- The True God
- The Bible
- The Fall of Man
- The Way of Salvation
- Justification
- The Freeness of Salvation
- Grace in Regeneration
- Repentance and Faith
- God's Purpose of Grace
- Sanctification
- Perseverance of the Saints
- The Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
- A True Gospel Church
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper
- The Lord's Day
- Civil Government
- The Righteous and the Wicked
- The World to Come
We believe in the one true God,
the infinite and intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH; one God existing in
three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit:
all three possessing equal abilities and perfection; each person distinctly
different, each person existing in perfect unity in the triune Godhead; ruling
in sovereignty over all things in heaven and creation, inexpressibly glorious in
His holiness and deserving of all honor, worship and love.
John
4:24/Psalm 83:18; 147:5/Heb. 3:4/Rom. 1:20/Jer. 10:10/Ex.15:11/Isa. 6:3/1 Peter
1:15,16/Rev. 4:6-8/Mark 12:30/Matt. 28:19/John 5:17; 10:30; 14:23; 17:5/Acts
5:3-4
We believe that the Bible is complete
and inerrant, though written by man, it is the word of God; that it is verbal &
plenary in its inspiration; that it is profitable to man; that it is the
standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried; that
it is the rule by which all of mankind shall be judged at the end of the age;
that the study of it is the duty of every individual Christian to show
themselves approved unto God.
2 Tim. 3:15-17/2 Peter 1:10-12, 21/2 Sam.
23:2/Acts 1:16; 3:21; 11:14/John 5:38-39; 10:35; 17:17/Luke 16:29-31/Psalm
119:111/Rom.1:16; 3:1,2/Mark 16:16/Prov. 30:5-6/Rev. 22:18-19
We believe that man was created by God
in holiness, subject to God's law, and by voluntary transgression of God's law,
fell from his state of perfection; as a consequence, all of mankind is now born
into this same state of corruption, sinners by nature and by choice, completely
unable to fulfill the requirements of God's law, inclined to evil, enemies of
God, under just condemnation, and without defense or excuse.
Gen. 1:27,31; 2:16-17;
3:6-24; 6:12/Eccl. 7:29/Acts 17:26-29/Rom. 1:32; 2:1-16; 3:9-18; 5:12,15-19;
8:7/Psalm 51:5/Isa. 53:6/Eph. 2:1-3/Gal. 3:10,22/Matt. 20:15
We believe that salvation is solely a
work of grace, through the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary; Jesus
Christ by divine appointment, shed His blood to make atonement for our sin and
satisfy the wrath of God the Father, that we personally, in time, might receive
mercy, complete forgiveness, and be granted an eternal state of reconciliation
with God.
Eph. 2:8/Matt. 18:11;
20:28/1 John 2:2; 4:10/1 Corin. 3:5-7/Acts 15:11/John 3:16/John 1:1-14/Heb.
4:14; 7:25; 9:13-25/Isa. 53:4-5/Rom. 3:21-26; 4:25/1 Corin. 15:1-3
We believe justification is the gospel blessing which is
received solely on the grounds of faith in Christ's shed blood; which blessing
is received once, and once received, can never be removed; that it is the means
by which the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to our account;
that it brings Christians into a state of peace and favor with God, securing all
needed blessings for time and eternity.
John 1:16/Eph. 3:8/Acts
10:43; 13:39/Isa. 53:11-12/Rom. 3:24-26; 4:4-5; 5:1-2; 5:9, 17, 21; 8:1/Matt.
6:33; 9:6/1 Tim. 4:8/1 Corin. 1:30-31/Zech. 13:1/Titus 3:5-7/1 Peter 3:7/1 John
2:25
We believe that the gift and blessings
of salvation are made free to all men by the gospel; that it is the immediate
duty of every man to accept them by penitent and obedient faith; that nothing
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent
depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel.
