What We Believe

Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, as contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is God-breathed Scripture, written by men moved by the Holy Spirit, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without error (in the original manuscripts) in all that it affirms; 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, the final authority and supreme standard by which all human conduct, doctrine, and opinions should be tried. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other Scriptures that speak more clearly. [2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21; Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:92-93; 2 Tim 3:15; 1 Pet 1:10-12; Rom 1:16; Prov 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rom 3:4; John 12:47-48; Rom 2:12; Phil 3:16; 1 Pet 4:11; Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess 5:21; Psalm 119:59-60; 2 Pet 1:20; Acts 15:15.]

Of the True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, 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 God there are three persons, all infinite, without beginning, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. [Deut 6:5; Jer 10:10; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; Isa 44:24; Heb 3:4; Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3; 1 Pet 1:15-16; Rev 4:6-8, 11; Jer 2:11-12; Matt 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 15:26; 2 Cor 13:14; John 5:17, 10:30, 14:9, 23, 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:10-11; Eph 1:3-14, 2:18; Rev 1:4- 5]

Of the Fall of Man

We believe 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, unable to remedy his lost condition; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. [Gen 1:27, 31, 2:16-17; Gen 3:6-24; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:15-19; John 3:6; Psalm 51:5; Isa 53:6; Rom 3:9-18; Eph 2:1-3; Rom 1:18, 32; Gal 3:10; Matt 15:19; Rom 1:20, 3:19; Gal 3:22]

Of the Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 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 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, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. [Eph 2:4-5; Rom 3:24; Luke 19:10; Rom 5:10-11; 1 Tim 2:5-6; Phil 2:6-7; John 1:14; Col 2:9; Heb 4:14-15; Matt 5:17; Phil 2:8; Matt 17:5; Isa 53:4-5; Matt 20:28; Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 15:1-3; Heb 9:13-15; 1 John 4:10; Heb 1:3-4, 8:1; Col 3:1-4; Heb 7:25; Col 2:9; Heb 2:18]

Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who 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. [Rom 5:1, 3:21-24; Rom 5:9; Isa 53:6; Acts 10:43; Rom 5:17-19,21; Titus 3:5-7; Rom 1:16-17; Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Phil 3:7-9; Rom 3:28; Gal 3:10-13; Rom 3:21-26, 4:3, 6:23; Rom 5:1-2; Col 1:19-22; Rom 8:28-30; 2 Cor 5:17-19]

Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a heartfelt, contrite, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. [Rev 22:17; John 3:14-16; Acts 17:30-31; Rom 16:26, 1:5; Acts 6:7; 2 Thess 1:8; John 5:40; Matt 23:37; Acts 13:46; Rom 1:18-20; John 3:19; Matt 11:20-24; 2 Thess 1:8]

Of Grace in Regeneration

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life. [John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet 1:3-5; Rom 8:9; 2 Cor 5:17; Ezek 36:26; Titus 2:11-12; Luke 19:8-10; John 3:8, 1:13; James 1:16-18; Eph 4:23-24, 6:17; 1 Pet 1:22-25; Col 3:9-11; 1 John 5:1-2; Matt 3:8-10; Eph 5:7-9, 3:14-21; Matt 7:20-25; 1 John 3:7-10; Rom 8:4-11]

Of Repentance and Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. [Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; 1 John 5:1; Eph 2:8; John 16:8; Luke 15:17-19; Acts 2:37-38, 16:30-31; Luke 18:13-14; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor 7:11; Psalm 51; Rom 10:9-10; Acts 3:22-23; Heb 4:14; Psalm 2:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Tim 1:12]

Of God’s Purpose of Grace

We believe 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 encompasses 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 obedience by all means in the highest degree; that it may be demonstrated 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. [ 2 Tim 1:8-9; Eph 1:3-14; Rom 11:5-6, 8:28-30; 2 Thess 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; Matt 11:27-30; 1 Pet 1:2; Ex 33:18-19; Eph 1:11; Jer 31:3; Rom 11:28-29; Matt 20:15-16; 1 Cor 1:26-31, 3:5-7, 4:7, 15:10, Rom 3:27; Col 3:12; 1 Pet 2:9-12; 2 Tim 2:10; 1 Cor 9:22;John 6:37-40; 2 Pet 1:10; 1 Thess 1:4-10; Matt 7:21-23; Rom 8:28-30; 1 Pet 1:3-5; John 6:37; 2 Pet 1:10-11; Phil 3:12; Heb 6:11, 12:14-15]

