ARTICLES of faith
Article One: THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired of God and was the product of Holy Spirit controlled men. Therefore, the Scriptures are truth without any admixture of error. We believe that the Bible is the center of Christian union and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21).
Article Two: THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is only one living and true God, and infinite personal Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and is 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 essence and in every divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Ex. 20:2-3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 28:19).
Article Three: THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and with God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the work of creation; that in His relation with the world He restrains sin, convicts the unsaved of sin, and righteousness, and judgment, and bears witness to the truth of the Gospel according to the sovereign purpose of God; that in His relation to the believers He regenerates, baptizes into Christ, takes up His residences in the body, and becomes the divine seal until the day of redemption; that HE also teaches spiritual truth, guides according to God’s will, convicts of personal sins, prays for God’s people, imparts spiritual gifts, sanctifies, and enables God’s people to do all that God requires (John 14:16-17; Acts 5:3-4; John 16:8-11; Gen 6:3; II Thess. 2:7; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5, I Cor. 12:12,13; I Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 4:30; I John 2:27; John 16:12-15; Rom. 8:14,26; I Cor. 12; II Cor. 3:17-18; Gal. 5:16,26).
Article Four: SATAN
We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel, who is now the god of this age, the prince of this world, the leader of the powers of darkness, the author of sin, who tempts men to sin and who blinds the unsaved to the gospel; that, having been judged by Christ’s death, will be cast into the lake of fire (Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; Ezek. 28:11-19, Isa. 14:12-15; Eph. 6:11-12; Gen. 3:1-6; Heb. 2:14; Mt. 4:1-11; II Cor. 4:4; John 16:11; Rev. 20:10).
Article Five: CREATION
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came into being by the direct act of God rather than by any evolutionary process (Gen. 1,2; Exodus 20: 11, Matthew 19:4).
Article Six: THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence in the image of God; that he fell by sin voluntarily; that as a result all the race shares the awful consequences of sin--a sinful constitution, condemnation and death that all men in their unregenerate state are sinners and are lost (Gen. 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:1-6; Rom. 5:12-21).
Article Seven: THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner in the virgin Mary; that at the moment of conception He assumed a human nature made of Mary’s substance, and became the God-man; that prior to this conception He was from all eternity God the Son, co-equal with the Father, and He continues to be this today (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1,14).
Article Eight: THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of God’s grace through the mediation of Christ, who by appointment of the Father took on Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored God’s law by personal obedience, and by His substitutionary death made full atonement for our sins; that His death was not the example of a martyr, but was voluntary, in the place of sinners and fully sufficient to pay the debt of their sins; that He arose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven where He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, offering Himself for people everywhere as the sufficient Savior (Eph. 2:8; Rom 3:24,25; 5:8; I Cor. 15:1-3; I Peter 2:24; Heb. 1:3;9:12,15; Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
Article Nine: THE NEW CREATION
We believe that sinners must be born again by the Holy Spirit in order that they might enter God’s kingdom and become a member of His family; that the reborn person is a new creation in Christ; that the new birth is an instantaneous work of God; that the reborn person is given a new life and nature through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; that regeneration is brought about solely by the work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with God’s Word so as to secure man’s voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its evidence consists of communion with God, obedience to the Word, righteousness in life, love for God’s people (John 3:3-7; II Cor. 5:17; I Pet. 1:23; I John 1:3,29; 3:14; II Pet 1:3-4).
Article Ten: JUSTIFICATION
We believe that God justifies all who receive Christ as their Savior; that in justifying the believer God acquits him of the verdict of condemnation and declares him to be righteous; that God is able to do this in a righteous way for Christ died to pay our debt of sin and now lives to be our righteousness; that people are justified only by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s work, and not by any human merit or work (Rom. 3:20-26;5:1; I Cor. 1:30).
Article Eleven: FAITH
We believe that faith in Christ is the only condition of salvation. Such faith, however, includes repentance (a change of mind regarding oneself and God which leads to proper action), a belief in the facts of the gospel, and personal trust in Christ and His work for salvation (Acts 16:21, Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 20:21; John 1:12).
Article Twelve: THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that the officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Scriptures; that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to the unsaved and ministry of Christ in strengthening and developing the spiritual lives of His people; that the church has the right of self-government without interference from any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the only Superintendent of the church is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and in propagating the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that the will of the church is final on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence (Eph. 4:11-13; Acts 2:41-42; 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1; Col 1:18; I Cor. 16:2; Acts 1:8; I Thess. 5:14).
Article Thirteen: THE ORDINANCES
BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; that it testifies to the believer’s faith in Christ as Savior, obedience to Christ’s command, oneness with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and to the believer’s desire to live a life of discipleship; that it is to be distinguished from the baptism of the Holy Spirit which takes place at salvation and by which the believer is brought into living union with Christ; that it is a prerequisite to church membership (Mt. 28:19; Acts 18:8; 8:38. It portrays the truth of (Romans 6:1-4; I Cor. 12:13).
