| Statement of Faith
THE WORD OF GOD - We believe that
the Bible, the Old and New Testament, is the Word of God,
fully inspired and without error in the original
manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit and that it has supreme authority in all matters of
faith and conduct. Psalm 119:89; Romans 15:4; I Corinthians
10:11; II Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter
1:21.
THE TRINITY - We believe that there is one living and
true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these
are equal in divine perfection, and that they execute
distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation,
providence and redemption. Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4;
Matthew 3:16, 28:19; John 5:18; Acts 5:3,4; Romans 1:20;
Philippians 2:6.
GOD THE FATHER - We believe in God the Father, the
creator of heaven and earth, an infinite personal spirit,
perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that
He concerns Himself mercifully in human affairs, that He
hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and
eternal death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9-13; John 3:16, 4:24, 5:26,
17:11,25; Romans 8:33.
JESUS CHRIST- We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only
begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in
His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We
believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily
resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession
for His people and physical visible return to earth. Matthew
1:20; Luke 1:34,35; John 1:1, 3:16, 11:25; Acts 1:3,9,
16:31; I Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; Revelations 1:7.
THE HOLY SPIRIT- We believe in the Holy Spirit who
came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of
guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment, and to
regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus
Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every
believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper,
teacher and guide. John 14:17, 16:8; Acts 5:1-4; Romans
8:1-17, 15:16; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Titus 3:5; I John
2:27.
MAN - We believe that all people are created by God
in His image, to glorify Him forever. Because the first
couple, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God's command when tested,
they and all people since are alienated from God and are
sinners by nature and by choice. Because God is holy and
cannot tolerate sin, all people are under condemnation and
unable to save themselves. Genesis 1:26; Psalm 5:15; Matthew
5:16; Romans 3:23,15:6; Revelations 4:11.
SALVATION - We believe that Jesus Christ was
crucified, His blood was shed and He rose again to bear the
condemnation of all people, and that nothing prevents
salvation except non-acceptance of Jesus Christ as
sin-bearer. Those who repent of their sins and trust in
Jesus Christ as Savior are freed from condemnation and given
eternal life. John 1:12, 3:16,17, 6:40, 14:6; Ephesians
2:8-9; Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24; II Peter 3:9.
THE CHURCH - We believe in the universal church, a
living spiritual body composed of regenerated believers. We
believe in the local church, which consists of a company of
Christian believers who bear a credible profession of faith
and associate for worship, work and fellowship. Matthew
28:17-20; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 12:12-31.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT- We believe that a Christian should
live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellow
men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world;
that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and
that he should seek to realize for himself and others, the
full stature of maturity in Christ. I Corinthians 2:14-3:3;
Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:1-33.
THE ORDINANCES - We believe that the Lord Jesus
Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church,
baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian
baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name
of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was
instituted by Christ to commemorate His vicarious atoning
death. We believe that these two ordinances should be
observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Acts 8:26-40; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:17-34.
THE LAST THINGS - We believe in the physical and
visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the
establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection
of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the
righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. John
14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelations 20:11-15.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY - We believe that every human being
is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that
each church is independent and must be free from
interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority.
CHURCH COOPERATION - We believe local churches best
promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one
another. Cooperation in a conference or interdenominational
fellowship is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.
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