; Ps. 78:4-7; Prov. 2:6; Prov. 17:6)
XVIII. OF FUTURE THINGS
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects of their full and fare value.
These beliefs include:
A. The rapture of the Church where believers, both dead and living, will be caught up to meet Christ and will be changed into immortality in the air, which will end the Church life. (Acts 1:11; I Cor. 15:51-56; I Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 4:1)
B. The day of God’s wrath which will occur in fulfillment of the last week of Daniel’s “70 weeks” prophecy. (Dan. 9:24-27; 12:1; Rev. 6:1-17; 8:1-9; 16:1-17; I Thes. 1:10; 5:9)
C. The belief that the Judgment Seat of Christ and Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur during the Tribulation Period. (Rom. 14:10-12; Rev. 19:7-9)
D. Christ’s bodily return to the earth to reign from the throne of David for 1000 years. (Mt. 24:29-32; Lk. 1:32; Isa. 9:6,7; Acts 2:29,30; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; 11:4,5; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4,6)
E. The White Throne of Judgment of the unsaved and the new Heaven and the new earth. (Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1,2)