Confession of Faith
from our Constitution & Bylaws
OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Bible is the very Word of God and is written by men, as they were controlled by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. We believe that the Bible, the sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, is the basis of truth and the supreme standard by which human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-20; Acts 1:16;28:25; Psalm 119:89, 105, 130,160; John 17:17; Prov. 30:5-6)
OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence and love; that in the unit of the Godhead there are three Persons,the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of Redemption. (Ex. 20:2-3; Gen. 17:1; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Psa. 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jer. 10:10; Rev. 4:11; 1 Tim. 1:17
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent in to the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. We believe that He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior, and regenerates them. We believe that, at the point of salvation, he permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for ministry. We believe that
the Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. We believe that His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father. (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 1 Cor. 2:9-14; Hebrews 9:14)
OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:25-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13)
OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become guilty sinners in thought, word, and deed. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:25; 1 John 1:8)
OF THE DEVIL, OR SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels. He is now the prince and power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints. Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; 1 Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3)
OF SALVATION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; that He rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. We believe that all who come by grace through repentance and faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. (Matt. 20:28; John 1:12-13; 3:3,5,16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; Eph. 2:8-9)
OF THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all ages, believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. (Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 2:9-14, 3:1-15; 4:14; Heb. 11:38-40; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3)
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
These are the two ordinances of the local church. These are to be carried out under the authority of a local church and are not properly handled scripturally unless they are under that authority. We believe that all Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit when they are born again. We believe that water baptism by immersion is the Biblical testimony of the professed believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no saving power or cleansing ability in the act of baptism. We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a symbol of Christ’s death on the cross to be administered by the church to its assembly.
We believe that those who partake of the Lord’s Supper should be baptized, born-again believers, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:42-46; 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Col. 2:12; )
OF THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that the believer in Jesus Christ that has accepted His saving power has been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Salvation is eternal in its very definition and thus cannot end. The believer is kept by the power of God through faith. (John 8:31-32; Col. 1:21; John 3:16; 10:28-29; 16:8; 1 John 2:19; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6)
OF THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe that Christ rose bodily the third day according to the Scriptures; that He ascended to the right hand of the Father; that He alone is our High Priest, and that this same Jesus which is taken up into heaven will so come in like manner, bodily, personally, and visibly. The dead in Christ shall all be changed and rise in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump; then after a time of 7 years of tribulation Christ will usher in a 1000 year reign or Millennium where He shall reign with a rod of iron. (Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4,25; Acts 1:9-11; 9:29-30; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Phil 3:20-21; Rev. 20:1-4,6)
OF MISSIONS
The command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the churches. Matt. 28:18-20 commissioned us to disciple, baptize, and teach. Mark 16:15 tells us to GO. Acts 1:8 tells us to be witnesses to our community and the world. We believe that part of the church’s duty is to try to win as many people as we can to Jesus Christ to every door that makes itself available anywhere in the world.
THE GRACE OF GIVING
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. We are commanded to bring our tithes and offerings into the “storehouse” upon the first day of the week. (2 Cor. 8:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Lev. 27:30; Acts 4:34-37; Mal. 3:10)