SECTION 1. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final
authority for faith and practice inerrant in the original writing, infallible and God-breathed (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21;Matt. 5:18; John 16:12,13).
SECTION 2. THE GODHEAD
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; II Cor. 13:14).
SECTION 3. THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1, 2,14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that the sufficiency of this atoning sacrifice to accomplish the redemption and justification of all who trust in him is assured by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 4:25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7, I Peter 1:3-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God; where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9,10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1,2).
SECTION 4. THE PERSON AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Cor. 3:16; I Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13,14).
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13, I John 2:20,27; Eph. 5:18).
SECTION 5. THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adams’s sin the race fell, inherited a
sinful nature and became alienated from God; that man is totally deprived and, of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:22,23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3,12).
SECTION 6. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by Grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:18,19).
SECTION 7. THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
We believe that all the redeemed are kept by God; power and thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 8:38,39; I Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God; Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13, 14; Gal.5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
SECTION 8. THE TWO NATURES OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Rom. 6:13; 8:12,13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9).
SECTION 9. SEPARATION
We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures and practices is commanded by God (II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1,2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John verses 9-11; II Cor. 6:14; 7:1).
SECTION 10. MISSIONS
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to
seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:19,20).
SECTION 11. THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and
teachers are sufficient of the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. We further believe that although all believers receive a gift or gifts to be used, the emphasis of the Christian walk should be on the fruit of the Spirit (which is true spirituality) rather than on the gifts of the Spirit (Gal.5:16,22,23; I Cor. 12:4-11; II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12).
SECTION 12. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, a spiritual organism made up of all
born again persons of this present age (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
SECTION 13. ORDINANCES
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has left two ordinances to be observed by the Church in commemoration of His Person and work. One is that of baptism; the other is the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26).
SECTION 14. THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6,7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10). We further believe that Satan’s emissaries known as demons (fallen angels) do indeed “possess” individuals. Although believers can be attacked and “influenced” by demons, such “possession” is limited to the unsaved since the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and his body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit”. The exorcising of such demon “possessed” individuals is accomplished by the preaching of the Gospel, which brings Salvation and true freedom (Mark 5:1-20; Acts 16:16-18; Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 1:13,14; I Cor. 6:19,20; II Cor. 5:17; John 8:36; I John 4:4).
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