We, who by faith have accepted the gift of Salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit through loving one another. We claim the gift of grace that Jesus has victoriously won for us by His Spirit and strive to glorify God by serving Him with all that we have. We desire to know Jesus more, learning by the grace of our Lord through obedience and trust in His word, the Bible. We seek to help each other to grow, protecting, speaking and equipping each other by the Truth of Jesus Christ our Lord!
ARTICLES OF FAITH
I. THE SCRIPTURE
A. STATEMENT
We believe that The Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally
inspired That it has truth without any admixture of error for it’s
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.
B. DEFINITION
1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of Sixty Six Books,
from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written, does not only
contain and convey The Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
2. By “Inspiration” we mean that The Books of The Bible were
written by Holy Men of old, as They were moved by The Holy Spirit,
in such a definite way that Their writings were supernaturally and
verbally inspired and are free from error, as no other writings have
ever been or will be inspired. (Psalms 19;7-11; Psalm 119:89, 105,
130, 160; Proverbs 30:5,6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; Luke 24:25-27,
44, 45; John 5:39,45-47; John 12:48; John 17:17; Acts 1:16; acts
28:25; Romans 3:4; Romans 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; II Timothy
3:16,17; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19)
II. THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one God, and only one, living and true
God; an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of
Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness 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 office in the great work redemption. (Genesis 17:1;
Exodus 15:1; Exodus 20:2,3; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 147:5;
Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; John
15:26; Romans 11:33-36; I Corinthians 8:6; I Corinthians 12:4-6;
Ephesians 4:6; I Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:11)
III. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Second Person of The Triune God is The Son Whose name is The
Lord Jesus Christ. He existed eternally with The Father, and at the
time of His incarnation, without change in His deity, became a man
through the miracle of His divine conception and virgin birth. He
lived a sinless, impeccable life, died a substitutionary death for all
men; was buried and arose from the grave physically the third day. He
ascended into heaven; is presently fulfilling His intercessory and
mediatorial ministry; and has promised to return to rapture The
Church prior to The Tribulation, at the conclusion of which He will
institute His Davidic reign over Israel and The Nations. (Matthew
1:20-25; Matthew 17:5; Luke 1:26-35; John 8:28; John 14:3; I
Corinthians 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews
9:24; Hebrews 10:12; I John 2:2)
IV . 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 fullied; that He convicts of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgement; that He bears witness to the Truth of
the Gospel in preaching and testimony; He is the agent in the new
birth; that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses,
sanctifies, and helps the believer. (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 3:11;
Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; Luke 3:16; Luke 24:49; John
1:33; John 3:5,6; John 14:16,17,26; John 15:26,27; John 16:8-11,13;
acts 5:30-32; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26,27; Ephesians 1:13,14;
II Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14’ I Peter 1:2)
V. 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, fell and drew
after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the
power of the air, and 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 all false religions, the chief power of the
present apostasy, the lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all
powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hand of
God’s Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place
prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17;
Matthew 4:1-3; Matthew 13:25,37,39; Matthew 25:41; Mark
13:21,22; Luke 22:3,4; John 14:30; II Corinthians 11:13-15;
Ephesians 2:2 I Thessalonians 3:5; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Peter
5:8; II Peter 2:4; I John 2:22; I John 3:8; I John 4:3; II John 7; Jude
6; Revelation 12:7-10; Revelation 13:13,14; Revelation 19:11,16,20;
Revelation 20:1-3,10;)
VI. THE CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be
accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was
created directly in God’s own image and after His likeness; that man’s
creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of
species, or development through interminable periods of time from
lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made
directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth
only “after their kind”. (Genesis 1:1, 11,24,26,27; Genesis 2:21-23;
Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24;
Acts 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1;16,17; Hebrews 11:3;
Revelation 10:6)
A. FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his
Maker. but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy
state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by
constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation
without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezeliel 18:19,20;
Romans 1:18,20,28,32; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12,19; Galatians
3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3)
B. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the
righteous and the wicked; that such, only are 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 such as continue unrepentant
and in unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse. This
distinction holds among men, both in and after death, in the
everlasting happiness of the saved and the everlasting conscious
suffering of the lost.(Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; Malachi 3:18;
Matthew 7:13,14; Matthew 25:34,41; Luke 9:26; Luke 16:25; John
8:21; John 12:25; Acts 10:34,35; Romans 1:17; Romans 6:16-18,23;
Romans 7:6; I Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3;10; I Peter 4;18; I John
2:29; I John 3:7; I John 5:19)
VIII. SALVATION
A. THE ATONEMENT
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, honored the
divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full
and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted
not, in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the
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voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying
for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the
tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven
and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with
divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a
compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. (Isaiah 53:4-7,11,12;
Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; John 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25;
I Corinthians 15:3,20; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians
2:8; Philippians 2:7,8; Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:12
15; Hebrews 12;2; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 3:18; I John 2:2; I John 4:10)
B. THE GRACE OF GOD IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that
the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous
and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and
in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life,
the free gift of God; that the 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, so as to secure our
voluntary obedience to the gospel; that it’s proper evidence appears in