Of Sanctification

We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, the Christian is progressively conformed to his new nature in Christ, and is made a partaker of His holiness; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means — especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. [1 Thess 4:3-5, 5:23; 2 Cor 7:1; Rom 8:29; Phil 1:6; Eph 1:4; Prov 4:18; 2 Cor 3:18; Heb 6:1; 2 Pet 1:5-8; 1 John 2:29; Rom 8:5; Phil 1:6,9-11; Eph 1:13-14; 1 John 5:4; Phil 2:12-13; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18; 2 Cor 13:5; Luke 11:35, 9:23; Matt 26:41; Eph 6:18]

Of the Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering 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 8:31; 1 John 3:9, 5:18; 1 John 2:19; Matt 13:20-21; John 6:66-70; Rom 8:28; Matt 6:30-33; Jer 32:40; Psalm 121; Luke 12:32; 1 John 4:4; Phil 1:6; Jude 24-25; John 10:28-29; 1 Pet 1:3-5]

Of the Harmony of the Law and the Gospel

We believe God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which He bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it. We believe 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 apply to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through the Mediator Jesus Christ 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. Although Christ has fulfilled the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant in Himself, making them not binding on His church, and although the judicial laws of that covenant passed away with the theocratic nation of Israel, the moral law does forever bind all, justified persons as well as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard to the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither does Christ in the Gospel in any way dissolve, but rather much strengthen this obligation. Although true believers are not under the law as a covenant of works, to be justified or condemned by it, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves by it, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of His obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to show even what their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse in its full and final terrors. The promises of it likewise show them God’s approval of obedience, and what blessings they may expect from His favor. But no aspect of Christian obedience to the law, or God’s blessing on that obedience to it, or the law’s own encouragement to do good and refrain from evil, is to be regarded as evidence that the Christian is under the law and not under grace. Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done. [Gen 1:26-27, 2:17; Rom 2:14-15, 5:12; Gal 3:10,12; * Matt 5:17-19; Luke 16:17; Rom 3:19-20, 7:12,14,22; Psalm 119; Rom 8:7-8, 1:18-32; Eph 2:1-3; John 3:19; Rom 8:2-4, 10:4; 1 Tim 1:5; Heb 8:10; Rom 13:8-10; Matt 23:3, 22:36-40; Eph 4:11-16; * Rom 10:4; Matt 5:17; Col 3:16-17; Heb 9:11-10:14; Rom 13:8-10; James 2:8-12; Rom 3:31; * Rom 6:14; Gal 2:16, 3:13, 4:4-5; Gal 5:14-23; 1 Cor 7:19; Rom 7:7, 3:20; James 1:23-25; Rom 7:9,14,24; Gal 3:24; James 2:11-13; Psalm 119:101, 104, 128; 1 Cor 10:6-12, 11:27-32; Lev 26:14f; Lev 26:3-13; Eph 6:2-3; Psalm 19:11; 1 Pet 3:8-13; Rom 6:12-14; Heb 12:28-29; * Gal 3:21; Titus 2:11-14; Ezek 36:27; Heb 8:10]

Of a Gospel Church

For the benefit of His people, and the extension of His program, God has ordained that Christians assemble themselves together in local assemblies for worship, mutual encouragement, the equipping of the saints and the celebration of Christian ordinances. The marks by which the true church is known are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in the punishing of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself. With respect to those who are members of the Church, they may be known by the distinguishing marks of Christians, namely, by faith, hope and love; and when they have received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with its works. But this is not to be understood as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the Spirit all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion, and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom they have remission of sins through faith in Him. [Heb 10:25; Eph 4:12; 1 Cor 10:16-17; John 10:27; Eph 2:20; Acts 17:11-12; Col 1:23; John 8:47; Matt 28:19; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:23; Matt 18:15-18; 2 Thess 3:14-15; Matt 28:20; Gal 1: 6-8; Eph 1:22-23; John 10:4,5,14; Eph 1:13; John 17:20; 1 John 3:8-10,14, 4:19; Rom 6:2; Gal 5:24; Rom 7:6, 17-25; Gal 5:17; Col 1:14]

