Of the Scriptures

 

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter.  We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds, and opinions.  II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21.  Use of King James Version in church only.

 

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--one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. Exodus 20:2,3   I Cor. 8:6

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the Agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies and helps the believer, in dwelling every Child of God.  II Cor. 13:14; John 14:16,17; Romans 8:14-27.

We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary.  John 1:1,2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38

 

Of the Devil, or Satan

 

We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the God of this age, author of all the powers of darkness and sin.  He will be bound during the earthly millennial reign of Christ, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.  Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:1-3.

 

Of the Creation

 

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life “each after its own kind” by direct act and not by the process of evolution.  Gen. 1:2; Col. 1:16, 17; John 1:3.

 

Of the Fall of Man

 

We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created  in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all  mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become practical sinners with the first expression of personal choice, not by constraint, but by choice and so are without excuse before God.  Gen. 3; Rom. 5:10-19.

 

Of the Atonement for Sin

 

We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy.  John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Heb. 10:4; Acts 16:30-33.

 

Of Salvation by Grace

 

We  believe that in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and that this salvation is wholy by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure.  Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 2:5-7; Romans 10:9-13.  We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ.  John 10:28, 29; Rom. 8:36-39; Phil. 1:6.

 

Of the Church

 

We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established of Jesus Christ, who is its sole Head; revealed through the Holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, both Jew and Gentile, called out from this world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory.  It began with the New Testament saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture.  Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13; 41-47; 13-14; Romans 16:26; I Cor. 12:12-28; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23-33; I Thess. 4:13-15.

 

We believe that the Church universal is manifest through the local church, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinance of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His word; that its officers are bishops or pastors and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the local church is final.  Matt. 18:15-17; I Cor. 1:2; 7:17; 11:16; I Tim. 3:1-15.

 

Of the Ordinances

 

We believe that there are two church ordinances; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Baptism is the immersion of believers in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism.”  It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith on a crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our lives of death to sin and resurrection of 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 come and our continual fellowship with Him, should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination.  Acts8:38-39; Romans 6:3-5; II Cor. 11:23-32.

 

Of the Righteous and Wicked

 

We believe that here is a radical and essential difference between the righteous in God’s esteem; while all such who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked; and under the curse; everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.  Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matt. 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 6:21.

 

 

Of the Return of Christ

 

We believe in the bodily, personal, premillennial return of Jesus Christ that He will come before the seven years tribulation period to catch away His church, coming only into the air, and that He will come with His Church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His earthly millennial Kingdom.  I Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 20:4-6.

 

Of the Resurrection

 

We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who are asleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air and that the wicked dead will be raised at the end of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final doom.  John 5:21-30; I Thess. 4:16;    Rev. 7:9-17; Rev. 20:11-15.