Our CHurch Statement of Faith
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe that there are no errors contained in it and that it is living and will stand for eternity. We further believe the Bible not only "contains the word" but that it IS the word of God. Further, this church recognizes only the King James (AV 1611) version of the Bible to the exclusion of all other English translations.
(II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21, Psalm 68:11)
The True God
We believe that there is only one living God, the Maker and Creator and supreme Ruler of Heaven, earth and all of His creation. We further believe He is righteous, Holy, worthy of all honor. Furthermore, the Godhead is three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and that these three are one in Deity.
(John 1:1-4 Hebrews 1:1-8, Colossians 1:15-17)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, of the same nature and co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The work of the Holy Spirit includes sealing, endowing with power, convicting of sin, guiding in service, teaching, bearing witness of the new birth, sanctifying and helping believers unto the day of redemption.
(John 1:14:16, 17, 26 John 16: 7-11, Acts 5:1-4, Ephesians 4:30)
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. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world.
(Isaiah 14:12-25, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Matthew 4:1-3, Revelation 20:7-10)
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.
(Genesis 1 and 2, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:3)
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 and plunged all of mankind into condemnation and death. From that point forward, all mankind is born in sin, shapen in iniquity and become practical sinners. Mankind’s sin is an expression of personal choice, not by constraint, but by choice, thus none are without excuse before God.
(Genesis 3, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23)
Atonement for Sin
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ. He voluntarily took upon Himself a human body, made in the likeness of men, yet without sin. And by the shedding of His blood at His death, His burial, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man. It is the blessing of this salvation given on the grounds of His grace to all who believe and confess this gospel. It is the immediate duty of all to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(John 3:1-9, Romans 3:21-26, Romans 5, I Corinthians 15:1-4)
The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner. Born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman. And that He is both the Son of God: and God the Son.
(Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35)
The New Birth
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is instantaneous and not a process. In the new birth, the person dead in trespasses and sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. This new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit using the Word of God to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Evidence appears in the fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
(John 3:3, 6 I Peter 1:23)
Freeness of Salvation
We believe in God's electing grace: that the blessing of the salvation are made to all by the gospel that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith.
(Romans 8:28-34, Ephesians 1:1-13, John 3:16, I John 5:10-13)
Justification
We believe the great gospel blessing of justification is secured by Christ to all who believe in Him. Justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.
(Romans 8:1, Romans 10:9-11, Luke 13:3, 5 Acts 20:21)
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. Thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, helplessness and of the ways of salvation by Christ, we turn to God, simultaneously receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.
(Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-11, Luke 13:3, 5 Acts 20:21)
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. To observe the ordinance of Christ governed by His laws exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. The officers of ordination are Pastors, Elders, Bishops, 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. The correct order would be the first make individual disciples, second to build up the church and third, to teach and instruct as he has commanded. We do not believe in a reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Each church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership. Of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
(Ephesians 5:23-24, Colossians 1:18, I Corinthians 12:12-13)
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the water immersion of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, under the authority of the local church. Baptism is a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite 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 fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ preceded by solemn self-examination.
(Acts 6: 36-39, Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, Acts 1:41-42, Matthew 28: 19-20, I Corinthians 11:23-28)
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that only the real believers endure unto the end. Their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors. A special Providence watches over their welfare and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
(Jude 24, Romans 8:35-39, John 10:27-29)
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked that only through faith are we justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, sanctified by the Spirit of our God and positionally righteous in His sight. Whereas, the wicked are under the curse and this distinction holds among man both in and after death, in the everlasting peace of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
(Romans 3:21-28. Romans 6:11, II Corinthians 5:21, I Corinthians 1:30-31)
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 God.
(Rom. 13:17, Acts 23:5, I Pet.2:13-17)
The Resurrection and Return of Jesus Christ
We believe the Resurrection. That Christ rose bodily, the third day that He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God. He alone is our merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. He will come again bodily, personally, that the dead in Christ shall rise first, followed by the living saints, all to be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. Christ will reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Corinthians 15:51-58, Revelation 20:1-6)
Missions
We believe the command to preach the Gospel throughout the world is given to the local church. The membership of the church has full and final authority in the selection and support of mission work. No officer of the church may obligate it to support any mission work without the approval of the voting membership present at a regularly scheduled church meeting. Any mission that is established out of this church shall operate with the constitution of this church until such time that it is organized as a church.
(Acts 13:1-4, Acts 14:26-29, Matthew 28:19-20)
Concerning the Family
We believe that God created mankind male and female with the command and purpose to be fruitful, to multiply, and to replenish the earth. Accordingly, God ordained marriage exclusively as one male and one female becoming one flesh.
(Genesis 2:18-25 Matthew 19:3-9 Romans 7:2 Ephesians 5:22-32)
We believe children, the natural fruit of God’s design of marriage, are a heritage of the Lord, to be taught spiritual and moral values by their parents, who are to rear them with loving discipline following the example and instructions of the Lord.
(Genesis 33:5 Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Psalms 78: 4-7 Psalms 127:3-5 Psalms 128:3-6 Proverbs 22:6 Ephesians 6:1-4 Hebrews 12:7-10)
We believe that God designed the marriage union for life and has provided for intimate sexual relations exclusively between husband and wife within the bonds of marriage sexual relations outside of the bonds of marriage, including fornication, adultery, incest, sodomy, bestiality, among others alluded to in God’s Word, are a sin.
We believe acts that defile God’s human creation, such as gender modification, through medical procedures or by appearance, and participation in the sexual degradation of others through pornography, are attacks against the family unit, are against the will of God, and are sins.
(Genesis 2:24 19:5 13 Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:18-32 Corinthians 6:6-10 7:3-5 Hebrews 13:4 Ephesians 5:3-5 I Thessalonians 4:8)
We believe in the sanctity of human life. We believe human life begins at conception, and from conception through elderly adult years should be respected as a creation of God. We believe abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, assisted suicide, and other similar acts are acts of murder and therefore against the will of God.
(Genesis 1:27 Exodus 20:13 Leviticus 19:32 Job 12:12 Psalms 139:13-14 Isaiah 44:2 Jeremiah 1:5 Romans 9:20-22 I Timothy 5:1-2)