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S TABLE
We believe that the observance of the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of His death, until He comes; that the bread and cup are symbols of His broken body and shed blood, reminding us of His finished work while on the cross; that this observance should be preceded by self-examination, confession of sin, and that it should be conducted with praise, joy, and communion with Christ (I Cor. 11:23-34).
Article Fourteen: HUMAN SEXUALITY
We believe that God created mankind into distinct genders as male and female. We believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, instituted and ordained by God as a lifelong relationship. We believe that any form of sexual intimacy outside of marriage is both immoral and a perversion of God's gift. Furthermore, we believe that any form of sexual immorality such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, pornography, cohabitation (regardless of the age of the individuals involved), or that any attempt to change one's gender in disagreement with one's genetically defined gender, is sinful and offensive to God (Gen. 1,2; Leviticus 18-20; Proverbs 6:32; Matthew 5:22-28 & 19:4; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1, 1 Cor 6 & 7; Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Jude 1:7).
Article Fifteen: THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous (saved) and the wicked (unsaved); that only they who have not been justified by God because of their unbelief remain unrighteous in His sight regardless what their words and works may be; that this distinction continues after death as seen in the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost (Romans 3:20-24;4:4-5; Mt. 7:21-23; John 6:28-29; Rev. 21:1-8).
Article Sixteen: CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the well-being and order of human society; that magistrates are to be honored, prayed for, and obeyed save in those matters which are opposed to the will of Christ, the only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 4:19-20; 5:19-29; Mt. 22:21; I Tim. 6:14-15; Rev. 19:16).
Article Seventeen: SANCTITY OF LIFE
Article Eighteen: FUTURE EVENTS
We believe that Christ will return to receive to Himself His church before that period of world trouble begins, which is called the Great Tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Chapter 9); that the bodies of the saved dead will be raised to incorruptibility and the bodies of the saved living will be changed in immortality; that all who are members of Christ’s Church will be forever with Him; that at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come to earth with His Church to establish the Kingdom of Old Testament prophecy, to restore the Remnant of Israel to their land in fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, and to reign on David’s throne in Jerusalem over the earth for a thousand years; that He will then judge the lost; that He will create a new heaven and earth where God will dwell with the redeemed of mankind forever (John 14:1-3; I Thess. 4:13-5:10; Rev. 19:11-22:15; I Cor. 15:50-57; Gen. 17:8; II Sm. 7:16; Isa. 2:1-5; 11:1-9; Ezek. 36:24-30).
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired of God and was the product of Holy Spirit controlled men. Therefore, the Scriptures are truth without any admixture of error. We believe that the Bible is the center of Christian union and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21).
Article Two: THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is only one living and true God, and infinite personal Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and is 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 essence and in every divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Ex. 20:2-3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 28:19).
Article Three: THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and with God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the work of creation; that in His relation with the world He restrains sin, convicts the unsaved of sin, and righteousness, and judgment, and bears witness to the truth of the Gospel according to the sovereign purpose of God; that in His relation to the believers He regenerates, baptizes into Christ, takes up His residences in the body, and becomes the divine seal until the day of redemption; that HE also teaches spiritual truth, guides according to God’s will, convicts of personal sins, prays for God’s people, imparts spiritual gifts, sanctifies, and enables God’s people to do all that God requires (John 14:16-17; Acts 5:3-4; John 16:8-11; Gen 6:3; II Thess. 2:7; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5, I Cor. 12:12,13; I Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 4:30; I John 2:27; John 16:12-15; Rom. 8:14,26; I Cor. 12; II Cor. 3:17-18; Gal. 5:16,26).
Article Four: SATAN
We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel, who is now the god of this age, the prince of this world, the leader of the powers of darkness, the author of sin, who tempts men to sin and who blinds the unsaved to the gospel; that, having been judged by Christ’s death, will be cast into the lake of fire (Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; Ezek. 28:11-19, Isa. 14:12-15; Eph. 6:11-12; Gen. 3:1-6; Heb. 2:14; Mt. 4:1-11; II Cor. 4:4; John 16:11; Rev. 20:10).
Article Five: CREATION
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came into being by the direct act of God rather than by any evolutionary process (Gen. 1,2; Exodus 20: 11, Matthew 19:4).
Article Six: THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence in the image of God; that he fell by sin voluntarily; that as a result all the race shares the awful consequences of sin--a sinful constitution, condemnation and death that all men in their unregenerate state are sinners and are lost (Gen. 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:1-6; Rom. 5:12-21).
Article Seven: THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner in the virgin Mary; that at the moment of conception He assumed a human nature made of Mary’s substance, and became the God-man; that prior to this conception He was from all eternity God the Son, co-equal with the Father, and He continues to be this today (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1,14).
