Statement of Faith

SECTION 1.  We believe that the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, was written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost so governed these men that their very words were God’s words and therefore without any mistakes in the original writings.  This is verbal plenary inspiration.  Because the Bible is God’s Word, it is our only and final authority in all matters pertaining to faith and life and doctrine.  (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).

SECTION 2.  We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent, perfect Spirit and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver and Supreme Ruler of the universe, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and all the perfections, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that 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.  (John 4:24; Exodus 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:18; I John 4:12)

SECTION 3.  We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true Man.  We reject as heresy any teaching that Jesus had an earthly father.  (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; I Corinthians 15)

SECTION 4.  We believe that man was created in the image of God.  He sinned in Adam and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death.  All men are born with a sinful nature and consequently are sinners in thought, word, and deed, and therefore, cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven unless they are saved.  (Romans 3; Ephesians 2:1-3; Revelation 21:27)

SECTION 5.  We believe that all who repent of their sins and who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Him by faith, are saved because He died for our sins and rose again for our justification, and that all believers are born of the Holy Spirit and thus are become children of God with their sins forgiven, blotted out by the blood of Jesus Christ.  (John 3:5; Galatians 2:20; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:24; Acts 2:38)

SECTION 6.  We believe that Justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principle of Christ’s righteousness; that it is bestowed on believers as a gift of God and not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood.  (Romans 3:24-26; Romans 5:9)

SECTION 7.  We believe in the church – a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all regenerated people are members.  We believe that a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith and associated for worship, work and fellowship.  We believe that to these visible churches were committed for perpetual observance the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper and that God laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master.  We believe that all human betterment and social improvements are inevitable by-products of such a Gospel.   (Ephesians 3:1-9; Matthew 28:18-20)

SECTION 8.  We believe that the bodies of the dead both of the just and the unjust will be resurrected; the saved at Christ’s coming to enjoy the everlasting blessedness and happiness with God; and the lost at the end of time to endure everlasting conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched, commonly referred to as Hell.  Hell is also described as outer darkness and separation from God.  (I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-44)

SECTION 9.  We believe that the personal, bodily visible, glorious, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, imminent return of our Lord Jesus to this earth is the blessed hope of the believer.  (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:1-17)

SECTION 10.  We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of believers in water and that baptism and the memorial of the Lord’s Supper are the Scripturally enjoined ordinances of the Christian Church and shall be those of this church.  (Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

SECTION 11.  We believe in the personality of Satan who walketh about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; but who may appear as an angel of light.  (I Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10; II Corinthians 11:14; Isaiah 14)