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Statement of Faith
The
Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Bible, “as it is in truth, the Word of God...” (I Thessalonians 2:13). We believe in verbal, plenary inspiration in the original writings, and God's preservation of His pure words to every generation (II Timothy 3:16, Psalms 12:6-8).
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Bible, “as it is in truth, the Word of God...” (I Thessalonians 2:13). We believe in verbal, plenary inspiration in the original writings, and God's preservation of His pure words to every generation (II Timothy 3:16, Psalms 12:6-8).
The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use; the King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ
accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a
representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our
justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead
(Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended
to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High
Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy
Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We
believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the
baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body
from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the
resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers
for physical healing (II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8; Hebrews 2:3-4;
Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22).
Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
The sacredness of human personality is evident
in that God created man in His own image and is mindful of him, and in that
Christ died for man; therefore every individual possesses dignity and is worthy
of respect and Christian love. (Psalm 8:4-9; Colossians 3:9-11).
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation and the fact that man was created by a direct act of God, not by evolution (Gen. 1:26,27).
We believe the Genesis account of creation and the fact that man was created by a direct act of God, not by evolution (Gen. 1:26,27).
- We believe that the Creator
(Gen. 1:2, 26, 27; Neh. 9:6, Ps. 24:1,2; Isa. 40:12; Jer. 51:15; Acts
14:15; Eph. 3:9)of the universe is a triune God (Isa. 48:16; Matt.
3:16-17; I Pet. 1:2) Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is
only one eternal and transcendent God (Deut. 6:4), The source of all
being and meaning, and He exists in three Persons, each of whom participated
in (Gen. 1:1) the work of creation described in Gen. 1:1-2;3.
- We believe that all things in
the universe were created and made (Col. 1:16) by God in the six literal
days of the creation week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed
in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual, historical,
and clear to the understanding; thus all theories of origins or
development which involve evolution in any form are false (II
Peter 3:3-9).
- We believe that all things
which now exist are sustained and ordered by God's providential care
(Col.1:17).
- We believe that the final
restoration of creation's perfection (Col. 1:20; II Peter 3:13) is yet
future.
The Way of Salvation
We believe that the clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is "by grace" plus nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that the clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is "by grace" plus nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved
are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that
eternal life is the present possession of every believer (John 6:37-40,
10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2).
The Church
We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord is doing His work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord is doing His work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church
free of any external authority or control. Christ is the only head of the
church (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9,16;
5:4-7,13; I Peter 5:1-4).
The Ordinances of the Church
We recognize the ordinances of baptism by immersion in water and the Lord's Supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for local churches in this age (Matthew. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
We recognize the ordinances of baptism by immersion in water and the Lord's Supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for local churches in this age (Matthew. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
Biblical Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
Discipline
Members who become opposed to the Doctrinal Statement or to the Church Covenant in any substantial or open way, or who engage in conduct obviously unbecoming a Christian are subject to expulsion from membership. They are first to be approached by the person discovering the sin with a view to prayerful correction of the situation (Matt. 18:15). If this is unavailing then they are to be approached with two or three witnesses (Matt. 18:16). If such persons are still unrepentant, they shall be brought before the church according to Matthew 18:17, and if still unrepentant, dismissed from the church and shall be notified either in person or by registered mail. Restoration to embership shall be only after public confession and repentance, in either a regular worship service or business meeting. Such restoration and repentance should always be the goal of any discipline taken.
Members who become opposed to the Doctrinal Statement or to the Church Covenant in any substantial or open way, or who engage in conduct obviously unbecoming a Christian are subject to expulsion from membership. They are first to be approached by the person discovering the sin with a view to prayerful correction of the situation (Matt. 18:15). If this is unavailing then they are to be approached with two or three witnesses (Matt. 18:16). If such persons are still unrepentant, they shall be brought before the church according to Matthew 18:17, and if still unrepentant, dismissed from the church and shall be notified either in person or by registered mail. Restoration to embership shall be only after public confession and repentance, in either a regular worship service or business meeting. Such restoration and repentance should always be the goal of any discipline taken.
The Return of Christ
We believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, remillennial, and pretribulational. Believers will caught up to be with the Lord prior to the seven years of ibulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4)
We believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, remillennial, and pretribulational. Believers will caught up to be with the Lord prior to the seven years of ibulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4)
Our Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are,
at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious
bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are
reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; Revelation 20:4-6;
II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
We believe that the souls of unbelievers
remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when
with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne
Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but
to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46;
II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).