Section 1. Of the Scriptures – We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments to be verbally inspired of God. We accept them as the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:19-21; II Samuel 23:2. We believe that there is harmony of the Law and the Gospel. The Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good. Romans 3:31; Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 3:20.
Section 2. Of the True God – We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three persons in one substance and equal in every divine perfection. These three personalities execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. a. We believe that God, the Father, is an infinite, personal spirit, perfection in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:26; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; John 14:6; II Cor. 13:14; Matthew 3:16, 17; Rom. 1:7. b. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe that He became man without ceasing to be God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to Earth. John 1:1,2, 14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:4-11; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34. c. We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent from the Father and the Son to convict the World of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every Believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. John 16:8-11; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14.
Section 3. Of God’s Purpose of Grace – We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of men, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of His means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence. II Timothy 1:8-9, 2:10; Romans 3:27; 8:28-31; 9:1-33; 11:5-6; John 15:16; Malachi 1:1-3; Romans 4:16; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; 15:14; Exodus 33:18-19; Ephesians 1:11; Jeremiah 31:3; James 1:17; I Corinthians 4:7; 9:22; 1:26-31; Colossians 3:12; I Thessalonians 1:4-10; 2:12-13; II Peter 1:10-11.
Section 4. Of the Depravity of Man – We believe in the total depravity of man. We believe that the material universe, including man, came into being by the direct creation of God, and not by the process of evolution. We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the whole human 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 1:1, 26-27; John 1:1-3; Romans 3:21-23; 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:5.
Section 5. Of the Salvation of Man – We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of Salvation. Salvation to the sinner is wholly of Grace and made possible only through the vicarious death of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary; that there is salvation in none other than Christ, and that a personal acceptance of Him is absolutely essential. To be saved a sinner must be born again; the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, and it is instantaneous and not a process. Evidence of the New Birth appears with visible fruit of the Holy Spirit. John 3:6-7, 16-18; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 16:3; Ephesians 2:8-9. We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on Earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 1:18; 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Luke 14:17; 19:27; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17; 9:32; 16:25-26; John 3:19, 5:40; Matthew 23:37; Proverbs 1:24; Acts; Matthew 11:20; II Thessalonians 1:8.
Section 6. Of the Regeneration of Man – We believe that to be saved sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:1-13; 4:14; I Corinthians 2:14; II Corinthians 5:17; Exodus 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; James 1:16-18; I Peter 1:22-25; I John 5:1.
Section 7. Of the Repentance and Faith of Man – We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, relying on Him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior. Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 16:30-31; Ephesians 2:8; I John 5:1; John 16:8; Luke 18:13, 15:18-21; James 4:7-11; I Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:8-13; Psalms 51; II Timothy 1:12.
Section 8. Of the Justification of Man – We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; and 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; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 10:43, 13:39; Isaiah 53: 11-12; Romans 5:1, 2, 9, 21; 8:1; 4:4, 5; Titus 3:5-7; I Peter 3:7; I John 2:25; Philippians 3:7-9; I Corinthians 1:30-31; Matthew 6:33; 9:6; Zechariah 13:1.
Section 9. Of the Sanctification of the Believer – We believe that Sanctification is the process by which the Believer is set apart unto Christ according to the will of God and made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and it is carried on in the hearts of the believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer, and Comforter in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer. I Peter 3:15; II Timothy 2:21; I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 4:18; Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; Philippians 3:12-16; 1:9-11.
Section 10. Of the Perseverance and Assurance of the Believer – We believe that such only as are true believers will endure unto the end, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. John 8:31; 13:18; I John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18; 2:19; Matthew 13:20; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah 32:40; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and thus are secured in Christ forever. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. Romans 13:13-14; 8:1, 31-39; I Peter 1:5; Hebrews 5:9; 7:25; John 10:27-30; I John 5:12-13.
Section 11. Of the Believer’s Two Natures – We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. Romans 6:11-13; 7:15-25; 8:2, 4; Galatians 5:16-25; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:22-24.
Section 12. Of the New Testament Church – We believe that a visible church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel established by Jesus Christ who is the sole head; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only Scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined by the epistles to Timothy and Titus. We believe that this church began with the New Testament saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. I Corinthians 1:1-13; 4:17; 14:23; 5:12-13; 11:2, 23, 24; 14:12; Matthew 18:15-20; 28:20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 1:8; 2:1-13; 15:14; 14:23; 5:11; 8:1; 11:21-23; III John 9; Ephesians 4:7; Philippians 1:27; 1:1; I Timothy 3; Titus 1; II Corinthians 2:17; John 14:15-21; I John 4:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; Romans 16:26. We believe that the church, the body of Christ, is manifest through the local church, which is the congregation of immersed believers.
Section 13. Of the Ordinances – We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism.” It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effects in our lives of 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. We believe that it should be preceded by baptism and a careful self-examination. Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 28:20.
Section 14. Of Dispensationalism – We believe in the dispensational view of the Bible interpretation but reject the extreme teaching which opposes either the Lord’s Supper or water baptism, known as “Hyper Dispensationalism.”
Section 15. Of the Last Things – We believe that the end of the World is approaching, and that as this time draws nigh three things should be considered: a. The Second Advent of Christ – We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the Rapture of the church which is characterized by the coming of Jesus Christ at the end of this present age. We believe that this coming will be personal, imminent, pretribulational, and premillenial for the redeemed of this age; and that in His subsequent return to Earth with His Saints He will establish His Millennial Kingdom. John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; James 5:7,8; II Thessalonians 1:7, 12; Revelation 20:1-6. b. The Judgment Seat of Christ – We believe that every saved person will appear before the “Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged by his Lord in regards to faithful service. This judgment is not a judgment for sin (the believer’s sin has all been judged at the cross of Calvary), but it is for his works. The results of this judgment is a gain or loss of rewards. As a Christian all of our “bad” or “dead works,” represented by wood, hay, or stubble, will be consumed and only our “good” works shall remain. Christians will be rewarded for works that have been judged worthy of reward by the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10. c. Eternal State – We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved unto eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. 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. 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; Mathew 25:46; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:5, 6, 12, 13; 21:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; II Corinthians 5:8.