Declaration of Faith

The Scriptures:  We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Old and New Testament Scriptures without error as originally given, and that they are the only absolute and perfect rule of faith and practice, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be judged.  Prov. 30:5,6   Isaiah 8:20   Matt. 5:19   Matt. 24:35   John 5:39  
 John 10:35      John 14:15     II Tim. 3:16, 17   II Peter 1:19-21

The True God:  We believe that there is only one God, and only One Who is self existent, eternal, and infinite, in every attribute and Who has revealed Himself as Father, Son,  and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality.  These three persons are co-equal and co-eternal.  This God, the true God, is alone worthy of man’s worship.   Exod. 3:19     Deut. 6:4    Deut. 32:4  Isaiah 45:21   Jer. 10:10    John 1:1-13  John 14:26 John 15:26   Acts 5:3,4  Romans 9:5    I Cor. 3:16    I Cor. 12:11  I Tim. 3:16   Hebrews 9:14  Rev. 1:8

Jesus Christ:  We believe in the absolute deity of Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth, whereby He maintained his God nature and was imparted a perfect human nature, making it impossible for Him to sin; His vicarious death, whereby He took the place of the sinner on the Cross and endured his suffering and shed His precious blood for the remission of sin; His bodily resurrection and ascension; His present high priestly ministry, and in the imminence of His literal and premillennial return.  John 1:12  John 3:16     Acts 1:11    Acts 4:12     Romans 5:8   II Cor. 5:21   Gal. 3:13    I Thes. 4:16,17  I Peter 1:18,19
 
The Holy Spirit:  We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that Hew was active in creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purposes are 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 of the New Birth; that He seals, indwells, empowers, baptizes, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps every believer.  Gen. 1:1-3     Matt. 28:19    Mark 1:8   Luke 1:35   Luke 24:49  John 1:33   John 3:5,6  John 14:16,17,26    John 16:8-11   Acts 1:8    Acts 5:30-32    Acts 11:16   Rom.  8:14,16,26,27     Eph. 1:13,14    Heb. 9:14

The Fall of Man:  We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Creator, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless state, and as a result of his (Adam’s) sin, the whole human race are sinners, not only by nature, but also of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:16   Gen.3:24           Rom. 1:18    Rom. 5:10-19 

 Justification:  We believe that as a result of this acceptance of Christ by faith, God declares the sinner free from the penalty of sin, and restores him once again to His favor; imputing to him the very righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, not because of any works that he has done but solely on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ.  Acts 13:39  Rom. 3:24         Rom. 4:4,5   Rom. 5:1,2,9   II Cor. 5:21  Eph. 2:12,13 

 Security of the Saints:  We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. 
 John 10:28,29     Rom. 8:35-38     Phil. 1:6    Jude 1

The Church:  We believe that the invisible church, or Body of Christ, includes all born again persons from Pentecost to the rapture, and that their supreme mission is the proclamation of the Gospel of the grace of God to all who are lost without Jesus Christ.  We believe the visible or local church is a company of believers baptized in the name of the Triune God and observing the ordinances and obeying the principles set forth in the Word of God.  Rom. 6:17   I Cor. 11:2    
I Cor. 12:27   I Cor. 28:1      Eph. 1:22,23    Eph. 2:19-21     Eph. 5:27     Col. 1:18   II Tim. 1:13

 The Independence of the Local Church:  We believe that every believer has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority, and that church and state must be kept separate.  Matt. 22:21        Mark 12:17    Acts 4:18-20      Acts 5:29     Rom. 13:1-7  Eph. 1:21

Baptism and the Lord’s Table:  We believe that the ordinances of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord’s Table (Supper).  Baptism is the immersion (burial) in water of a believer, into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit testifying to the fact that the believer was in Christ when judged for sin on the cross, was buried in the tomb and raised again from the dead.
            We believe the Lord’s Supper was established as a means of showing forth in remembrance Christ’s death for us until He comes again.  The Lord’s Table is open to all saved persons living in fellowship with and obedience to Jesus Christ. Matt 28:19   John 6:51-58     Acts 2:41,42      Acts 8:36-39      Acts 16:31,33    Rom. 6:1-5  I Cor. 11:23-32   Col. 2:12

Satan and his Angels:  We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and his fallen angels, 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. Job 1:8,9,12   Isa. 14:12-15   Matt. 4:1-3    II Cor. 4:4     John 8:44   II Pet. 2:4   Jude 6    Rev 9:1   
Rev. 12:9,10    Rev. 20:10-13

The Rapture and Second Coming of Christ:  We believe Jesus Christ will come bodily and in the air before the Tribulation to receive (rapture) unto Himself His own, and that immediately after the Tribulation and prior to the Millennium, He will come to earth with His saints, and establish His earthly kingdom for a thousand years. Zech. 14:4,5      Matt. 24:21   Matt. 24:29,30   Acts 1:11     I Cor 15  I Thes 4:16,17    Rev. 3:10

The Resurrection:  We believe in the literal resurrection of the body – the just for reward and endless bliss, the unjust for judgment and eternal suffering.  Dan. 12:2    John 5:28,29     Acts 24:15   I Thes. 4:13-18     Rev. 20-1-15  

The Believer's Two Natures:  We believe that those who are born again possess two natures and that they by choice may be victorious over the old through the power of the new but the eradication of the old will not occur until we are translated.  Any teaching to the contrary is considered unbiblical.   Rom. 6:13; 8:12     Gal. 5:16-25   Eph. 4:22-24      Col. 1:10     I Pet. 1:14-16    I John 3:5-9

             We understand that the above statements do not by any means exhaust the contents of our creed, which is the entire Word of God.  Neither are they intended to set a limit beyond which faith cannot go within that Word.  But we do believe that insofar as these Articles extend they are a true presentation of the sound doctrines taught in the Scriptures and, therefore, binding upon us as Christian believers.