STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe in the verbal, plenary (full, entire, complete) inspiration of the Bible, which is the Word of God, that in its truthfulness and completeness, it is the only criterion and authority of both church and individual for faith and practice (II Pet. 1:19- 21; II Tim. 3:16).
GOD
We believe there is one God eternally existing, manifesting Himself to us in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 9:35; 10:30; Jn. 14:16-27). We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists and pastor-teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12).
THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins; His bodily resurrection from the grave; His ascension to the right hand of God, where He ever liveth to make intercession for believers; and His personal, visible, imminent, and premillenial return to the earth at the end of this age. (Matt. 1:18; Jn. 1:1; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16-17)
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Jn. 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13).
We believe He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures, and that it is the privilege of all the saved to be indwelled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18; I Jn. 2:20, 27).
We believe that the manifestation of tongues and interpretations as well as prophetic utterances and the gift of healing were temporary, necessary until the completion of the Canon of Holy Scripture (I Cor. 13:8-10). Although tongues was given as a sign, it was never necessary for the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. As to healing, we believe God may choose, in answer to prayer, to heal his people (Ja. 5:14-15).
SATAN
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan; that he is a created being, once known as the “anointed cherub that covereth”; that through pride he fell; that he is the “god of this world” and the “prince of the power of the air”; that the judgment already passed on him will be executed at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and that ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Matt. 13:19; Jn. 8:44; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 20:10; Ez. 28:13-15).
MAN
We believe that man was created by God in His own image, not by evolution, but by a special act of creation, and that this creative act of God was separate and distinct from any other work of God. We believe the Scripture record of the Fall of man through his own disobedience, bringing the whole human race under sin and death. We believe that man is totally depraved and hopelessly lost apart from the grace and salvation of God (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:7; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Gal. 3:22).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and wholly apart from human merit; that every individual is a sinner by birth; and that all accountable human beings are sinners by practice and by choice and therefore must exercise personal faith in the redeeming work of Christ on Calvary and receive Him as Saviour in order to be saved (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23, 10:9-10).
We believe that believers should rejoice in full assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, but that the same Word clearly forbids the use of our liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:14; Tit. 2:11-15).
We believe that salvation is eternal, that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; Jude 1).
SEPARATION
We believe that all “who name the name of Christ” as their Saviour should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon His name.
We believe also that separation from all religious apostasy, as well as worldly and sinful pleasures and associations, is commanded by Him (Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor. 6:14 to 7:1, inclusive; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9-11).
THE TWO NATURES
We believe that every person has two natures, with full provision made by God for victory of the new 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 (Rom. 6:13, 7:17 to 8:1, inclusive; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10).
CIVIL GOVERNMENTS
We believe that civil governments are of Divine appointment for the interests of good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of God as expressed in His Word and interpreted in the light of this Constitution and Confession and Practices of Faith (Rom 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14, 17).
THE LORD'S RETURN
We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He will come before the Great Tribulation to catch away His Bride, the Church; that all who are His shall then be caught up to meet Him “in the air”; that at the end of the Tribulation He will come with His Church to the earth to judge the living nations and set up His kingdom (Matt. 25:31- 46; I Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 9:11-21).
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ are righteous in His sight, while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in His sight and under His wrath; and that this distinction holds both in and after this life, in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Gen. 18:23; Mal. 3:18; Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 16:25; Rom. 6:17-18).
CREATION
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, twenty-four hour periods (Gen. 1:31; Ex. 20:11).
THE ETERNAL STATE
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12- 13).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the local church, which is the body and espoused Bride of Christ, is made up of born-again persons (I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 20:17; I Tim. 3:1-13).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-3; Rom. 16:1, 4; I Pet. 5:1- 4).
We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church of this age (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38).
We believe in the verbal, plenary (full, entire, complete) inspiration of the Bible, which is the Word of God, that in its truthfulness and completeness, it is the only criterion and authority of both church and individual for faith and practice (II Pet. 1:19- 21; II Tim. 3:16).
GOD
We believe there is one God eternally existing, manifesting Himself to us in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 9:35; 10:30; Jn. 14:16-27). We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists and pastor-teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12).
THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins; His bodily resurrection from the grave; His ascension to the right hand of God, where He ever liveth to make intercession for believers; and His personal, visible, imminent, and premillenial return to the earth at the end of this age. (Matt. 1:18; Jn. 1:1; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16-17)
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Jn. 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13).
We believe He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures, and that it is the privilege of all the saved to be indwelled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18; I Jn. 2:20, 27).
We believe that the manifestation of tongues and interpretations as well as prophetic utterances and the gift of healing were temporary, necessary until the completion of the Canon of Holy Scripture (I Cor. 13:8-10). Although tongues was given as a sign, it was never necessary for the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. As to healing, we believe God may choose, in answer to prayer, to heal his people (Ja. 5:14-15).
SATAN
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan; that he is a created being, once known as the “anointed cherub that covereth”; that through pride he fell; that he is the “god of this world” and the “prince of the power of the air”; that the judgment already passed on him will be executed at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and that ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Matt. 13:19; Jn. 8:44; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 20:10; Ez. 28:13-15).
MAN
We believe that man was created by God in His own image, not by evolution, but by a special act of creation, and that this creative act of God was separate and distinct from any other work of God. We believe the Scripture record of the Fall of man through his own disobedience, bringing the whole human race under sin and death. We believe that man is totally depraved and hopelessly lost apart from the grace and salvation of God (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:7; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Gal. 3:22).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and wholly apart from human merit; that every individual is a sinner by birth; and that all accountable human beings are sinners by practice and by choice and therefore must exercise personal faith in the redeeming work of Christ on Calvary and receive Him as Saviour in order to be saved (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23, 10:9-10).
We believe that believers should rejoice in full assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, but that the same Word clearly forbids the use of our liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:14; Tit. 2:11-15).
We believe that salvation is eternal, that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; Jude 1).
SEPARATION
We believe that all “who name the name of Christ” as their Saviour should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon His name.
We believe also that separation from all religious apostasy, as well as worldly and sinful pleasures and associations, is commanded by Him (Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor. 6:14 to 7:1, inclusive; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9-11).
THE TWO NATURES
We believe that every person has two natures, with full provision made by God for victory of the new 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 (Rom. 6:13, 7:17 to 8:1, inclusive; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10).
CIVIL GOVERNMENTS
We believe that civil governments are of Divine appointment for the interests of good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of God as expressed in His Word and interpreted in the light of this Constitution and Confession and Practices of Faith (Rom 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14, 17).
THE LORD'S RETURN
We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He will come before the Great Tribulation to catch away His Bride, the Church; that all who are His shall then be caught up to meet Him “in the air”; that at the end of the Tribulation He will come with His Church to the earth to judge the living nations and set up His kingdom (Matt. 25:31- 46; I Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 9:11-21).
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ are righteous in His sight, while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in His sight and under His wrath; and that this distinction holds both in and after this life, in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Gen. 18:23; Mal. 3:18; Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 16:25; Rom. 6:17-18).
CREATION
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, twenty-four hour periods (Gen. 1:31; Ex. 20:11).
THE ETERNAL STATE
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12- 13).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the local church, which is the body and espoused Bride of Christ, is made up of born-again persons (I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 20:17; I Tim. 3:1-13).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-3; Rom. 16:1, 4; I Pet. 5:1- 4).
We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church of this age (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38).