What We Believe
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and practice. They reveal God, the fall of man, the way of salvation, and God’s plan and purpose for the ages.
(a) By “Scriptures” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as
originally written is the very Word of God.
(b) By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
2. God
There is only one God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. He is inexpressibly glorious, holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love.
3. Jesus Christ
He is the eternal Son of God from everlasting and to everlasting. He was born of a virgin taking on a human body and was without sin. His death and shedding of blood on the cross is the only satisfactory substitute for sin. Christ arose from the dead literally and bodily, and will thus return at the end of this age.
4. Holy Spirit
He is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation and that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness, and He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in the New Birth in that He seals, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
5. Satan
Satan was once holy, enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition, fell and drew after him a host of angels. Satan is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. Satan is man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power backing the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness. Satan is destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
6. The Fall of Man
Humans were created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse and in need of salvation.
7. Salvation
Salvation is free for all by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. The atonement came through Jesus who took upon Himself our sinful 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. He was not a martyr or example but was 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 cross or Calvary. The conditions for salvation are faith and repentance plus nothing and minus nothing. Justification is imputed forever to the sinner who believes in the finished work of Christ.
8. The Church as a Fellowship
The local church is a body of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws; exercising the rights, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. The officers of the church are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. The mission of the church is to make disciples, to build up the church and to teach and instruct as He has commanded. The local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Church must contend for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel and that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with other churches. The ministry of the Church is to be supported through the grace of giving of tithes and offerings the first day of the week.
9. Ordinances
There are two ordinances of the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and follows salvation as a demonstration of saving faith. The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death and love of the Savior, and is preceded by solemn self-examination. This commemoration shall be observed as often as the church leadership decides.
10. Civil Government
Civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. Its officers are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed in all things except those opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming King of all the kings of the earth.
11. Resurrection and Return of Christ
Christ rose bodily on the third day and he alone is our merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. Christ can return at any moment for His saints, will then reward them and return to earth to set up His millennial kingdom after the Tribulation. His coming and His Kingdom are both literal and physical.
12. Judgment
There is a radical difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those justified by faith in the finished work of Christ, are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and are truly righteous and saved and shall experience everlasting life. Those continuing in unbelief are in God’s sight wicked and under the curse and shall experience everlasting conscious suffering.
