Statement of Faith

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We believe in the complete and entire Divine Inspiration of the Holy Bible; the creation of man by the direct action of God; the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God; His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross; His literal physical death and His bodily resurrection from the tomb; His power to save men from their sin; the adoption into the family of God through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and the gift of eternal life by the grace of God.

   We accept the Bible as our all sufficient rule of faith and practice. Therefore this Statement of Faith is intended only as a basis of ministerial alliance among us in order that we might all speak the same things. ( I Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42) The human phraseology which is employed in this Statement of Faith is not divinely inspired, the truths set forth  are held to be essential to a fundamental, full gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all the truth in the Bible, but that it covers our present needs regarding these fundamental matters.

The Scriptures Inspired

   The Bible is the inspired word of God, a revelation from God to man. It is the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, while not being contrary to reason. ( II Timothy 3:15-16, II Peter 1:1; I Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12)

The One True God

   The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self existent, self revealed “I Am”; and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, ie., as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22)

Man, His Fall, and Redemption

   Man was created good and perfect; for God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” But man, by voluntary transgression fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-17; Romans 5:12-21)

The Salvation of Man

   The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is therefore saved by the washing of the regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, and being justified by grace through faith of both God and man, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. ( Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Romans 10:8-15; Luke 24:47)  The inward evidence to the believer of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness through the gift of grace by our Lord Jesus Christ and true holiness.

Baptism in Water

   The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Bible by all who have truly repented and in their hearts have really believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they have the body washed in water as an outward sign or symbol of cleansing as well as the circumcision of the heart, while their hearts have already been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ as an inner cleansing. Thus, they proclaim to the world that they have died and buried with Christ to sin, and that they have also been raised with Him to live and walk in the newness of life. ( Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:47-48; Romans 6:4; Hebrews 10:22)

The Lord’s Supper

   The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death ( I Corinthians 11:26) and is commended to all believers as such a sign until He returns.

Sanctification

   The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man can see the Lord.  By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, as I am holy.” Sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly be pursued by walking in obedience to God’s word. (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1: 15-16; I Thessalonians 5: 22-24; I John 2:6)

The Church

   The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with Divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer is an integral part of that general assembly and the Church of the first-born, whose names are written in Heaven. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23)

Ministry and Evangelism

   A divinely called and scripturally appointed and ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: (1) The evangelization of the world and (2) the edifying of the Body of Christ. ( Mark 16:15-20; Ephesians 4:11-13)

Divine Healing

   Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, just as is salvation from sin. (Isaiah 53:45; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16)

The Blessed Hope

   The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remaining unto the day of the coming of the Lord is the imminent and the blessed hope of the Church. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:2; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51-52)

The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ

   The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, the salvation of mankind then completed, and the millennial reign of Christ is the Scriptural promise of the world’s hope. ( II Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-14; 20:1-7)

The Lake of Fire

   The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever  is not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life, shall be sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. ( Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15)

The New Heavens and The New Earth

   We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 & 22)