Articles of Faith

Here is a summary of our faith and what we believe about the major points of Christian Teaching.

The Scripture

 

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired, the product of Spirit-controlled men, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinion shall be tried.  

(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21)

The Godhead

 

We believe there is one and only one true God, an infinite, intelligent and glorious Spirit, the Creator and supreme ruler of heaven and earth.  In the God-head are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

(Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 3:6; Revelation 4:11;  John 1:14)

The Virgin Birth

 

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or ever can be born of women.  He is the Son of God, and God the Son from eternity.

(Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25;  John 1:14; Luke 1:35)

The Holy Spirit

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature.  He was active in creation.  In His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled.  He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.  He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony.  He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.  

(John 14:16-17,26; Matt. 28:19; Heb.9:14; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:16, 26-27)

The Fall of Man

 

We believe that man was created in innocence and lived under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression man fell from his sinless and happy state.  Consequently, all mankind is sinful, not only by constraint, but by choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense.

(Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18,32)

The Atonement

 

We believe that Salvation is wholly by grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin.  He honored the Divine Law by His personal obedience, and by His death made full and vicarious atonement for our sins.  His atonement consisted not in setting an example by His death as a martyr but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree.  Having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wondrous person the tenderest sympathies with Divine perfection.  He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.

(Ephesians 2:8;  Acts 15:11;  Romans 3:24-25;  John 3:16;  Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7;  Hebrews 2:14;  Isaiah 53:4-7;  I John 4)

The New Birth

 

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again.  The “New Birth” is a new creation in Christ Jesus:  it is instantaneous and not a process.  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.  Proper evidence of the “New Birth” is shown in the holy fruits of repentance, love for the brethren, faith, and newness of life.  

(John 3:3, 6-7;  II Corinthians 5:17, 19;  I John 5:1;  Acts 16:30-31;  II Peter 1:4;  Romans 6:23;  Ephesians 2:1;  Colossians 2:13)

Faith and Salvation

 

We believe that repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the only conditions of salvation.  

(Acts 16:31;  Acts 20:21;  Romans 10:9-13)

 

Justification

 

We believe that the blessing of justification before God is the free gift of God, not according to anything that we have done or could merit or deserve.  It includes pardon for sin and the gift of eternal life on the principles of righteousness.  It is bestowed upon us solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood.   

(Acts 13:39;  Isaiah 53:11;  Zechariah 13:1;  John 10:28-29;  Romans 8:35-39;  I Peter 1:3-5;  Jude 1) 

The Righteous and the Unrighteous

 

We believe that there are only two classes of people before God.  Believers are righteous in Christ while non-believers are under condemnation of God and shall suffer everlasting punishment.  

(Genesis 18:23;  Romans 6:17-18;  I John 5:19;  Romans 3:6;  Proverbs 14:32;  Luke 16:19-31;  Matthew 25:34-41;  John 8:21)

The Local Church

 

We believe that the local church is a congregation of believers, associated by covenant of faith and friendship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His Laws, exercising His gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word.  Its officers are men of God whose qualifications are clearly defined in the Scriptures.  We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men.  We hold 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 Head of the Church is Christ, through the Holy Spirit.  It is Scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel.  Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of cooperation, on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence.  The will of the church is final.  

(Acts 2:41-42;  I Corinthians 11:2;  Ephesians 1:22-23;  Ephesians 4:11;  Acts 20:17-28;  I Timothy 3:17;  Colossians 1:18;  Ephesians 5:23-24;  Acts 15:13-18)

The Devil

 

We believe in the personality of Satan.  He is the unholy god of this age and author of all the powers of darkness.  He 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)

The Second Advent of Christ

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to this earth to call out those who believe in Him as personal Savior.  At His coming the church shall be raptured and receive new bodies like unto His glorified body.  Their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and they shall not come into condemnation but are passed from death unto life in Christ.

Christ is destined to reign on this earth for a thousand years, after which this evil world will be destroyed and a New Heaven and a New Earth shall be created for the righteous reign of the “King of Kings” for all eternity.

(I Corinthians 15:51-57;  I Thessalonians 4:13-18;  Hebrews 2:7-8;  II Peter 3:7-13;  Revelation 20)