Our Statement of Faith
THE SCRIPTURES: We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, was written by man divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. II Timothy 3:16,17; Isaiah 8:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21
THE TRUE GOD: We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an intelligent, infinite Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost — equal in the great work of redemption. John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Exodus 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:18
THE FALL OF MAN: We believe that man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint buy choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation of eternal ruin without defense or excuse. Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3:6-24; Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:19,20; Romans 1:20; Romans 5:19
THE WAY OF SALVATION: We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature; that being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin, He honored the divine law by His personal obedience and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and, uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16; Philippians 2:16,17; Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:18; Isaiah 53:4,5
JUSTIFICATION: We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life in principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemers blood, by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1,2; Romans 5:9; Romans 4:4,5
THE FREENESS OF SALVATION: We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these blessings by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 55:1; Romans 16:25,26; John 5:40; John 3:19
GRACE IN REGENERATION: We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; John 3:8; I Peter 1:22-25; Ephesians 5:9; Galatians 5:16-23
REPENTENCE AND FAITH: We believe that repentance and faith are secured duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; and at the same time we heartily receive the Lord Jesus as our all-sufficient Savior. Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Romans 10:9,10; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 2:37,38
GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE: We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerated, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, God’s purpose comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that grace is a most glorious display of Gods sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that grace utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effect in all who truly believe the Gospel; that is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence. II Timothy 1:8,9; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; Exodus 33:18,19; II Timothy 2:10; II Peter 1:10-11
SANCTIFICATION: We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer. I Thessalonians 4:3; I John 2:29; Philippians 2:12,13; Romans 8:5
THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS: We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their perseverance attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. John 3:31; I John 2:19; Roman 8:28; Philippians 1:16
THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL: 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 the inability which the Scriptures ascribes to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; and that the one great end of the Gospel is to deliver them from this inability and to restore them, through a Mediator, to unfeigned obedience to the holy law and of the means of grace connected with the established of the visible church. Romans 3:31; Romans 7:12; Romans 8:7,8; Romans 8:2-4
A GOSPEL CHURCH: We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus. Matthew 18:17; I Corinthians 1:1-13; I Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:41-42; I Timothy 3, Titus 1
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER: We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit to show forth a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the sacred use of that bread and wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is to be preached always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:36-39; John 3:22-23; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:26; I Corinthians 11:28
THE LORD’S DAY: We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes by abstaining from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity; by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest which remained for all the people of God. Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-25; Psalm 118:24; Hebrews 4:3-11; Isaiah 58:1
CIVIL GOVERNMENT: We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Matthew 23:10
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED: We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified it the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem, while such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Malachi 3:18; Romans 1:17; I John 5:19; Luke 16:25
THE WORLD TO COME: We believe that the end of this age is approaching. I Peter 4:7
We believe in that blessed hope – the personal, imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. Acts 24:15; Matthew 24:31-46; Revelation 22:11