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.
VI. PRESERVATION OF SAINTS – We believe the Scriptures teach that all true saints shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
VII. A GOSPEL CHURCH – We believe the Scriptures teach that a visible church is a congregation of baptized believers associated in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; maintaining the worship of God and the Ordinances established by Christ as governed by His laws. Its scriptural officers are Bishops or Elders—more commonly called Pastors and Deacons—having qualification and duties prescribed in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus.
VIII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER – We believe the Scriptures teach that Christian Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that the Lord’s Supper in which the members of the church, by sacred use of bread and fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the love of a crucified Christ and the reality of the resurrection until He comes again.
IX. THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH – We believe the Scriptures authorize, by the example of the New Testament church, the observance of the first day of the week, the Lord’s day, as the Christian Sabbath; that we should abstain from secular labor and worldly amusements, and follow Christ’s example of rest, worship, and acts of benevolence—both public and private.
X. IN REFERENCE TO FINAL MATTERS – We believe the Scriptures teach that there will be a bodily resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous, and final judgment; that a solemn separation will take place; that the righteous will be received into endless joy and bliss; that the unrighteous will be banished eternally from the presence of God; and the judgment will fix forever the final state of man in heaven or hell on principles of the righteousness of God.
