The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all we believe. We do believe, however, that the following Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Proverbs 30:5-6
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, 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 offices in the great work of redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Romans 3:30; 1 Timothy 2:5
We believe the Scriptures teach that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. Genesis 6:12; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 3:23
We believe the Scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence. Genesis 6:8; John 1:14, 17; Titus 2:11
We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who according to the will of the Father, assumed our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all‑sufficient Savior. John 3:17; John 4:42; John 10:9; Acts 4:12
We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that change wrought in the soul by the Holy Ghost, by which a new nature and a spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus; a holy disposition is given to the mind, the will subdued, the dominion of sin is broken, and the affections changed from a love of sin and self, to a love of holiness and God; the change is instantaneous, effected solely by the power of God, in a manner incomprehensible to reason; the evidence of it is found in a changed disposition of mind, the fruits of righteousness, and a newness of life. And without it salvation is impossible. John 3:3, 6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance is a personal act, prompted by the Spirit; and consists in a godly sorrow for sin, as offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; that it is accompanied with great humiliation in view of one's sin and guilt, together with prayer for pardon; also by sincere hatred of sin, and a persistent turning away from, and abandonment of, all that is evil and unholy. Since none are sinless in this life, repentance needs to be often repeated. Luke 5:32; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 3:19
We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, as an evangelical grace wrought by the Spirit through the Word of God, is the medium through which Christ is received by the soul as its Sacrifice and Savior. It is an assent of the mind and a consent of the heart consisting mainly of belief and trust; the testimony of God is implicitly accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly trusted for salvation; by it the believer is brought into vital relations with God, freely justified, and lives as seeing Him who is invisible. Luke 7:50; Romans 3:22; Ephesians 2:8
We believe the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise 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; by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. Exodus 23:7; Romans 8:33-34; Job 9:20
We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act, by which the Father, for the sake of Christ, accepts believers to the estate and condition of joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, by a new and spiritual birth, whereby they become members of the family of God; receiving the Spirit of adoption into their hearts, entitling to them all the rights, privileges and promises of children; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint‑heirs with Christ; reserving us to the heritage of the saints on earth, and an inheritance reserved in heaven. John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2
We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Ghost, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means - especially the Word of God, self‑ examination, self‑ denial, watchfulness, and prayer; and in the practice of all godly exercises and duties. Isaiah 5:16; Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 1:30
We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and finally perish, but will endure unto the end; that their preserved attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. John 1:12; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their sinful nature; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one great end of the Gospel and of the Means of Grace connected with the establishment of the visible Church. Romans 7:22, 25; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 7:12, 19
We believe the Scriptures teach that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only scriptural officers are pastors (elders, bishops), and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. Ephesians 1:20-23; Acts 2:47; Matthew 28:19-20
We believe the Scriptures teach that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; this ordinance shows forth our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior and our commitment to walk in newness of life. This emblem is an outward testimony as to work accomplished by the Holy Ghost’s baptizing of the believer into the body of Christ at salvation. Christian Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of Church membership. Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:11-13
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord's Supper is a provision of bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ's broken body and shed blood, partaken of by believers, in commemoration of the suffering and death of their Lord and the promise of His return; showing their faith and participation in the merits of His sacrifice, and their hope of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead; its observance to be preceded by faithful self‑examination. Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:17-20
We believe the Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day; and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity, by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God. John 20:1, 11-17, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2
We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. But that civil rulers have no rights of control over, or of interference with, religious matters. Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified 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 in impenitence and unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in this life and after death. Isaiah 5:20; Luke 12:4-5; Romans 7:6
We believe the Scriptures teach that the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth will be both physical and literal. His return will be in two distinct phases separated by a seven year period called the Tribulation. In the first phase of His Coming, Jesus will call his saints (both dead and alive) from the earth to meet Him in the air. At that time He will escort His Bride to heaven to appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The second phase culminates in Jesus Christ returning to dwell on earth for a period of one thousand years. During this time He sets up His kingdom and throne in the city of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. At the end of the one thousand year Millennium there will be a final battle between Christ and Satan. Christ’s victory will result in Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
We believe the Scriptures teach that there are two resurrections where God's judgments are manifested. The Judgment Seat of Christ is where saved believers appear to give account of their works, both good and evil, that follow them to heaven. The Judgment Seat of Christ is not a judgment to determine salvation, for all who appear at the Judgment seat of Christ are born again and are judged as to their works of service to the Saviour. Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 7:11; 1 Corinthians 4:4
We believe the Scriptures teach that at the end of the Millennium (the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth) Death and Hell will give up the dead for final judgment and retribution before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment; that these wicked will be adjudged to sorrow and conscious torment in the Lake of Fire for ever, and that this judgment will fix the final state of all unsaved men without remedy for eternity. Revelation 20:11-15; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 10:28
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and church. The Husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate Scriptural discipline. Genesis 1:26-28; Colossians 3:18 - 21; Ephesians 5:21 - 28
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring of up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat of the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-48; John 13:34-35
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being, created in the image of God. Life is precious in the sight of God. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, and birth or population control as unbiblical and contrary to God’s will. We also believe that the active taking of a human life through euthanasia constitutes a violation of the sanctity of human life and is a crime against God and man. Psalms 71:5-6; Exodus 20:13; Jeremiah 1:5
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. Genesis 1:1-5, 31; Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:11
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:22-24; Romans 1:26-29
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. I Corinthians 6:1-8; Matthew 18:15-20; Ephesians 4:31-32
Having been, as we trust, brought by divine grace to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, and to give ourselves wholly to Him, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other, to walk together in Him, with brotherly love, to His glory, as our common Lord. We do, therefore, in His strength, engage -
- That we will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, exhort, and admonish each other as occasion may require:
- That we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but will uphold the public worship of God, and the ordinances of His house:
- That we will not omit closet and family religion at home, nor neglect the great duty of religiously training our children, and those under our care, for the service of Christ, and the enjoyment of Heaven:
- That, as we are light of the world, and salt of the earth, we will seek divine aid to enable us to deny ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and to walk circumspectly in the world, that we may win the souls of men:
- That we will consistently and cheerfully contribute of our property, according as God has prospered us, for the maintenance of a faithful and evangelistic ministry among us, for the support of the poor, and to spread the gospel over the earth:
- That we will in all conditions, even till death, strive to live to the glory of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory, forever and ever. Amen.