Isa. 55:1/Rev. 22:17/Luke
14:17; 19:27/Rom. 1:15-17; 9:32; 16:25-26/Mark 1:15-16; 23:27/John 3:19;
5:40/Prob. 1:24/Acts 13:46/Matt. 11:20; 23:27/2 Thes. 1:8
We believe that in order for a sinner to
be saved, he must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists of
God granting a holy disposition to the human mind by the power of the Holy
Spirit, in connection with divine truth, in order to secure our voluntary
obedience to the gospel; the evidence of this conversion is manifest by the
fruits of repentance, faith, and newness
of life.
John 1:13; 3:3, 6-7/1 Corin. 1:30; 2:4/Rev.
14:3; 21:27/2 Corin. 5:17/Ezek. 36:36/Deut. 30:6/Rom. 2:28-29; 3:8; 5:5/1 John
4:7; 5:1/James 1:16-18/Phil. 2:13/1 Peter 1:22-25/Eph. 4:20-24
We believe that
repentance and faith are both sacred duties as well as inseparable graces; that
they are wrought in man by the Holy Spirit; that through our guilt and
helplessness, we turn to God, through Christ, in unfeigned contrition,
confession, and supplication; while simultaneously turning from sin, and
trusting in Jesus Christ as personal savior and Lord of our life.
Mark 1:15/Acts 2:37-38;
3:22-23, 11:18; 16:30-31/Eph. 2:8/1 John 5:1/John 16:8/Luke 18:13;
15:18-21/James 4:7-10/2 Corin. 7:11/Rom. 10:9-11, 12-13/Psalm 2:6; 51/Heb. 1:8;
4:14; 7:25/2 Tim. 1:12
We believe that election is the eternal
purpose of God, whereby He purposed, before time, to graciously save sinners in
time; that it is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man; that it
contains all the means in connection with the end; that it excludes boasting,
and promotes humility; that it is a reality for all who truly believe the
gospel; and that it is the foundation of Christian assurance.
2 Tim. 1:8-9/Eph.
1:3-14/1 Peter 1:1-2/Rom. 9:23-24; 11:5-6, 28-29, 32-36/John 10:16; 15:16/1 John
4:19/2 Thess. 2:13-14/Acts 13:48; 15:14/Matt. 20:16/Ex. 33:18-19/Eph. 1:11/Jer.
31:3/James 1:17-18/1 Corin. 4:7
We believe that sanctification is the
process by which we are separated by God for His divine purposes; that we are
eternally sealed by the Holy Spirit; that we are made partakers of His holiness;
that it is a progressive work which begins at regeneration and continues until
our physical death or glorification; that the means of which are meditation upon
the holy scriptures, prayer, self-examination, self denial, and the grace of God
working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23/2
Corin. 7:1; 13:5,9/Eph. 1:4; 4:11-12, 30; 6:18/Prov. 4:18/Heb. 6:1/2 Peter
1:5-8; 3:18/Phil. 3:12-16/1 John 2:29/Rom. 8:5/John 3:6/Phil. 1:9-11/Phil.
2:12-13/1 Peter 2:2/Luke 9:23; 11:35/Matt. 26:41
We believe all, and only those who are,
true believers shall endure unto the end; that their perseverance distinguishes
them from those who make a superficial profession of faith; that true Christians
are kept by the preserving power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 6:66-69; 8:31;
13:18/1 John 2:19, 27-28; 3:9; 4:4; 5:18/Matt. 6:30-33; 13:20-21/Rom. 8:28/Jer.
32:40/Psalms 121:3; 91:11-12/Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13/Jude 24-25/Heb. 1:14; 13:5
We believe that the law of God is the
eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just,
and good; that fallen man is unable to fulfill its precepts due to his depravity
and love of sin; that it is only through the work of our great mediator Jesus
Christ whose perfect fulfillment of the law's every demand, we are given the
grace to stand holy and just in the sight of God.
Rom. 3:31/Matt. 5:17/Luke
16:17/Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 7:7, 12, 14, 22; 8:2-4, 7-8; 10:14/Gal. 3:21/Psalm
119/Josh. 24:19/Jer. 13:23/John 5:44; 6:44/Heb. 8:10; 12:14/Jude 20:21
We believe that a true church of Jesus
Christ is a visible congregation of baptized believers, covenanting together in
the faith and fellowship of the gospel; that properly observe the two ordinances
of baptism and the Lord's supper; that possesses only the two scriptural
officers of Bishop or Pastor and Deacon; that are governed solely by the holy
scriptures, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges contained therein.
