CONFESSION OF FAITH
OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit recorded by Spirit controlled men, and therefore, is truth without error. We believe that it is the true center of Christian faith and practice and the only infallible rule for all Christian conduct and creeds. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21.
OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is only one living and true God infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. Exodus 20:2,3;
I Corinthians 3:6; I John 5:7.
We believe in the absolute Deity of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; being God incarnate, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His incarnation did not consist in laying aside His deity, that as a man, He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. John 1:1, 2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-68.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, co-equal with the Father and the Son and of the same nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness of the truth, is the agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies and helps the believer, indwelling every true Child of God. II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16; Romans 8:14-27.
OF THE DEVIL, OR SATAN
We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the god of this age, author of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10.
OF THE CREATION
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, including all life, "each after its own kind", by direct act and not by the process of evolution. Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16, 17; John 1:3.
OF MAN
We believe that the first man, Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapened in iniquity and become practical sinners by personal choice so that they are without excuse before God. Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19.
OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, when He voluntarily became a man, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man. Philippians 2:5-7.
OF SALVATION BY GRACE
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation from sin and that this salvation is wholly by grace and not of works. Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13. We believe that all who receive Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ. John 10:29, 30; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1.
OF THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, Who is its sole Head; revealed through the Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, both Jew and Gentile, called out from the world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; His "body" for service and His "bride" for glory. It began with the New Testament saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ at the Rapture. Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8, 2:1-13, 41-47, 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:21, 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18. We believe that the Church universal is manifest through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are pastor, and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable unto Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2, 6:4-5, 7:17, 11:16; I Timothy 3:1-15.
OF THE ORDINANCES
We believe that there are two church ordinances; Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and properly called "Believer's Baptism", picturing a crucified, buried, and risen Savior and picturing the believer's death to sin and resurrection to a new life. The Lord's Supper is the commemoration of our Lord's death until He comes. Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5;
I Corinthians 11:23-32.
OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED
We believe that one is declared righteous through salvation by faith in Christ and possesses eternal life. All who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and at death experience eternal conscious suffering in hell. Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-43; Luke 6:25; John 8:21.
OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the bodily, personal, premillennial return of Jesus Christ; that
- He will come in the air immediately before the seven year tribulation period to rapture His Church, and that
- He will come with His Church to the earth at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21.
OF THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final doom.
John 5:21-30; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17, 20:11-15.
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