Beliefs
Articles of Faith I. THE TRUE GOD – We believe the Scriptures reveal only one living and true God, having three personal identities as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are one in power, eternity and glory, and totally worthy of mankind’s devotion through worship. II. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES – We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God, and are the written Word of God. Therefore, they are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. III. MAN – We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in holiness under the law of creation by his Maker, but by voluntary transgression he fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind became sinners under just condemnation to eternal punishment apart from experiencing forgiveness through Jesus Christ. IV. THE WAY OF SALVATION – We believe the Scriptures teach that salvation of sinners is wholly by grace through faith in Jesus as the Son of God. One’s salvation is thus made available through the mediatorial office of Jesus and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. V. JUSTIFICATION – We believe the Scriptures teach that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on principles of the righteousness of God; that it is bestowed through faith in Christ as our Redeemer, whose righteousness is freely imputed to us; and that it brings the believer into a state of peace with God and assurance of eternal life. |
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and on the profession of faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to conduct ourselves with reverence in the house of the Lord; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to biblically educate our children; to walk as a Christian example before the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and Christian in our deportment; to avoid all gossip, back-biting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to use our influence to combat the abuse of drugs and the spread of pornography; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian concern in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay. We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word. |