the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (Luke 5:27;
John 1:12.13; John 3:3.6-8; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23;
II Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 5:9;
Colossians 2:13; II Peter 1:4; I John 5:1)
C. THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe in God’s electing grace; 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; 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
55:1,6,7; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15,16.18.36; John 5:40; John 6:37;
Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29,30; Romans 10:13; I Corinthians 15:10;
Ephesians 2:4,5; Colossians 3:12; I Thessalonians 1:4; I Timothy
1:15; Titus 1:1; I Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17)
D. JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing, which Cjrist secures to such
as believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the
pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
righteousness; 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, is His righteousness imputed unto us. (Isaiah
53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; Romans 4:1-8;
Romans 5:1l9; Romans 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews
10:38)
E. REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also
inseparable graces, 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, we turn to God
with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at
the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly
confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. (Psalm 51:1-4,7;
Isaiah 55:6,7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; Luke 18:13; Acts 2:37,38;
Romans 10:9-11,13)
F. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end;
that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which
distinguishes them from superficial professions; that a special
Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the
power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. (Psalm 121:3;
Matthew 6:30; Matthew 13;19-21; John 8:31,32; John 10:28,29;
John 16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23;
Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:15; I John 2:19)
IX. THE CHURCH
We believe that a Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers
associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the
ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and
privileges invested in them by His Word; that it’s officers are Pastors or Elders and
Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the
Scriptures. We believe 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 commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of
this order. We hold that the local Church has the absolute right of self-government,
free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the
one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; That it is scriptural
for true Churches to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for
the furtherance of the gospel; that every Church is the sole and only judge of the
measure and method of it’s co-operation; on all matters of discipline, of
benevolence, the will of the local Church is final. (Leviticus 27:32; Malachi 3:10;
Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 6:5,6; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22.23; Acts
20:17-28; I Corinthians 5:11-13; I Corinthians 6:1-3; I Corinthians 8:11; I
Corinthians 11:2; I Corinthians 12:4; I Corinthians 16:1,2; II Corinthians
8:23,24; Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 5:23,24; Colossians 1:18;
I Timothy 3:1-13; I Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3:4)
A. BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a born
again believer, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
to show forth in solemn and beautiful emblem their faith in the
crucified, buried, risen, and coming Savior, with it’s effect in their
death to sin and resurrection to a new life and that it is a prerequisite
for proper Church relationship and a God-blessed life/ We, hereby,
declare that the Church will receive into it’s membership those who
have been truly been born again, and then baptized (immersed) in
obedience to the command of Christ. (Matthew 3:6,16; Matthew
28:19,20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5;
Colossians 2:12)
B. LORD’S SUPPER
We believe the Lord’s Supper to be an ordinance of the Church in
which born-again believers, by the sacred use of unleavened bread
and fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together, the dying love of
Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. We, hereby,
declare that the Church invites other scripturally baptized Christians,
to participate in our communion service. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark
14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20; Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 10:16; I
Corinthians 11:23-28)
X. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that Civil government is of divine appointment, for the
interests 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 the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of
the conscience, and coming Prince of the kings of the earth. (Exodus
18:21,22; II Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17,18; Matthew
10:28; Matthew 22:21; Matthew 23:10; Acts 4:19,20; acts 5:29; Acts
23:5; Romans 13:1-7; Philippians 2:10,11; Titus 3:1; I Peter
2:13,14,17)
XI. FUTURE EVENTS
We believe that at death the spirits and souls of believers pass
instantly into the presence of Christ and remain in conscious joy until
the resurrection of the body when Christ comes for His own. (I
Corinthians 15:50-58; II Corinthians 5:6-8; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal pre
tribulation, pre-millennial appearance of Christ to rapture the Church.
His righteous judgements will then be poured out on an unbelieving
world during the Tribulation, the last half of which is the Great
Tribulation. The climax of this fearful era will be the physical return
of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to introduce the Davidic
Kingdom, Israel will be saved and restored to national superiority.
Satan will be bound and the curse will be lifted from the physical
creation. Following the Millennium, the Great White Throne
judgment will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked
dead shall be re-united and cast into the Lake of Fire. Jesus Christ
shall reign forever and forever as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
(Isaiah 11:1,2; Matthew 24:29,30; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II
Thessaloinas 2:1-12; I John 4:3; Revelation 3:10; Revelation
20:2,3,11-15)
III. MARRIAGE, MORALITY AND LIFE
We believe and teach that Marriage is between one man and one woman as
instituted by God in the very beginning. There are no other types of Marriage
sanctioned by God. We believe and teach sexual intimacy of any kind is to happen
only between a man and a woman, who are married to each other. We believe and
teach that any form of sexual activity that deviates from the Biblical pattern such
as: homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery,
pornography, and any attempt to change one’s gender are equally sinful and
offensive to God. We believe and teach that life begins at conception, and that all
life is precious to God. We believe every person must be given the compassion,
love, kindness, respect and dignity that God has given to each one of us by sending
His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sin. God offers complete
forgiveness to all who forsake their sin, including sexual sin, and by faith, seek the
mercy and forgiveness that is through Jesus Christ alone. Hateful, unforgiving and
harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be challenged
and are not in agreement with the scripture or the doctrines of the church.
Genesis 2:18-24; Exodus 20:1-17; Leviticus 18:1–30; Psalm 139:13-16; Romans
1: 26–29; Malachi 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:2-5; I
Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4; Jude 1:21-25