What We Believe

• THE SCRIPTURES

  We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

• GOD

  There is only one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having, in and of himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1Tim. 1:17)

• THE TRINITY
  

  God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)

• PROVIDENCE

  God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and continually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. (Isa. 46:9-11; Prov. 16:33; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Jas. 1:13-15)

• ELECTION

  Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life – not because of foreseen merit in them, but solely because of his mercy in Christ – the result of his choice being that they are called, justified, and glorified. (Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:27-29; Eph. 1:4, 11)

• THE FALL OF MAN
  

  God originally created man in his own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he violated the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; as a result his offspring inherit a nature corrupt and entirely opposed to God and His law and are under condemnation. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3)

• THE MEDIATOR

  Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon himself human nature, yet without sin, he perfectly fulfilled the Law, and suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to his Father, at whose hand he ever lives to make intercession for his people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (Isa. 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1-3; 7:25)

• REGENERATION

  Regeneration is a change of heart brought about by the Holy Spirit, who brings to life those who are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1)

• REPENTANCE

  Repentance is an act granted by the Holy Spirit, in which a person is made conscious of the wickedness of his sin, humbles himself with godly sorrow, and with hatred of his sin, purposes and endeavors to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. (Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11; 2 Tim. 2:25)

• FAITH

  Saving faith is the belief, based on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon him alone for justification and eternal life. It is brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other means of grace (i.e., hearing the Word, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, fellowship, etc.), and leads to a life of holiness. (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-5; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26)

• JUSTIFICATION

  Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of any sinner who believes in Christ, who completely satisfied God’s requirement for absolute righteousness. Justification acquits a sinner of all sin, and is not based on anything within the sinner or done by him, but it is based solely on the obedience and satisfaction of Christ.  By faith a sinner receives this acquittal and trusts in Him and His righteousness alone. (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 10:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9)

• SANCTIFICATION

  Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the power of the Holy Spirit, which enables all saints to press on toward a godly life in joyful obedience to all Christ’s commands. (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:27-27; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:13-24; 2 Pet. 1:3-11)

• PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

  Those whom God has chosen in Christ, and sanctified by his Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, by which they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6)

• THE CHURCH

  The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church. The Church is composed of all his true disciples, and in him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves together in churches; and to each of these churches he has given the authority necessary to administer the order, discipline, and worship which he has appointed. The regular officers of a church are elders (pastors) and deacons. (John 10:16; Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 1:22; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17-18; Tit. 1:5-9; Heb. 10:25)

• BAPTISM

  Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, expected for every believer, in which he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13)

• THE LORD’S SUPPER
  

  The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of the bread and the cup, and to be observed by his churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but it is designed to commemorate Christ’s death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with him and with their church.  (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-34)

• LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

  God alone is Lord of the conscience; the conscience is free from the doctrines and commandments of men, if they are in any way contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Because civil authorities are ordained by God, we should be subject, in the Lord, to any lawful command given by them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to maintain a clear conscience. Every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. (Matt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7; 14:4, 7-9, 12; Acts 5:29; Col. 2:20-23; I Tim. 2:5)

• THE LAST THINGS

  The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God — the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked held for judgment. There will be a personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. Christians believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 7:13-17; 14:9-11)