The Scriptures
I believe that the Bible as originally written was verbally and plenarily inspired, is the product of spirit-controlled men and therefore, is truth without any mixture of error. I believe the Bible to be the center of true Christian unity and the supreme authority by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions are to be judged.
- 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
- 2 Peter 1:19,20,21
The True God
I believe that there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, sovereign Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; is infinite and perfect in all His attributes; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
- Exodus 20:2,3
- Revelation 4:11
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
Jesus Christ
I believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, was miraculously born of a virgin named Mary, lived a sinless life, died in our place, rose bodily from the grave, lives eternally to make intercession on our behalf. Jesus Christ is the only ground for man's legal standing before God, which includes both the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the "earnest of our inheritance."
- John 1:1-3
- Matthew 1:18-25
- Hebrews 2:17
- Hebrews 9:24
- Ephesians 1:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
The Holy Spirit
I believe 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 fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, gifts, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
- John 14:16,17
- Matthew 28:19
- Hebrews 9: 14
- John 14:26
- Genesis 1:1-3
- John 16:8-11
Creation
I believe that God directly created the universe from no previously existing substance; that humans are created in the image of God; that all people are descendants from the historical Adam and Eve; that all people are mandated from this origin to glorify their creator.
- Genesis 1&2
- Genesis 9:6
- Isaiah 43:7
- Colossians 1:16,17
The Devil, or Satan
I believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the ruler of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.
- Matthew 4:1-11
- Revelation 20:10
The Fall of Man
I believe that man was created in innocence under the laws of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy estate, and all men sinned in him, in consequence of which all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct; and therefore, are under just condemnation without defense of excuse.
- Genesis 3:1-6,24
- Romans 1:18-32
- Romans 3:10-19
- Romans 5:12,19
Atonement for Sin
I believe that the salvation for sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatory offices of God's Son Jesus Christ; He, 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.
- Isaiah 53:4,5
- Jonah 2;9
- Matthew 18:11
- John 3:16
- 1 Corinthians 15:3
- Romans 3:21, 25
Salvation
I believe that in order to be saved, an individual must fully trust in the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their right relationship with God. I believe that salvation, a new birth, comes to man only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and not on the basis of any human merit is not a process, but instantaneous; is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, exclusively by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that proper evidence appears in holy fruits of repentance, faith, and actions revealing newness of life.
- John 3:3, 6, 7
- Acts 16:30-33
- Romans 6:23
- 1 John 5:1
- Ephesians 2:1,5
- 2 Peter 1:4
Eternal Security
I believe that all who are truly born again are kept secure by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Once a person is made a child of God by adoption and grace, that individual shall never cease to be His child and become a child of the devil.
Philippians 1:6
- John 6:37-44
- Romans 8: 1-2
The Church
I believe in the unity of all true believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ, which was established on the Day of Pentecost, and that all believers, from Pentecost to the Rapture, both Jews and Gentiles, are added to this Church by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All true believers are eligible for baptism, and membership in a local manifestation of the universal church. I believe that the local church is a community of baptized believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, baptism and the Lord's Supper; governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, privileges, and rights invested in them by His Word; and that its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scripture. I believe that the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we are given opportunity. I believe that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
- Ephesians 4:1 1-16
- 1 Peter 5:1-2
- Acts 13:1-3
- 1 Timothy 3: 1-7
- Colossians 1:18
- Ephesians 5:23, 2
Last Things
I believe that all people will experience the resurrection, believers to the state of eternal life, and unbelievers to the state of everlasting punishment. This differentiation is based on the essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. I believe that the return of Christ includes both the rapture of the Church, which may occur at any moment and shall include both the living and the dead in Christ, and His return in glory to judge unrighteous and to reign eternally.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
- Daniel 9:25-27
- Matthew 24:29-31