Statement of Faith

Article 1 – The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Article 2 – The True God

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressively glorious in holiness; and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in unity of the Godhead there 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; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev.  4:11.

Article 3 – Jesus Christ

We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God, existing from all eternity equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His Deity. As man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son.

Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 2, 14.

Article 4 – The Holy Spirit

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

Gen. 1:1-13; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; John 14:16-17, 16:8-11; Rom. 8:14-16, 26-27; 2 Cor. 13:14.

Article 5 – Satan

We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, author of all powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.

Matt. 4:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10.

Article 6 – The Creation

We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race.

Gen. 1:1-2; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17.

Article 7 – The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. 

Gen 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18, 32, 5:10-19.

Article 8 – The Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in the Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all-sufficient savior.

Isa. 53:4-7; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8; Philippians 2:7; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 4:10.

Article 9 – Grace in the New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that 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, that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely 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 and faith and newness of life.

John 3:3,8; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17,19; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 3:6-7.

 Article 10 – Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification.

A. That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness.

B. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.

Isa. 53:11; Acts 13:39; Rom 5:1, 9, 8:1.

Article 11 – Salvation by Grace

We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure.

Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:5.

Article 12 – The Church

A. Universal (The Body of Christ)

We believe that the church universal is a New Testament institution unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, Who is the sole head; revealed through the holy apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; Christ’s body for service and His “bride” for glory. 

Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:1-13, 41-47; 1 Cor. 12:12-28; Eph. 1:22-23, 3:21, 5:23-33; Col. 1:18; 1 Thes. 4:13-18.

B. Local

We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of 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 officers are pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures. We believe the true mission of this church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of an hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-28; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24; Col.:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15.

Article 13 – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church relation. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him; should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination.

Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-32.

Article 14 – The Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ and cannot lose their salvation.

John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; Jude 1, 24.

Article 15 – 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 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death; in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Prov. 14:32; Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:34-46; John 3:16-36, 8:21, 14:1-3; Rom. 6:17-18, 23; 1 John 5:19.

Article 16 – Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of Kings of the earth.

Ex. 18:21-22; 2 Sam. 23:3; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20, 5:19-29, 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7.

Article 17 – The Return of Christ

A. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matt. 28:6, 7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6, 39; John 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4.

B. We believe in the ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21.

C. We believe in the high priesthood of Jesus Christ or Lord.

1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:17; 5:9-10, 8:6; 1 John 2:1.

D. We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matt. 24:27; John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Col. 3:4; 1 Thes. 1:9-10, 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7-9;  Titus 2:13; Jude 14.

E. We believe in the resurrection of the righteous dead, the resurrection of the unsaved, and the change of the living in Christ.

John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1Cor. 15:42-44, 51-53; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:12-15.

F. We believe in a new heaven and a new earth.

Rev. 21, 22.