beliefs
The following is our Articles of Faith as they appear in our constitution. They are currently being revised for clarity and precision. The new Articles, as well as a revised constitution, are going to be presented to the church sometime in 2008.
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD’S WORD TEACHES . . .
1. The Verbal Inspiration of the Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, to be verbally inspired of God in the original documents, infallible and God-breathed, a perfect standard of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16-17, I Corinthians 2:13, II Peter 1:16-21
2. The Trinity
We believe in the Holy Trinity; that there are three distinct persons in one Godhead. The Trinity of God in His tri -personal existence as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:13-17
3. God the Father
We believe that God is an eternal person, having no beginning and no ending, and that He is Creator of all, infinite and infallible. John 4:24, Luke 3:22, Genesis 1:1
4. God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God the Son. We believe that:
- He is the only Savior of mankind; Acts 4:12
- He is God incarnate in human flesh; Romans. 8:3
- He created and sustains all things; Colossians 1:16-17
- He is the mediator between God and men; I Timothy 2:5
- We believe in His virgin birth, His holy sinless life, His vicarious death, and bodily resurrection. John 3:16, John 1:14, Hebrews 4:15 Colossians 1:15-19, Luke 1:34-38
5. God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit; Acts 5: 3-4; that He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, I Corinthians 12: 13; that He indwells all believers, Romans 8:9; that He produces spiritual fruit in the believer’s life, Galatians 5:22-23; He is the believer’s guide into the truth, John 16:7-15; and that He furnishes the gifts of the Spirit for the edifying of the body of Christ. We believe the Sign Gifts, Matthew 10:8, Mark 16:17-18, and the Revelatory Gifts, I Corinthians 13:8-10, were temporary and are no longer given by the Holy Spirit.
6. Man
We believe that man was created in the likeness and image of God, Genesis 1: 27. Through the sin of Adam, man fell from his sinless state, Romans 5:12, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23.
7. Salvation
We believe that man is justified by faith in the shed blood of Christ, Romans 5:1-19, Hebrews 9:22, I John 1:7, and that he is born again by grace through faith apart from works. Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16
8. A Personal Devil
We believe that Satan is a person, that he is a fallen angel, Luke 10:18, that he is the deceiver of mankind, and that some day God will cast him into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:10, Revelation 12:9-10, Matthew 25:41
9. Heaven and Hell
We believe that Heaven is a place prepared for all born-again believers, John 14:1-5 We believe also that Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, Matthew 25: 41, and those who die in unbelief, Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 21:8.
10. Eternal Security
We believe that once a person is born again, he cannot lose his salvation, that he is eternally secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 10:27-29, Romans 8:28-29, Colossians 3:3, Ephesians 4:30
11. The Church
We believe in the universal church, the body of Christ, which is composed of all born-again believers of this age and that Christ is the only head of that church. Colossians 1:18, I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:22-23 We believe local churches are organized manifestations of the universal Church. Galatians 1:2, I Corinthians 1:2
12. Baptism and Communion
We believe that baptism by immersion is the only scriptural mode. We believe that baptism does not save. It is an act of obedience to the command of Christ and is a testimony to the world of the believer’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Romans 6:1-5, Matthew 28:19-20.
We believe communion to be a time of remembrance of Christ’s death for us. We believe that this ordinance does not gain favor with God for the recipient and does not change the spiritual position of those who partake in it. Our communion is open to those of like-precious faith who are walking with the Lord in a life characterized by obedience. I Corinthians 11:20-30.
13. Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the second coming of Christ; that His return from Heaven will be personal, visible, and glorious, the time being unrevealed but always imminent; that when He comes He will remove from the earth His Church, then pour out the righteous judgements of God upon the unbelieving world, afterwards descend with His Church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years. John 14:3, Acts 1:11, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 20
14. Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. John 5:28-29, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:11-15, Job 19:25-27
15. Separation of Church and State.
We believe in the separation of Church and State. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, and that governors of states and nations should be obeyed when the laws they seek to enforce are not in conflict with the Bible. Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:21, Acts 4:19-20
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