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Statement of Faith |
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1. The Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; that it is true and complete without error in its content. Therefore, it is, and shall be, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union and supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. A. By "The Holy Bible" we mean the collection of 66 books called the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as written, do not only contain and convey the words of God, but are the very words of God. B. By "Inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally guided by God, verbally inspired by Him, and free from all error. C. By "Preservation" we mean that God intended for mankind to have access to His words down through the ages, so He has not only inspired them but also preserved them. We believe that the 1611 King James Bible is the preserved words of God, therefore, it is the only bible for English speaking people acceptable for use in the ministry of our church and for translations into other languages. Note: Since in recent days publishers are changing words in the 1611 King James Bible editions, we highly recommend obtaining bibles printed by Bearing Precious Seed publishers, which publisher has NOT made any such changes. 2. The True God We believe that there is one, and only one, true and living God; an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness; and worthy of all honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. 3. The Holy Spirit We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He reproves the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. 4. The Devil (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; that he is now the malignant 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, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness; destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God's Son, and to the judgment of eternal justice in a literal Hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. 5. The Creation We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically, or figuratively; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through undetermined periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind". 6. The Fall of Man We believe that man was created innocent under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. 7. The Virgin Birth We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of a woman; and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. 8. The Atonement for Sin We believe that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all sufficient Saviour. 9. Salvation By Grace Through Faith We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the New Birth produces a New Creature in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the New Birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is a partaker of the Divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that this New Creature is brought about in a manner above our comprehension; not by culture, not by character, not by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel, that its proper evidence appears in holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. 10. The Freeness of Salvation We believe in God's grace, that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection sends him, at his death, to an eternity in a literal Hell and the Lake of Fire. 11. Justification We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, the removal of sin "as far as the east is from the west," and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. Based on this, His righteousness is imputed to us. 12. Repentance and Faith We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, i.e., genuine repentance, confession and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only sufficient Saviour. 13. The Church We believe that a church of Jesus Christ is a local congregation of baptized believers associated by a Covenant of Faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by the Scriptures; that its offices of ordination are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the great Commission ( Matthew 28:19-20 ): A. To make individual disciples B. To build up the church C. To teach and instruct as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the absolute right to self government, free from interference of a hierarchy of individuals or organization; that it is scriptural for the churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is sole and only judge of measure and method of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, and the will of the local church is final. 14. The Security of the Believer We believe that the Divine work of regeneration is a one-time, complete, and irreversible act of God, the Holy Spirit, in response to a genuine faith and repentance of the convicted sinner. While we acknowledge the possibility and probability of sin in the life of the believer after salvation due to the old sin nature, we do not in any way condone or give license to unrighteousness. The Lord chastens the disobedient Christian in order to bring about repentance. Continued rebellion can result in the physical death for the sinning Christian. 15. Civil Government We believe the Civil Government is of Divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; the magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of earth. 16. The Righteous and the Wicked We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death; in everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. 17. The Resurrection and Return of Christ We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects and their full and face value. Concerning the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily "the third day according to the Scriptures"; that He ascended to Heaven "where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" the Father; that He alone is our "merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God"; "that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven" was taken up bodily, personally, and visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall rise first"; that the living saints "shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump"; and "that the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father, David"; and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet". 18. Missions We believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and that this commission was given to the local church. It is, therefore, the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to be personally involved in this great task. It is the solemn duty of every child of God to consistently and conscientiously seek the salvation of the lost, in obedience to and in accordance with the command of our Saviour. 19. Baptism We believe that there is only one baptism. To be Scriptural, it must be by immersion in water in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. There must be the proper subject, a saved person; the proper purpose, to show salvation, not procure it, and with the proper authority. Any so-called baptism that does not meet these four conditions is not accepted as Scriptural. Baptism sets forth the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and shows the individual's salvation by the death to sin and the resurrection to new life in Christ. It is an illustration by figure or symbol of salvation, of putting on a uniform showing that we are saved, done in obedience to Christ's command. Baptism is not essential for salvation. There is not one passage in the Bible that teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. Some passages have been interpreted to say or teach it, but there is not one that really teaches it. There is no passage that says "except ye be baptized, ye shall be lost". This is said both of repentance and of faith. There are many which plainly teach salvation without baptism. In the New Testament, only believers were baptized and believers are saved; therefore, every believer ( a born-again, saved individual ) should be baptized, not in order to be saved, but because he is saved. There is also not one passage in the New Testament that in any way teaches infant baptism, either by word or example. 20. The Lord's Supper We believe that the Lord's Supper is one of two Divine Ordinances given to the local church, the other being Baptism. In observance of the Lord's Supper, baptized believers who are members of the local church observing the Lord's Supper, by use of unleavened bread and grape juice ( not fermented ) commemorate together the sacrificial death of Christ, preceded always by a period of solemn self-examination. 21. The Grace of Giving We believe that scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. This grace of giving is manifested by faithful and systematic giving of our tithes and offerings to the Lord through the local church. This is God's divine plan for financing the work of His church. If every Christian would practice faithful financial stewardship, there would always be sufficient funds for the ministry of the local church and the cause of the gospel around the world. In addition, they would receive immeasurable blessings and benefits from the Lord. | ||
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