1 Corin. 1:1-13; 4:17;
5:12-13; 11:2, 23-26; 14:23/Matt. 18:17, 15-20; 16:18-19/Acts 5:11; 8:1;
11:21-23/3 John 9/2 Corin. 2:17 8:5/Acts 2:47/2 Thess. 3:6/Rom. 16:17-20/John
14:15; 15:12/1 John 4:21/1 Thess. 4:2
We believe Baptism and
the Lord's Supper are the only two ordinances to be observed by the Lord's
churches; that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the
name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that it is a public
profession by solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried,
and risen Savior; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of church
membership; that the Lord's Supper is to only be observed by the members of a
church; that it is to be preceded by a solemn self-examination; that through the
use of the proper elements of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, a
church commemorates together the perfect life, sacrificial death, and shed blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts
2:38,41; 8:12,36-39; 10:17, 48; 16:32-34; 18:8; 22:16/Matt. 3:5-6; 26:19-20;
28:19,20/John 3:22-24; 4:1-2/Mark 14:22-25; 16:16/Gal. 3:27-28/Col. 2:12/1 Peter
3:20-21/1 Corin. 5:1,3; 11:26,28/Luke 22:14-20
We believe that Sunday
being the first day of the week, is the Lord's Day;
that it is to be sanctified in the heart of all Christians for worship and
religious purposes; that abstinence from all secular servitude is to be desired
by God's people; that it is the present reality and future expectation of the
eternal rest that awaits Christians.
Acts
11:26; 20:7/Gen. 2:3/Col. 2:16-17/Mark 2:27/John 20:19/1 Corin. 16:1-2/Ex.
20:8/Rev. 1:10/Psalm 118:15, 24/Isa. 58:13-14/Heb. 4:3-11; 10:24-25
We believe that civil
governments are divinely appointed by God for the good and order of human
society; that Christians are to pray for, honor, and obey magistrates; that the
only exception is pertaining to things that directly oppose the will of God
revealed through Scripture and Christian conscience.
Rom.
13:1-7; 14:4/Deut. 16:18/2 Sam. 23:3/Ex. 18:21,23/Jer. 30:21/Matt. 10:28; 22:21;
23:10/Titus 3:1/1 Peter 2:13/1 Tim. 2:1-3/Acts 4:18-20; 5:29/Dan. 3:15-18;
6:7-10/Rev. 19:16/Psalm 72:11
We believe there is a radical difference
between the righteous and the wicked; that only true Christians who have
received the blessings of justification and sanctification, are truly righteous
in the sight of God; that all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are under
the curse and considered wicked by God; that this distinction remains both in
and after death.
Mal. 3:18/Prov. 12:26/Isa.
5:30; 57:21/Gen.18:23/Acts 10:34,35/Rom. 1:17; 6:16, 18-22; 7:6/1 John 2:29;
3:7, 5:19/1 Corin. 11:32/Prov. 11:31/1 Peter 4:17-18/Gal. 3:10/John 3:36/Psalm
10:4/Isa. 55:6-7
We believe that the world is quickly
approaching its end; that all Christians living on the earth
will be raptured before a tribulation period of seven
years begins on the earth; that after this
tribulation Jesus Christ is going to bodily descend from heaven and establish a
physical kingdom on Earth where he will reign for one thousand years;
that after this period of time every soul will be resurrected and given a physical
body; that a solemn judgment and separation will take place; that the wicked
will be cast into eternal punishment and the righteous will enter into endless
joy; that this judgment will forever fix every man into a state of heaven or
hell on the principles of righteousness.
1 Peter 4:7/1 Corin.
7:29-31; 15:12-59/Heb. 1:10-12; 9:28/Matt. 13:39-43; 25:31; 28:20/1 John 2:17/2
Peter 3:3-13/Acts 1:11; 3:21; 24:15/Rev. 1:7/1 Thess. 4:13-18; 5:1-11/Luke
14:14/Dan. 12:2/John 5:28-29
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