ARTICLES OF FAITH
Section 1. SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally and plenarily inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore has 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. II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21.
Section 2. 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 the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; I John 5:7.
Section 3. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, equal in nature and essence with God the Father and God the Son; that He was active in creation; that in 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; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth whereby He enlightens, convicts, converts, regenerates, quickens, indwells, seals, baptizes, anoints, and endues with power to bear witness; that He guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, distributes gifts, fills, intercedes, and assures the believer. John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; Luke 1:35; 24:49; Gen. 1:1-3; I Cor. 12-14; Acts 5:30- 32; 11:16; Rom. 8:14; 16:26-27; Eph. 1:13-14; Mark 1:8.
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers for the building up of the body of Christ; however we believe that some gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and healing, were limited to the early church. We believe that God answers the prayers of His people and meets their needs according to His purpose.
Section 4. DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; 11:14-15; Rev. 20:10.
Section 5. CREATION
We believe that by a free act of His will and for His own glory, God created all the visible and invisible universe out of nothing (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 33:6, 9; 148:5) so that, while it is distinct from His own existence, the universe is always dependent upon Him. God created the heavens and the earth and their inhabitants by direct acts of creation and not by an evolutionary process (Gen. 1:27; 2:7; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17). God created the earth and all things in, on, and around it in six literal 24-hour days (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 31:17; John 1:3; Col. 1:16).
In light of God’s creative design, we believe the Bible teaches that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bonds of a Biblically defined marriage. Any other form of marriage or sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gracious will. Gen. 2:18, 24-25; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom. 1:24-29; 7:2; I Cor. 6:9-20; 7:1-5; Eph. 5:22-33; Heb. 13:4.
Section 6. FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequences 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; 4:19; 5:10-19.
Section 7. 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 our 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 happiness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Gen 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18, 23; 7:6; I John 5:19; Prov. 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matt. 25:34-41; John 8:21.
Section 8. VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; 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 1:35; John 1:14.
Section 9. ATONEMENT FOR SIN
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, 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 as a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tender sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Isa. 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21.
Section 10. GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in 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, 6-8; II Cor. 5:17, 19; I John 5:1; Acts 16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13.
Section 11 JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justified; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on 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 Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 5:1, 9; 8:1.
Section 12. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is a separation from sin unto salvation, from works unto grace, from hell unto heaven, from ungodliness unto holiness. Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, the believer is set apart positionally at the time of salvation (I Cor. 6:11); continually by the work of the Holy Spirit, whereby dying to sin and living unto righteousness (John 17:17, 19; I Cor. 6:11; II Cor. 7:1; I Thess. 5:23, 24); and finally at the coming of Christ, being like Him (Col. 3:4: I Thess. 3:12, 13; Rom. 8:18, 30; I John 3:2, 3).
Section 13. FAITH AND SALVATION
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16.31.
Section 14. SECURITY OF THE SAINTS
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by the Father and Jesus Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and therefore, can never lose their salvation. Phil. 1:6; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Jude 1:24; I John 5:11-13; I Pet. 1:4-5; Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30; I Thess. 4:7.
Section 15. LOCAL CHURCH
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. We believe the true mission of the 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 a 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 methods of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:18.
Section 16. OFFICES OF THE CHURCH
We believe that the two officers of the church are [1] the bishop, elder, or pastor (Acts 20:28; I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-7) and [2] the deacon (Acts 6:1-6; I Tim. 3:8-13).
Section 17. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, demonstrating our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. We believe that Christian baptism automatically leads to church membership in the local church administering the ordinance.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We believe that the biblical order of the ordinances is baptism first, and then, the Lord’s Supper.
We also believe that the administration of both the ordinances is the exclusive privilege and right of the duly constituted local church. Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; 16:14-15, 33; 18:8; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; I Cor. 11:23-28.
Section 18. SEPARATION
We believe in obedience to the biblical commands to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy. Personal separation is the believer setting himself apart unto God and holy living by abstaining from obvious worldly practices and other practices that the principles of the Word of God reveal not to be right and proper conduct for the child of God (I Tim. 6:11; II Tim. 2:22; James 4:7; I Thess. 5:22; I Pet. 2:11; I John 2:15-17).
We believe that the local church should not be involved in union services with churches holding doctrine and practice differing from ours, such as those who are involved in the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, New-Evangelical movement, the Charismatic movement, etc. (II John 9-11; II Thess. 3:6). This is separation from both unbelievers and believers if they obey not the Word of God (Rom. 16:17; II Cor. 6:17; II Thess. 3:6, 14; I Tim. 3:3-6; Titus 3:10; Rev. 2:14-16).
Section 19. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
We believe that marriage is ordained by God; that marriage vows are sacred, binding and irrevocable; that only death dissolves the marriage relationship, and that those who are divorced should remain unmarried or be reconciled (Luke 16:18; Mark 10:9-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:10-11).
We believe that no Christian should marry a non-Christian; that no Christian should marry a divorced person; and that the pastor should perform no marriage ceremonies for divorced people (Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:1-3; II Cor. 6:14).
Section 20. 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 the kings of the earth. Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:15; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20; Dan. 3:17-18.
Section 21. ISRAEL
We believe in the sovereign election of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people; that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ; that she will be re-gathered in the Holy Land, and after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Gen. 13:14-17; Rom. 11:1-32; Ezek. 37.
Section 22. RAPTURE
We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ, an event which could occur at any moment. At that moment, the dead in Christ shall rise in glorified bodies; the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of the Tribulation. I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:42-44, 52-54; Phil. 3:20, 21; Rev. 3:10.
Section 23. THE RESURRECTION, PERSONAL, VISIBLE, PRE-TRIBULATIONAL, PRE-MILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:2-6, 39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6.
We believe in the ascension of Christ into heaven. Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 12:2.
We believe in the high priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1.
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, second coming of Jesus Christ for His Church and then seven years later to the earth. John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28.
We believe in the resurrection of the righteous dead. I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:42-44, 52; Dan. 12:1, 2.
We believe in the change of the living in Christ. I Cor. 15:52-53; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall literally rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30.
We believe in the literal millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4-5; 32:1; Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:6, 14.