Articles of Faith
A. The Inspiration of the Scriptures.
We accept literally the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelations of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21).
B. The Trinity.
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Jn. 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 1 For. 8:6).
C. The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for Godly living and service (Jn. 14:16-20, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 1 For. 3:16; 2 For. 3:18; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 1:14,15 4:30).
D. The Virgin Birth and Deity of Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the pre-existent, eternal, God the Son who came in the flesh, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary, that He might die on the cross as sacrifice for our sins according to the scriptures. Further, He was buried, arose bodily from the dead, was seen by many, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Lu. 1:35; Jn. 1:1-18; Acts 1:9-11; Col. 1:15-23; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:22-25).
E. The Substitutionary Atonement.
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ and are born of the Holy Spirit will thus become children of God (Jn. 1:12, 3:1-18; Rom. 6:23, 10:9,10; Eph. 1:7, 13, 2:8.9).
F. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is basic to the gospel, and without it Christianity would not exist. The resurrection of Christ proved Him to be God; therefore Jesus Christ is the only one in whom mankind can trust and find real hope (Matt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lu. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:20,21; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Col. 1:27).
G. The Second Coming of Christ.
We believe in the personal, imminent and premillennial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this "blessed hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 3:3, 1 Peter. 1:13-16; Rev. 20:1-6).
H. The Depravity of Man.
We believe that man was created of the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore bound in sin and lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained (Gen. 1:26,27; Jn. 3:3,16, 10:27-29; Acts 4:12, 13:38,39; Rom. 3:10-26, 5:12-21; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5.6).
I. The Reality of Heaven and Hell.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord in Heaven, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment in hell (Dan. 12:1,2; Lu. 16:19-31; Jn. 5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; 2 These. 1:7-12; Rev. 20:11-15).
J. The Personality of Satan.
We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless spiritual beings, known as angels; the one "Lucifer, son of the morning," the highest in rank, sinned through pride. Other angels, now called demons, followed him and are his cohorts in promoting all ungodliness and resisting the work of God. Satan was defeated at the cross and judged. Yet believers are to beware of his tactics and resist him. Satan will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 4:2-11, 9:33, Jn. 8:44, 12:31, 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-20; Heb. 2:14; Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8,9; Rev. 12:9. 10, 20:10).
K. The Church and Its Evangelistic Commission.
We believe in the universal and local church, as foretold by Christ and begun on the Day of Pentecost and that the church is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons in this age, irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations or denominations. The true church is composed of all such as persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. Only those who are thus members of the true invisible church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. The church today is responsible for the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world (Matt. 16:13-20, 28:16-20; Acts 1:8, 1:41-47, 2: 1-13; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:4-6,13, 14, 22, 23, 5:25-32).
L. The Maintenance of Good Works as Christians.
We believe that once a person has become a believer in Jesus Christ, his life will reflect it both in word and deed. People are saved to serve the Lord and to do good to all men. Men are not saved because they do good works, for no one can earn salvation (Eph. 2:8-10, 4:1-32; Rom. 12:1,2; Titus 2).
M. The Ordinances.
We believe baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ and every believer is obligated to be obedient to His command. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a testimony of a person's faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Christ. It is a confession that the believer is dead to sin and risen to newness of life in Christ Jesus, and is the mode that is practiced in this church. We believe that the Lord's Supper is to be observed by believers as a commemoration of the Lord's death "till He comes" (Matt. 28:19,20; Acts 8:35-38; Rom. 6:3-5, Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).