ARTICLES OF FAITH
A. The Holy Scriptures
We believe the holy scriptures of the old and new testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God. The final authority for faith and life, inerrant in their original writings, infallible and God breathed. (2Tim. 3:16-17), (2Peter 1:20-21), (Matt. 5:18), (Deut. 8:3).
B. The Godhead
We believe in the one triune God, eternally existing by three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory and in each having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4), (2 Cor. 13:14).
1. The person and work of the Father: We believe the personal existence of God the Father, the supreme being, as both infinite and perfect. He possesses all the attributes of eternity, self existence, immutability omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, peace and mercy. He created and now sustains all things. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1, 26-28), (Isaiah 40: 21-28, 45: 6-7), (Zeph. 3:5), (Malachi 3:6), (John 3:16), (Romans 11:33).
2. The person and work of the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (John 1:1-2), (Luke 1:35), (Hebrews 1:6), (1 Cor. 15: 1-8). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative vicarious, and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3: 24-25), (1 Peter 2: 24), (Eph. 1: 20-23). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God as our High Priest, he now fulfills the ministry as representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1: 9-10), (Heb. 7: 25), (Heb. 9: 24), (Rom. 8: 34), (1 John 2: 1-2).
3. The person and work of the Holy Spirit we believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the supernatural agent of regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. He is the abiding comforter, teacher and guide. (John 16: 8-11), (1 Cor. 12: 12-14), (Rom. 8: 9), (Eph. 1: 13-14). We believe that the divine teacher guides believers into all truth and is the Holy Spirit. It is the privilege of believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the obligation of believers to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We do not believe that the evidence of being filled is by the speaking of tongues, nor do we practice the same. (John 16:13), (1 John 2: 20, 27), (Eph. 1: 13-14). (Eph. 5: 18), (1 Cor. 12: 13).
C. The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inheriting a sinful nature and became alienated from God; that man is totally depraved and utterly unable to remedy his lost condition without God. Mankind suffered a spiritual and physical death by Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2: 17), (Jer. 17: 9), (Rom. 3: 10-13, 6: 23), (Eph. 2: 1-3), (Isaiah 64: 6).
D. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the unmerited gift of God given to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 1: 7, 2: 8-10), (1 Pet. 1: 18), (John 1:12), (Acts 13: 38). We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection provided the only means for justification and salvation for all who believe; and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus became children of God. (Heb. 7:25, 9:22), (Rom. 5:11), (John 3:16).
E. The Assurance of Believers
We believe that all redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6: 37-40, 10: 27-30), (Rom. 8: 1, 38, 39), (1 Cor. 1: 4-8), (1Pet. 1:5). We believe that it is a privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s word; however, the Word forbids the misuse of Christian liberty as an occasion to sin. (Rom. 12: 13-14, 8: 12-13), (Gal. 5: 16, 25), (Eph. 4: 22-24), (Col. 3: 10), (1 Pet. 1: 14), (1 John 3: 5-9).
F. Separation
We believe that all the saved shall live in a manner such as not to bring reproach on their Savior and Lord. Separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations as commanded by God; that each member shall be separated from the world and should show this in action and dress. (Deut. 22:5), (1 Tim. 2: 9), (1 Pet. 3: 3). No one shall serve on any board or have leadership position who partakes of alcohol or drugs. We believe that our ministry is one of faithful witness to all persons; teaching them in the gospels so as “to open their eyes and turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God”; that they might receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by the faith that is in me – (Acts 26: 18). We are persuaded we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; therefore separation from others whose teachings are contrary to the direct, clear and revealed Word of God, is to be strictly adhered to. (Eph. 5: 11), (2 Tim. 3: 1-5), (Rom. 12: 1-2), (1 John 2: 15-17), (2 John 9-11), (2 Cor. 6: 14, 7: 1).
