Our Belief Statement
WE BELIEVE:
The verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments
The Trinity of the Godhead
The creation of man by the direct act of God
The fall of man and his need for Redemption
The Deity, Incarnation and Virgin Birth of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST
His Vicarious Atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of HIS blood on the cross
The resurrection of His body from the tomb
His ascension into Heaven
His personal imminent return
The Deity of the HOLY SPIRIT
Justification of the believers by grace through faith
A literal Devil who is our adversary
A literal Heaven for the redeemed
A literal Hell for the lost
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture to be Scripture itself
THE SCRIPTURES
The scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by the Inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rules of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
GOD
There is but one God, (Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4), the Maker (Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:7; John 1:3-14), Preserver (Psalm 66:9), and Ruler of all things (Psalm 66:3-7), having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in them all (Psalm 139:7), and to Him all creatures owe the highest love (Matthew 22:37), reverence and obedience (Acts 5:29).
THE TRINITY
God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. (Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 38: 2 Timothy 3:16)
PROVIDENCE
God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures (Job 1:5-11; Psalm 104:10-25; Matthew 4:4; 6:26-28; Acts 17:25-26)
ELECTION
Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ in consequence of which choice they called justified and glorified. (John 6:37, 44; 15:9; Ephesians 1:4, 5; Romans 8: 29-30; 9:15, 18)
THE FALL OF MAN
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin. But through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit nature, correct and wholly opposed to God and His Law, are under condemnation, and as soon they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 3; 6:1-7; Romans 3:10-18, 5:12)
THE MEDIATOR
Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and roe again the third day and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church and Sovereign of the Universe who will come again in glory for all true believers among the living and the dead. (Galatians 3:19-28; 1 Timothy 2-5; Hebrews 9:15; 12:23-24)
REGENERATOR
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savi ngly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (2Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-8)
REPENTANCE
Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person, by the Holy Spirit, being made sensible of the manifold evil of sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things (Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9; John 1:9)
FAITH
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him along for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. (Hebrews1 1; Galatians 3:10-14)
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by Faith (Galatians 2:16; 4:3-6; Romans 4:3-5; 4:22-25)
SANCTIFICATION
Those who have been regenerated also are sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine Strength which all saints seek to obtain by pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands (John 4;14; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 3:13)
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved and sanctified by His spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts; bring reproach on the church and temporal judgment on themselves. They shall yet be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through Faith unto SALVATION. (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)
THE CHURCH
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church which is composed of all His True Disciples and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His Commandments, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or church; and to each of these churches, He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He hath appointed. The scriptural officers of a church are Bishops and Elders (Pastors and Deacons). (Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 13:27-31)
BAPTISM
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligator upon every believer wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, and remission of sins, and of his surrendering himself up to God, by living and walking in newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church fellowship and to participation in the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:18-20)
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship. (Matthew 26:26-30; 1Corinthians 11:17-33)
THE LORD’S DAY
The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance and should be employed in exercise of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, with works of necessity and mercy being the only exceptions (Hebrews 4:1-11; 10:25)