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1. We believe in THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: We accept fully the writings of the Old
and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts, and
therefore, wholly without error as originally given of God, altogether sufficient in
themselves as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. (II
Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
2. We believe that there is but ONE GOD WHO IS IN THREE PERSONS (the
Trinity): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Their purposes are one and Their
offices and actions are completely harmonious. (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:1; I
Corinthians 8:6)
3. We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the second person of the Trinity,
the eternal Word and only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine
Person, He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth; that as Man, He was
tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God,
He gave Himself in death upon the cross for us, suffering the full penalty of
divine wrath in our stead; that He arose bodily from the grave and was glorified;
that as our great High Priest, He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before
the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor. (John 1:1-2; I John 5:20;
Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:26-30; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1)
4. We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT, the third person of the Trinity; that He
convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He
regenerates, indwells, seals, and anoints all who become children of God
through Christ. He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills
believers who daily surrender to Him. All children of God are baptized in the Holy
Spirit at salvation. (II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; John
16:7-11)
5. We believe that ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST;
that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness; that by
personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful
creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful in both nature and
practice. (Romans 3:23 , 5:12 ; Galatians 3:22)
6. We believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Salvation is the free
gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work
of man but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from
Christ there is no possible salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9; II Corinthians 5:21,
7:9-10; Romans 6:23, 10:9-13)
7. We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS, not as a means of
salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore as
Christians, we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are
above, walk as He walked, and accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and
privilege of bearing the gospel to a lost world. (Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10)
8. We believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN, who originally was created a holy
and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition, rebelled against God,
thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and
His people. He was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore, his final
doom is certain. We are able to resist and overcome him only by the blood of
the Lamb, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the armor of God.
(Revelation 12:9-11; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 20:10)
9. We believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His return from
Heaven is imminent and will be personal, visible, pretribulational, and
premillennial. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:6)
10. We believe in THE EVERLASTING CONSCIOUS BLESSEDNESS OF THE
SAVED in Heaven and THE EVERLASTING CONSCIOUS PUNISHMENT OF THE
LOST in Hell. (John 14:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; II Corinthians 5:10;
Philippians 3:20-21; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15; Mark 9:43 -48)
11. We believe in THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, that Christ is our
Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access
into God's presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has
the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures
guided by the Holy Spirit. (I Peter 2:5,9)
12. We believe THAT JESUS CHRIST ALONE IS THE HEAD of the body of
Christ, of which all true believers of this age are members; that all members of
this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local
churches. (Matthew 23:10; I Corinthians 11:3; Hebrews 10:25)
13. We believe in THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH, that a New
Testament church is a local assembly of born-again, baptized believers united in
an organization to practice New Testament ordinances; to meet together for
worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and a united testimony; and to actively
engage in carrying out the Great Commission. (Acts 2:41 , 4:32 ; Matthew
26:26-30, 28:19-20)
14. We believe in THE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL
CHURCH, that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without
ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament
churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is responsible to follow the pattern of
the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God. (Acts 6:1-6;
Galatians 1:1-2)
15. We believe THE ORDINANCES GIVEN TO THE LOCAL CHURCH ARE TWO
-- BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER, that baptism is by immersion of
believers, thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
that the Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believers as
a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. (Matthew
3:13-17, 26:26-30, 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts, and
therefore, wholly without error as originally given of God, altogether sufficient in
themselves as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. (II
Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
2. We believe that there is but ONE GOD WHO IS IN THREE PERSONS (the
Trinity): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Their purposes are one and Their
offices and actions are completely harmonious. (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:1; I
Corinthians 8:6)
3. We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the second person of the Trinity,
the eternal Word and only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine
Person, He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth; that as Man, He was
tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God,
He gave Himself in death upon the cross for us, suffering the full penalty of
divine wrath in our stead; that He arose bodily from the grave and was glorified;
that as our great High Priest, He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before
the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor. (John 1:1-2; I John 5:20;
Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:26-30; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1)
4. We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT, the third person of the Trinity; that He
convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He
regenerates, indwells, seals, and anoints all who become children of God
through Christ. He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills
believers who daily surrender to Him. All children of God are baptized in the Holy
Spirit at salvation. (II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; John
16:7-11)
5. We believe that ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST;
that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness; that by
personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful
creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful in both nature and
practice. (Romans 3:23 , 5:12 ; Galatians 3:22)
6. We believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Salvation is the free
gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work
of man but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from
Christ there is no possible salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9; II Corinthians 5:21,
7:9-10; Romans 6:23, 10:9-13)
7. We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS, not as a means of
salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore as
Christians, we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are
above, walk as He walked, and accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and
privilege of bearing the gospel to a lost world. (Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10)
8. We believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN, who originally was created a holy
and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition, rebelled against God,
thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and
His people. He was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore, his final
doom is certain. We are able to resist and overcome him only by the blood of
the Lamb, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the armor of God.
(Revelation 12:9-11; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 20:10)
9. We believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His return from
Heaven is imminent and will be personal, visible, pretribulational, and
premillennial. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:6)
10. We believe in THE EVERLASTING CONSCIOUS BLESSEDNESS OF THE
SAVED in Heaven and THE EVERLASTING CONSCIOUS PUNISHMENT OF THE
LOST in Hell. (John 14:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; II Corinthians 5:10;
Philippians 3:20-21; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15; Mark 9:43 -48)
11. We believe in THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, that Christ is our
Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access
into God's presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has
the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures
guided by the Holy Spirit. (I Peter 2:5,9)
12. We believe THAT JESUS CHRIST ALONE IS THE HEAD of the body of
Christ, of which all true believers of this age are members; that all members of
this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local
churches. (Matthew 23:10; I Corinthians 11:3; Hebrews 10:25)
13. We believe in THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH, that a New
Testament church is a local assembly of born-again, baptized believers united in
an organization to practice New Testament ordinances; to meet together for
worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and a united testimony; and to actively
engage in carrying out the Great Commission. (Acts 2:41 , 4:32 ; Matthew
26:26-30, 28:19-20)
14. We believe in THE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL
CHURCH, that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without
ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament
churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is responsible to follow the pattern of
the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God. (Acts 6:1-6;
Galatians 1:1-2)
15. We believe THE ORDINANCES GIVEN TO THE LOCAL CHURCH ARE TWO
-- BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER, that baptism is by immersion of
believers, thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
that the Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believers as
a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. (Matthew
3:13-17, 26:26-30, 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