G. Missions
We believe that the church is obligated by the Word to carry forth the gospels to all mankind. We shall endeavor to support home and foreign missions with our prayers, offerings and energy and any other means at our disposal. (Mark 16: 15), (Acts 1: 8), (2 Cor. 5: 19-20), (Matt. 28: 19-20).
H. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of his gifts, and that these gifts are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints. (1 Cor. 12: 4-11), (2 Cor. 12: 12), (Eph. 4: 7-12). We believe that God is the great divine healer and does hear and answer prayers of faith in accordance with his own will for the sick and afflicted. We also believe the sick may call on the elders (pastors) of the church, who will administer the anointing of oil to pray for them; but we do not believe in “modern day divine healers”. (James 5: 13-15).
I. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe that the “blessed hope”, the personal, imminent, pretribulation and pre-millenial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones; and in his subsequent return to earth, with his saints, to establish his millennial kingdom.
(1 Thes. 3: 18, 4: 1), (Zech. 14: 4-11), (Rev. 3: 10, 19: 11-16, 20: 1-6), (1 Thes. 1: 10, 5: 9).
J. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus is the head, and all regenerated persons are members thereof. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ baptized upon a credible profession of faith, and associated together for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that it is the obligation of the church to show witness by life and by word to the truths of the holy scriptures, and to seek to proclaim these gospels to all mankind. (Matt. 16: 18), (Acts 2: 41-47), (Col. 1: 18, 24), (Eph. 1: 21, 23).
K. The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all persons; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25: 46), (John 5: 28-29, 11: 25-26), (Rev. 20: 5, 6, 12-13). We believe that the souls if the redeemed are, at death, separated from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection; when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23: 43), (Rev. 20: 4-6), (2 Cor. 5: 8), (Phil. 1: 23. 3: 21), (1 Thes. 4: 16-17). We believe that the souls of the unbelievers and unsaved remain after death, in hell, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when as soul and body reunite, they shall appear at the great white throne judgment, and shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be alienated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Luke 16: 14, 47), (2 Tim. 1: 7-9), (Jude 6-7), (Mark 9: 43-48), (Rev. 20: 11-15).
A. The Holy Scriptures
We believe the holy scriptures of the old and new testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God. The final authority for faith and life, inerrant in their original writings, infallible and God breathed. (2Tim. 3:16-17), (2Peter 1:20-21), (Matt. 5:18), (Deut. 8:3).
B. The Godhead
We believe in the one triune God, eternally existing by three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory and in each having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4), (2 Cor. 13:14).
1. The person and work of the Father: We believe the personal existence of God the Father, the supreme being, as both infinite and perfect. He possesses all the attributes of eternity, self existence, immutability omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, peace and mercy. He created and now sustains all things. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1, 26-28), (Isaiah 40: 21-28, 45: 6-7), (Zeph. 3:5), (Malachi 3:6), (John 3:16), (Romans 11:33).
2. The person and work of the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (John 1:1-2), (Luke 1:35), (Hebrews 1:6), (1 Cor. 15: 1-8). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative vicarious, and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3: 24-25), (1 Peter 2: 24), (Eph. 1: 20-23). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God as our High Priest, he now fulfills the ministry as representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1: 9-10), (Heb. 7: 25), (Heb. 9: 24), (Rom. 8: 34), (1 John 2: 1-2).
3. The person and work of the Holy Spirit we believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the supernatural agent of regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. He is the abiding comforter, teacher and guide. (John 16: 8-11), (1 Cor. 12: 12-14), (Rom. 8: 9), (Eph. 1: 13-14). We believe that the divine teacher guides believers into all truth and is the Holy Spirit. It is the privilege of believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the obligation of believers to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We do not believe that the evidence of being filled is by the speaking of tongues, nor do we practice the same. (John 16:13), (1 John 2: 20, 27), (Eph. 1: 13-14). (Eph. 5: 18), (1 Cor. 12: 13).
C. The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inheriting a sinful nature and became alienated from God; that man is totally depraved and utterly unable to remedy his lost condition without God. Mankind suffered a spiritual and physical death by Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2: 17), (Jer. 17: 9), (Rom. 3: 10-13, 6: 23), (Eph. 2: 1-3), (Isaiah 64: 6).
D. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the unmerited gift of God given to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 1: 7, 2: 8-10), (1 Pet. 1: 18), (John 1:12), (Acts 13: 38). We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection provided the only means for justification and salvation for all who believe; and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus became children of God. (Heb. 7:25, 9:22), (Rom. 5:11), (John 3:16).
E. The Assurance of Believers
We believe that all redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6: 37-40, 10: 27-30), (Rom. 8: 1, 38, 39), (1 Cor. 1: 4-8), (1Pet. 1:5). We believe that it is a privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s word; however, the Word forbids the misuse of Christian liberty as an occasion to sin. (Rom. 12: 13-14, 8: 12-13), (Gal. 5: 16, 25), (Eph. 4: 22-24), (Col. 3: 10), (1 Pet. 1: 14), (1 John 3: 5-9).
F. Separation
We believe that all the saved shall live in a manner such as not to bring reproach on their Savior and Lord. Separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations as commanded by God; that each member shall be separated from the world and should show this in action and dress. (Deut. 22:5), (1 Tim. 2: 9), (1 Pet. 3: 3). No one shall serve on any board or have leadership position who partakes of alcohol or drugs. We believe that our ministry is one of faithful witness to all persons; teaching them in the gospels so as “to open their eyes and turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God”; that they might receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by the faith that is in me – (Acts 26: 18). We are persuaded we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; therefore separation from others whose teachings are contrary to the direct, clear and revealed Word of God, is to be strictly adhered to. (Eph. 5: 11), (2 Tim. 3: 1-5), (Rom. 12: 1-2), (1 John 2: 15-17), (2 John 9-11), (2 Cor. 6: 14, 7: 1).
G. Missions
We believe that the church is obligated by the Word to carry forth the gospels to all mankind. We shall endeavor to support home and foreign missions with our prayers, offerings and energy and any other means at our disposal. (Mark 16: 15), (Acts 1: 8), (2 Cor. 5: 19-20), (Matt. 28: 19-20).
H. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of his gifts, and that these gifts are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints. (1 Cor. 12: 4-11), (2 Cor. 12: 12), (Eph. 4: 7-12). We believe that God is the great divine healer and does hear and answer prayers of faith in accordance with his own will for the sick and afflicted. We also believe the sick may call on the elders (pastors) of the church, who will administer the anointing of oil to pray for them; but we do not believe in “modern day divine healers”. (James 5: 13-15).
I. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe that the “blessed hope”, the personal, imminent, pretribulation and pre-millenial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones; and in his subsequent return to earth, with his saints, to establish his millennial kingdom.
(1 Thes. 3: 18, 4: 1), (Zech. 14: 4-11), (Rev. 3: 10, 19: 11-16, 20: 1-6), (1 Thes. 1: 10, 5: 9).
J. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus is the head, and all regenerated persons are members thereof. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ baptized upon a credible profession of faith, and associated together for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that it is the obligation of the church to show witness by life and by word to the truths of the holy scriptures, and to seek to proclaim these gospels to all mankind. (Matt. 16: 18), (Acts 2: 41-47), (Col. 1: 18, 24), (Eph. 1: 21, 23).
K. The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all persons; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25: 46), (John 5: 28-29, 11: 25-26), (Rev. 20: 5, 6, 12-13). We believe that the souls if the redeemed are, at death, separated from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection; when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23: 43), (Rev. 20: 4-6), (2 Cor. 5: 8), (Phil. 1: 23. 3: 21), (1 Thes. 4: 16-17). We believe that the souls of the unbelievers and unsaved remain after death, in hell, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when as soul and body reunite, they shall appear at the great white throne judgment, and shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be alienated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Luke 16: 14, 47), (2 Tim. 1: 7-9), (Jude 6-7), (Mark 9: 43-48), (Rev. 20: 11-15).