OUR BELIEFS
The Scriptures:
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds,
and religious opinions should be tried.
Luke 16:29-31; Eph. 2:19-22; Matt. 22:29-32; John 1:45; II Tim. 3:14-17;
Heb. 1:1; II Pet. 1:19-21; Psa 19:7-11; Psa. 119:1,9,105.
God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things having in and of himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, without division of nature, essence, or being.
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:14; Deut. 5:6-7; Deut, 6:4-5; Isa. 48:12-13; Heb. 10:10; Matt. 28:19;
John 1:14-18; John 5:26; Gal. 4:4-6;I Tim. 1:17; I Cor. 8:4-6; Heb. 11:6;
The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation
and as soon as they are capable to moral action, become actual transgressors.
Rom. 3:21; Gen. 1:27; 2:7; 3:4-6; 3:22-24;
Psa. 51:5; John 1:23; Rom. 5:12-14; 7:24-25; Col. 1:21;
Election
Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life.. .not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ -- in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and gloried.
Acts 26:18; Rom. 8:28-29; 11:7-16; Eph. 1:9-10; 1:15-23; 2:4-7; II Tim. 1:8-10;
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.
John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:1-3; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15;
Eph. 2:1-10; 4:30; Col. 3:1-11; Titus 3:3-7;
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our gilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King,
and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.
Mark 1:14-15; 6:12; Luke 13:1-5; John 16:8-11;
Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:20-21; Rom. 3:25-31;
Justification
Justification is God's gracious and frill acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
Rom. 3:21-26; 5:1-2; 8:30; I Cor. 1:30-31; II Cor. 5:21;
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God's Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain,
pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ's commands.
John 17:15-17; Acts 20:32; Rom. 6:3-7; 8:17-28;
II Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 3:14-31; Heb. 12:14;
Perseverance
All real believers endure to the end. Their continuance in well doing is the mark which distinguishes them from mere professors. A special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Matt. 26:70-75; John 10:27-31; Rom. 5:8-10; 8:28-39; 9:16; I Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; II Tim. 2:19; I John 2:19-20;
Rom. 3:21-26; 5:1-2; 8:30; I Cor. 1:30-31; II Cor. 5:21;
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples; and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. The church is to observe the ordinances of Christ, be governed by His laws, and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word, and seed to extend the gospel to the end of the earth.
Its' Scriptural officers are Bishops, or Elders, and Deacons.
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Matt. 16:18; 18:15; Acts 2:41-47; 14:21-24;
I Cor. 1:2; 9:6; 9:14; Phil. 1:1
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord's Supper.
Matt. 3:11;3:13; Acts 8:38; Rom. 6.4; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 10:48;
The Lord's Supper
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The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge
and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
Matt. 26:2-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 11:17-20;
The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from amusements, and resting from secular employments,
works of necessity and mercy only excepted.
Matt. 28:1-6; John 20:1; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2. Rev. 1:9-11;
Religious Liberty
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to the church protection an full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God.
The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work.
The Gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion.
A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
Matt. 22:17-21; Mark 12:13-17; Rom. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1-4; I Pet. 2:17;