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Articles of Faith
These Articles of Faith do not exhaust the full extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
Section 1. The Triune God—God the Father
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Supreme Ruler and Maker of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Person, 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 1:26; Exodus 20:2-3; Matthew 3:16-17; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11.
Section 2. The Lord Jesus Christ—God the Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, Who became man when He was conceived of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner and was born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman; and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Jon 1:1-3, 14; I Timothy 3:16.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, and that He died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and that He rose again the third day and later ascended into Heaven. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and is the only and sufficient mediator between God and man.
Isaiah 53; Romans 5:6-11; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:9; 4:14-15; 7:25; I Peter 1:18-20; 2:24.
Section 3. The Holy Spirit—God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person with God the Father and God the Son, and is 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 righteousness, and of judgment; that he is the agent of the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, comforts, and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; Romans 8:14-16, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14.
Section 4. The Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired by God and was the product of Sprit-controlled men and, therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the Word of God and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21.
Section 5. The Devil (Satan)
We believe in the personality of Satan; that He is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness. We believe that he tempted man into sin and is destined to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire.
Genesis 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9; 20:10.
Section 6. Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came into existence by the direct creation of God and not by evolution.
Genesis 1; 2; John 1:1-3.
Section 7. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from this sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18, 32; Romans 5:10-19, especially verses 12 and 19.
Section 8. The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin~honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by the shedding of His precious blood made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us 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 sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, uniting in His wonderful Person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; I John 4:10.
Section 9. Grace in the New Creation
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 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, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that a proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
John 3:3, 6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:17, 19; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; II Peter 1:4; I John 5:1.
Section 10. Justification
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. We believe that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is thus imputed to us.
Isaiah 53:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1, 9; 8:1; II Corinthians 5:21.
Section 11. Faith and Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift of God to believing sinners who, having heard the Word of God, place their faith and complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation from sin.
Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9.
Section 12. The Security of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again receive everlasting life and are kept forever by God the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ and are secure forever.
John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; I Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1.
Section 13. The Local Church
We believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by the laws of Christ and exercising the gifts of Christ; that its Scriptural officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.
Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 3:1-13.
We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men, as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Acts 1:8; 15:13-18; 20:17-18; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18.
Section 14. Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the church has been given spiritual gifts to fulfill its God ordained mission of edification and evangelism. These include gifted persons who are given for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry and spiritual gifts, which each member of the body of Christ received from the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. We do believe that God can perform miracles today and that he can and does heal. Scripture indicates that several of the sign gifts were foundational to the church and were given to authenticate the ministry of the Apostles.
Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 1:22-23; 12:1-11; 13:8; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:11-12.
Section 15. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the inner working of the Holy Spirit at the point of a person’s salvation resulting in death to sin and resurrection to new life. The outward expression of this is immersion in water to publicly identify with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-47; 8:26-39; Romans 6:1-11; I Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and that it should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
I Corinthians 11:23-28.
Section 16. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous; the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
Matthew 25:41, 46; John 5:28-29; 11:23-26; II Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 14:13; 20:4-5, 11-15; 21:1-8.
Section 17. The Pre-Millennial Return of Christ, and Related Events
We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the air for the saints at the Rapture, at which time the dead in Christ will be raised, and the living saints will be changed and receive glorified bodies.
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28.
We believe in the personal return of Christ to the earth with His glorified saints after the Tribulation and before His Millennial Kingdom reign on earth for 1,000 years.
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; 32:1; Matthew 24:29-31; I Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 19:11-20:6, 14.
Section 18. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for and consciously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience.
Exodus 18:21-22; II Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7.
These Articles of Faith do not exhaust the full extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
Section 1. The Triune God—God the Father
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Supreme Ruler and Maker of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Person, 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 1:26; Exodus 20:2-3; Matthew 3:16-17; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11.
Section 2. The Lord Jesus Christ—God the Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, Who became man when He was conceived of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner and was born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman; and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Jon 1:1-3, 14; I Timothy 3:16.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, and that He died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and that He rose again the third day and later ascended into Heaven. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and is the only and sufficient mediator between God and man.
Isaiah 53; Romans 5:6-11; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:9; 4:14-15; 7:25; I Peter 1:18-20; 2:24.
Section 3. The Holy Spirit—God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person with God the Father and God the Son, and is 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 righteousness, and of judgment; that he is the agent of the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, comforts, and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; Romans 8:14-16, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14.
Section 4. The Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired by God and was the product of Sprit-controlled men and, therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the Word of God and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21.
Section 5. The Devil (Satan)
We believe in the personality of Satan; that He is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness. We believe that he tempted man into sin and is destined to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire.
Genesis 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9; 20:10.
Section 6. Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came into existence by the direct creation of God and not by evolution.
Genesis 1; 2; John 1:1-3.
Section 7. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from this sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18, 32; Romans 5:10-19, especially verses 12 and 19.
Section 8. The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin~honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by the shedding of His precious blood made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us 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 sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, uniting in His wonderful Person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; I John 4:10.
Section 9. Grace in the New Creation
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 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, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that a proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
John 3:3, 6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:17, 19; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; II Peter 1:4; I John 5:1.
Section 10. Justification
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. We believe that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is thus imputed to us.
Isaiah 53:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1, 9; 8:1; II Corinthians 5:21.
Section 11. Faith and Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift of God to believing sinners who, having heard the Word of God, place their faith and complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation from sin.
Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9.
Section 12. The Security of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again receive everlasting life and are kept forever by God the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ and are secure forever.
John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; I Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1.
Section 13. The Local Church
We believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by the laws of Christ and exercising the gifts of Christ; that its Scriptural officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.
Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 3:1-13.
We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men, as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Acts 1:8; 15:13-18; 20:17-18; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18.
Section 14. Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the church has been given spiritual gifts to fulfill its God ordained mission of edification and evangelism. These include gifted persons who are given for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry and spiritual gifts, which each member of the body of Christ received from the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. We do believe that God can perform miracles today and that he can and does heal. Scripture indicates that several of the sign gifts were foundational to the church and were given to authenticate the ministry of the Apostles.
Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 1:22-23; 12:1-11; 13:8; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:11-12.
Section 15. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the inner working of the Holy Spirit at the point of a person’s salvation resulting in death to sin and resurrection to new life. The outward expression of this is immersion in water to publicly identify with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-47; 8:26-39; Romans 6:1-11; I Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and that it should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
I Corinthians 11:23-28.
Section 16. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous; the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
Matthew 25:41, 46; John 5:28-29; 11:23-26; II Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 14:13; 20:4-5, 11-15; 21:1-8.
Section 17. The Pre-Millennial Return of Christ, and Related Events
We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the air for the saints at the Rapture, at which time the dead in Christ will be raised, and the living saints will be changed and receive glorified bodies.
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28.
We believe in the personal return of Christ to the earth with His glorified saints after the Tribulation and before His Millennial Kingdom reign on earth for 1,000 years.
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; 32:1; Matthew 24:29-31; I Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 19:11-20:6, 14.
Section 18. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for and consciously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience.
Exodus 18:21-22; II Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7.