The Bible
We
believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were written
by individuals divinely inspired, that they are the only infallible rule
of Faith and Practice and are the supreme standards by which all human
conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
God
We
believe that there is only one true and living God, 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
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.
The Human Condition
We
believe that people were created in holiness, but by voluntary
transgression fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence of
which all human beings are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice;
being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of
God, they are positively inclined to do evil, and therefore, under just
condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse.
The Work of Christ
We
believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace by faith in
the Son of God, who freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without
sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience and by His death
made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He
is now enthroned and is a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior.
Salvation of Sinners
We
believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born
again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the
mind and the spirit; that it is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit
in a manner above our comprehension, in connection with divine truth,
so as to secure our voluntary obedience in the Gospel; and that its
proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and
newness of life.
Repentance and Faith
We
believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties of every person and
also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating
Spirit of God, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and
helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God in
humility, godly sorrow, confession, and supplication for mercy--at the
same time receiving heartily Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and
relying upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal
life.
Sanctification
We
believe that those who have been truly regenerated are also sanctified;
that sanctification is God's will; that it is a progressive work; that
it is begun in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers
by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the continual use of
the appointment means, especially the Word of God, self-examination,
self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
Perseverance of the Saints
We
believe that only those are true believers who endure unto the end;
that their persevering attachment to Christ is the mark which
distinguishes them from superficial professors of faith; that the Holy
Spirit watches over their welfare and that they are kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation.
The Church
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church, which, as
His Body, is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested
all power for its governance. According to His Commandment, Christians
are to associate themselves by covenant in the faith and fellowship of
the gospel; to observe the ordinances of Christ; to be governed by His
laws; and to exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them
by His Word. The only scriptural offices of the church are pastors (or
bishops or elders) and deacons.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We
believe that the two scriptural ordinances of the Church are Baptism
and the Lord's Supper; that Baptism is the immersion in water of a
believer in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit to
show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified,
buried, and risen Savior; that it is obligatory upon every believer; and
that it is a sign of the believer's fellowship with the death and
resurrection of Christ and of His giving Himself up to God for remission
of sin and to live and walk in newness of life; that the Lord's Supper
is to be administered with the elements of bread and fruit of the vine
and is to be observed by His churches until the Lord's return; that it
is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death;
that it calls for, and is to be preceded by, the most solemn
self-examination and that it shall not be taken by an unbeliever in
Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
The Lord's Day
We
believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, and a day of
rest; that it is a Christian institution for regular observance; that it
should be kept sacred for religious purposes and should be employed in
exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.
Church and State
We
believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the
interests and good order of human society; that civil authorities are to
be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things
opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; that 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 and not contained in
it.
Life after Death
We
believe that the bodies of persons after death return to dust, but that
their spirits return immediately to God, the believing to rest with
Him, the unbelieving to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At
the last day the bodies of all the dead, both the just and the unjust,
will be raised.
The Return of Christ
We
believe that God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by
Jesus Christ; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the
unbelieving will be adjudged to everlasting punishment; and that only
such as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, being
alone thus truly righteous in His esteem, shall be adjudged to endless
joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of every
person in heaven or hell on principles of righteousness.
