1. OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any mixture of error for its matter and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psa. 119:160; Psa. 119:105; Psa. 119:130; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44, 45; Psa. l19:89; Prov. 30:5,6; Rom 3:4; I Peter 2:2,3; Rev. 22:19; John 12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa. 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39.
2. OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, and inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. 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.
Ex. 20:2,3; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; Psa. 83:18; Psa. 90:2; Jer. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3,4; I Cor. 2:10, 11; Phil. 2:5,6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14.
3. OF 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 He was active in the creation. That in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled. That He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness. That He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. That He is the agent in the new birth, who seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
John 14:16,17; Mt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 13:5; Gen. 1:1-3; II Thess. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5,6; Eph. 11:3, 4; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 13:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Rom. 8:14; Rom 8:16; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26,27.
4. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after him a host of angels, and is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and is the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness. He is destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Jude 6; Il Pet. 2:4; Eph. 212; John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1,2; I Peter 5:8; Zech.31:2; I John 3:8; Matt 13:25-39; Luke 22:3,4; II Cor. 11:13-15; Mark 13:21,22; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13, 14; II Thess. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 12:7-10; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:20; Matt. 25:41.
5. OF CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively. Man was created directly in God’s own likeness, and not a matter of evolution, or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms. All animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
Gen. 1:1; Ecc. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 1:13; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6; Gen. 1:26, 27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:11, 24.
6. OF THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF 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. As a result, man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.
Gen. 1:26, 27; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3.
7. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus Christ was miraculously begotten of the Holy Ghost, born of Mary a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a 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; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47
8. OF THE 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, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience. He, by His death, made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins, not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but as the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place. The Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bore our sins in His own body on the tree. And having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person, the tenderness sympathies with divine perfection. He always was qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3: 24,25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7,8; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; John 10:18; Gal. 1:4; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2.
9. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. The new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; it is instantaneous and not a process. In the new birth, those once dead in trespasses and sins, have been made partakers of the divine nature and receive eternal life, the free gift of God. This new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, in order to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. The proper evidence of new birth in a person appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
John 3:3,6,7; II Cor. 5:17; I John 5:1; Acts 2:41; I Peter 1:3; Rom 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 1:12, 13; Gal, 3:22; Eph. 2:89.
10. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe in God’s electing grace, that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel, and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith. Not preventing the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth by his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Col. 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:2; Rom. 8:29, 30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev, 22: 17; Rom, 10:13; John 6:37; Isa. 55:7; John 3:15, 16; I Tim. 1:16; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2: 4, 5; John 5:40; John 3:18, 36.
11. OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him, is Justification. That Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life, not on principles of righteousness. It is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, through which His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11: Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 4:1-8; Titus 3:5-7; Rom 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38.
12. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that Repentance and Faith are essential wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. Thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ and upon confession. At the same time, heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1315; Acts 2:37, 38; Luke 18:13; Psa. 51:1-4; Psa. 54:7; Isa. 55:6, 7; Rom. 10:11.
13. OF THE CHURCH
We believe that a Scriptural church is a congregation of saved and scripturally baptized believers, associated by a 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. That its officer of ordination is the Pastor (Elder, Bishop), whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order.
Acts 2:4, 42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4, 8:11, 16:2, 5:11-13; Acts 14:23, 6:5, 6; 15:23, 20:17-29: I Tim. 3:1-7, 3:8-13; Matt. 28:19, 20; Col. 1:8; Eph. 5:23, 24; I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3, 4; II Cor. 8:23, 24; Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32.
14. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church. In order to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded by solemn self-examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 316; John 3:23; Mt. 3:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41, 42; Mt. 28: 19, 20: I Cor. 11: 23-28.
15. ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Jn. 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
Rom. 12:12-14; Gal. 5: 13; Titus 2:11-15; Jn. 8:31, 23; Col. 1:21-23; I John 2:19; Mt. 13:19-21; Rom. 8:28; Mt. 6:20; Psa. 12:13; Heb. 1:14; I Peter 1:5; Phil. 1:6; Jn. 10:28, 29; Rom. 8:35-39.
16. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those justified through faith, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem. While all that continue in impenitence and unbelief, are in His sight wicked, and under the curse. This distinction holds among men, both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved, and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom.6:16, 17, 18; Prov. 11:31; 1 Peter 4:18; Rom. 1:17; 1 Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34, 35; I Jn. 2:29, 1 Jn. 3:27; I Jn. 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Mt. 25: 34, 41; Jn. 8:21; Luke 9:26; Jn. 12:25; Mt. 7:13, 14.
17. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, in the interest and good order of human society. That magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only 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. 13:7; II Sam. 2:13; Ex. 18:21, 22; Acts 2:15; Mt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13, 14, 17; Acts 4:19, 20; Daniel 3:17, 18; Matt. 10:28; Rev. 10:6; Phil. 2:10, 11; Psa. 72:11.
18. OF THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects, at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily, “The third day according to the Scriptures”. That he ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”, and “this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven”, bodily, personally, and visible. The “dead in Christ shall rise first”, the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”, and “the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David”. And then, “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.”
Mt. 28:6, 7; 24:27, 42; Luke 25:39; 2:4-6; 24:51; 1:32; Jn. 20:27: I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6, 19: Acts 1:9, 2 Heb. 8:1, 6; 12:2; 9:28, 5:9-10; 2:17; I Tim 2:52; I Jn. 2:1; Jn. 14:3; I Thess. 4:17; Psa. 72:8; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11: 4, 51; Phil. 3:20, 21: Rev. 20: 1-4, 6, 3:21.
19. OF MISSIONS
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this commission was given to the churches.
Matt. 28: 18-20 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, For e therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
John 20:21 – “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Romans 10:13-15 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
20. OF THE GRACE OF GIVING
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. II Cor. 8:7 “Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that we abound in this grace also.”
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. I Cor. 16:2 “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”