Article Eight: THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of God’s grace through the mediation of Christ, who by appointment of the Father took on Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored God’s law by personal obedience, and by His substitutionary death made full atonement for our sins; that His death was not the example of a martyr, but was voluntary, in the place of sinners and fully sufficient to pay the debt of their sins; that He arose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven where He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, offering Himself for people everywhere as the sufficient Savior (Eph. 2:8; Rom 3:24,25; 5:8; I Cor. 15:1-3; I Peter 2:24; Heb. 1:3;9:12,15; Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
Article Nine: THE NEW CREATION
We believe that sinners must be born again by the Holy Spirit in order that they might enter God’s kingdom and become a member of His family; that the reborn person is a new creation in Christ; that the new birth is an instantaneous work of God; that the reborn person is given a new life and nature through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; that regeneration is brought about solely by the work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with God’s Word so as to secure man’s voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its evidence consists of communion with God, obedience to the Word, righteousness in life, love for God’s people (John 3:3-7; II Cor. 5:17; I Pet. 1:23; I John 1:3,29; 3:14; II Pet 1:3-4).
Article Ten: JUSTIFICATION
We believe that God justifies all who receive Christ as their Savior; that in justifying the believer God acquits him of the verdict of condemnation and declares him to be righteous; that God is able to do this in a righteous way for Christ died to pay our debt of sin and now lives to be our righteousness; that people are justified only by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s work, and not by any human merit or work (Rom. 3:20-26;5:1; I Cor. 1:30).
Article Eleven: FAITH
We believe that faith in Christ is the only condition of salvation. Such faith, however, includes repentance (a change of mind regarding oneself and God which leads to proper action), a belief in the facts of the gospel, and personal trust in Christ and His work for salvation (Acts 16:21, Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 20:21; John 1:12).
Article Twelve: THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that the officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Scriptures; that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to the unsaved and ministry of Christ in strengthening and developing the spiritual lives of His people; that the church has the right of self-government without interference from any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the only Superintendent of the church is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and in propagating the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that the will of the church is final on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence (Eph. 4:11-13; Acts 2:41-42; 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1; Col 1:18; I Cor. 16:2; Acts 1:8; I Thess. 5:14).
Article Thirteen: THE ORDINANCES
BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; that it testifies to the believer’s faith in Christ as Savior, obedience to Christ’s command, oneness with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and to the believer’s desire to live a life of discipleship; that it is to be distinguished from the baptism of the Holy Spirit which takes place at salvation and by which the believer is brought into living union with Christ; that it is a prerequisite to church membership (Mt. 28:19; Acts 18:8; 8:38. It portrays the truth of (Romans 6:1-4; I Cor. 12:13).
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S TABLE
We believe that the observance of the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of His death, until He comes; that the bread and cup are symbols of His broken body and shed blood, reminding us of His finished work while on the cross; that this observance should be preceded by self-examination, confession of sin, and that it should be conducted with praise, joy, and communion with Christ (I Cor. 11:23-34).
Article Fourteen: HUMAN SEXUALITY
We believe that God created mankind into distinct genders as male and female. We believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, instituted and ordained by God as a lifelong relationship. We believe that any form of sexual intimacy outside of marriage is both immoral and a perversion of God's gift. Furthermore, we believe that any form of sexual immorality such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, pornography, cohabitation (regardless of the age of the individuals involved), or that any attempt to change one's gender in disagreement with one's genetically defined gender, is sinful and offensive to God (Gen. 1,2; Leviticus 18-20; Proverbs 6:32; Matthew 5:22-28 & 19:4; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1, 1 Cor 6 & 7; Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Jude 1:7).
Article Fifteen: THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous (saved) and the wicked (unsaved); that only they who have not been justified by God because of their unbelief remain unrighteous in His sight regardless what their words and works may be; that this distinction continues after death as seen in the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost (Romans 3:20-24;4:4-5; Mt. 7:21-23; John 6:28-29; Rev. 21:1-8).
Article Sixteen: CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the well-being and order of human society; that magistrates are to be honored, prayed for, and obeyed save in those matters which are opposed to the will of Christ, the only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 4:19-20; 5:19-29; Mt. 22:21; I Tim. 6:14-15; Rev. 19:16).
Article Seventeen: SANCTITY OF LIFE
- Abortion: We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion is murder and constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:36, 44).
- Euthanasia and Suicide: We believe that any act or omission which intentionally facilitates premature death, is assuming a decision that is to be reserved for God. We do not believe that discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome is euthanasia. (Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28).
Article Eighteen: FUTURE EVENTS
We believe that Christ will return to receive to Himself His church before that period of world trouble begins, which is called the Great Tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Chapter 9); that the bodies of the saved dead will be raised to incorruptibility and the bodies of the saved living will be changed in immortality; that all who are members of Christ’s Church will be forever with Him; that at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come to earth with His Church to establish the Kingdom of Old Testament prophecy, to restore the Remnant of Israel to their land in fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, and to reign on David’s throne in Jerusalem over the earth for a thousand years; that He will then judge the lost; that He will create a new heaven and earth where God will dwell with the redeemed of mankind forever (John 14:1-3; I Thess. 4:13-5:10; Rev. 19:11-22:15; I Cor. 15:50-57; Gen. 17:8; II Sm. 7:16; Isa. 2:1-5; 11:1-9; Ezek. 36:24-30).