Of Church Offices

A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church, for the service of the whole body by orderly care and oversight of all needs spiritual and material. These offices are three: Elders or Overseers (including the Pastor) who are shepherds exercising spiritual oversight of the flock under their care, teaching and upholding God’s Word faithfully, overseeing the proper use of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the administration of discipline; Deacons for the proper organization and operation of the church to the benefit of all its members, and the care of those in need; and Deaconesses, women called to serve as Deacons with particular emphasis on the needs of women. All those who hold office must be qualified according to the standards set forth in the New Testament. [Acts 20:17,28, 6:1-6; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-7, 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-4; 1 Tim 3:8-13; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim 3:11; Romans 16:1; Titus 2:3-5]

Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; and to serve as an act of submission to the lordship of Christ before men; and the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the Church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the sacrificial love of Christ, who humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross; preceded always by solemn self-examination. [Acts 8:36-39; Matt 3:5-6; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 16:32-34, 18:8; Matt 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; Acts 22:16, 2:36-41; Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26; 1 Cor 11:26; Matt 26:26-29; Phil 2:8; 1 Cor 11:28]

Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests 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. [Rom 13:1-7; Deut 26:18; Matt 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13; 1 Tim 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matt 10:28; Dan 3:15-18, 6: 7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matt 23:10; Rom 14:4, 9-13; Rev 19:16; Psalm 72:11]

Of the Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who 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 who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. [Psalm 1; Mal 3:18; Rom 6:16; Rom 1:17; 3:21-24, 7:6; 1 John 2:29, 3:7; Rom 6:18,22; 1 Cor 11:32; 1 John 5:19; Gal 3:10; John 3:36; Isa 57:21; Prov 11:31, 14:32, 10:24; Matt 13:47-50, 25:46; Luke 16:25-26; John 8:21-24; Luke 12:4-5, 9:23-26; John 12:25-26; Matt 7:13-14; Dan 12:2]

Of the Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the only legitimate channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Gen 2:24; Mal 2:14; Eph 5:22-23; Gal 3:28; Psalm 51:5, 127:3-5; Exod 20:12; Eph 6:1-4)

Of Creation

We acknowledge the diversity of views in the church regarding the details of the way in which the universe and all it contains came into being. However, we believe that the Bible supports the following position. We believe the account of origins presented in the book of Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events related to the origin of the earth, universe, and all living things. Specifically, we believe that all things were created in six literal days, several thousand years ago and thereby reject any form of evolution as applied to the origin of material things. Further, we believe that Adam and Eve were the first humans and were created directly by God as described in Genesis. Also, the flood of Noah’s time was an actual historical event and universal in nature, covering the entire surface of the earth at that time for the purpose of judgment. [Gen 1:1 – 2:8; Gen 2:21 – 24; Gen 6:13 – 8:19; Ps 95:5; Ps 148:4 – 5; Jer. 27:5; Mark 10:6; Mark 13:19; Rom. 1:20; I Cor. 15:45; I Tim. 2:13; II Pet. 3:5 – 6]

Of Last Things

While we acknowledge the diversity of views in the church regarding the details of things to come, we believe that the following summary is a biblically sound and coherent theology of end time events which provide the hope and comfort God has intended for His church. We believe in the personal, imminent return of Jesus Christ for His church, to raise dead saints to glory and rapture those alive to be with Him in heaven, delivering them from a coming period of Great tribulation. The removal of the church will allow God to once again deal with mankind through the chosen nation of Israel and to fulfill promises made to that nation in ages past, particularly in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Following a period of increasingly terrible judgments, Christ will return to the earth bodily in Jerusalem to destroy His enemies, bind Satan, occupy the throne of David, and establish His rule of peace on earth for a thousand years. At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released for one last demonstration of sin’s utter sinfulness, but he and his host will be destroyed and Satan cast forever into the lake of Fire. Jesus Christ will then resurrect the great and small to the final day of judgment before the Great White Throne, and He will cast all those who rejected Him into the Lake of Fire for eternal punishment. All the righteous shall enter into an eternal state of glory in the presence of God forever. [Titus 2:13; * 1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 3:10; Matt 24:21; Gen 15:18-21, 17:7-8; Dan 9:24-27; Isa 65:17-25; Ezek 37:21-28; * Zech 14:1-11; Luke 1:32-33; Rev 20:1-7; 2 Thess 2:7-12; Matt 25:31-46; Isa 25:6-9; Psalm 110; Rev 20:9-10; Rev 20:11-15; Rev 21:3-8; 1 Pet 3:13; Dan 12:3]