BELIEFS

We believe that the Bible, specifically the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, was written by men divinely inspired. The Bible is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter, that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world,  the true center of Christian union with Christ, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. 

II Tim. 3:16-17; II Tim. 3:15; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Phil. 3:16; I John 4:1.

We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite intelligent Spirit, 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 quality, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. 

John 4:24; Ps. 83:18; Heb.3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer.10:10; Ex.15:11; Ps.147:5; Isa.6:3; I Pet.1:15-16; Rev.4:6-8;  Mark 12:30; Rev.4:11; Matt.10:37; Jer.2:12-13; Matt.28:19; John 15:26; I Cor.12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30;  John 5:17; John 14:23; John 17:5&10; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor.2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor.13:14; Rev. 1:4-5.

We believe that God created humans, male and female, in his own image. Adam and Eve belonged to the created order that God himself declared to be very good, serving as God’s agents to care for, manage, and govern creation, living in fellowship with their Maker. Men and women, equally made in the image of God, enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to move beyond passive self-indulgence to significant private and public engagement in family, church, and civic life. Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a union that establishes the only normative pattern of sexual relations for men and women, such that marriage ultimately serves as a type of union between Christ and his church. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply interchangeable, but rather, they complement each other in mutually enriching ways. 

Acts 20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; I Cor. 16:1-2; Ex. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Ps. 118:15, 24; Isa.  58:13-14; Isa. 56:2-8; Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; Acts 13:44; Lev. 19:30; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2-3; Ps. 26:8; Ps.  87:3; Heb. 4:3-11. 

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice;  being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. 

Gen.1:27; Gen.1:31; Ecc.7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Gen.2:16-17; Gen.3:6-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom.5:15-19; Ps.51:5;  Rom.8:7; Isa.53:6; Gen.6:12; Rom.3:9-18; Eph.2:1-3; Rom.1:18,32; Rom.2:1-16; Gal.3:10; Matt. 20:15; Ezek.  18:19-20; Rom.1:20; Rom.3:19; Gal. 3:22. 

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who  by the appointment of the Father freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the law of God 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 in heaven; and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections,  he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.  

Eph.2:3, Matt. 18:11, I John 4:10, I Cor.3:5-7, Acts 15:11, John 3:16, John 1:1-14, Heb. 4:14, Heb. 12-24, Phil.  2:9&14, II Cor. 5:21, Isa. 42:21, Phil. 2:8, Gal. 4:4-5, Rom. 3:21, Isa. 53:4-5, Matt. 20:28, Rom.4:25, Rom.  3:21-26, I John 2:3, I Cor. 15:1-3, Heb.9:13-15, Heb.1:8, Heb. 1:3, Col. 3:1-4, Heb. 7:25, Col. 2:18, Heb. 7:26, Ps.  89:19, Ps.34. 

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as belief in him is justification; that  justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise 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 work; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings  us into a state of peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.  

John 1:16, Eph.3:8, Acts 13:39, Isa. 53:11-12, Rom 5:1-2, Rom. 5:9, Zech. 13;1, Matt. 9:6, Acts 10:43, Rom. 5:17,  Titus 3:5-7, I Peter 3:7, I John 2:25, Rom. 5:21, Rom. 4:4-5, Rom. 6:23, Phil. 3:7-9, Rom. 5:19, Rom. 3:24-26,  Rom.4:23-25, I John 2:12, Rom. 5:3, Rom. 5:11, I Cor. 1:30-31, Matt. 6:33, I Tim. 4:8. 

We believe that the offer of salvation is made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to  accept this offer by a sincerely repentant and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in eternal condemnation. 

Isa. 55:1, Rev. 22:17, Rom. 16:25-26, Mark 1:15, Rom. 1:15-17, John 5:40, Matt.23:37, Rom.9:32, Pro. 1:24, Acts  13:46, John 3:19, Matt. 11:20, Luke 10:27, II Thess. 1:8.

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; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of  the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its  proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.  

John 3:3, John 3:6-7, I Cor.3:14, Rev.14:3, Rev. 21:27, II Cor. 5;17, Ezek. 36:26, Deu. 30-6, Rom. 2:28-29,  Rom.5:5, I John 4:7, John 3:8, John 1:13, James 1:16-18, I Cor. 1:30, Phil. 2:13, I Peter 1:22-25, I John 5:1, Eph.  4:20-24, Col. 3:9-11, Eph. 5:9, Rom. 8:90, Gal. 5:16-23, Eph. 3:14-21, Matt. 3:8-10, Matt.7:20, I John 5:4, 18. 

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable gifts, granted to 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 with genuine repentance, confession and appeals 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 1:15, Acts 11:18, Eph. 2:8, I John 5:1, John 16:8, Acts 2:37-38, Acts 16:30-31 Luke 18:13, Luke 15:18-21,  James 4:7-10, II Cor. 7:11, Tim. 10:12-13, Ps.51, Rom. 10:9-11, Acts 3:22-23, Heb. 4:14, Ps.2:6, Heb. 1:8, Heb.  7:25, II Tim. 1:12. 

We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies,  and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in  connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise,  holy and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in  God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may  be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel, that it is the foundation of Christian assurance.  

II Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; I Peter 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15;16; I John 4:19; II Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48;  John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14; Ex. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:23-24; Jer. 31:3; Rom.11:28- 29; James 1:17-18; II Tim.1:9; Rom. 11:32-36; I Cor. 1:26-31; Rom.3:27; Rom. 4:16; Col.3:12; I Cor. 3:5-7; I Cor. 15:10; I Peter 5:10; Acts 1:24; I Thess. 2:13; I Peter 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; I Thess. 2:12; II Tim. 2:10; I Cor.  9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; I Thess 1:4-10; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29; II Peter 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11. 

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his  holiness; that it is a continuous work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of  believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means- especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. 

I Thess. 4:3; I Thess. 5:23; II Cor. 7:1; II Cor. 13:10; Phil. 3:12-16; I John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; Eph. 1:4; Pro. 4:18; II  Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; I Peter 2:2; II  Peter 3:18; II Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; Luke 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph.6:18; Eph.4:30. 

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end: that their persevering attachment to Christ  is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors of the faith; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 

John 8:31; I John 2:27-28; I John 3:9; I John 5:18; I John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt. 13:20- 21; John 6:66-69; Job  17:9; Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer. 32:40; Ps.121:3; Ps. 91:11-12; Phil. 1:6; Phil. 2:13; Jude 24:25; Heb.1:14; II  Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; I John 4:4. 

We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just,  and good; and that the inability which the scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely  from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church. 

Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 4:15; Rom. 7:12; Rom.7:7,14-22; Gal.3:21; Ps. 119;  Rom.8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; John 5:44; Rom. 8:2-4; Rom. 10:4; I Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude  20&21.

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the  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 his word; that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors  and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. 

I Cor. 1:1-3; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; I Cor. 4:17; I Cor. 14:23; III John 9; I Tim. 3:5; Acts  2:41-42; II Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; I Cor. 5:12-13; I Cor. 11:2; II Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; I Cor.11:23-24; Matt.  18:15-20; I Cor. 5:6; II Cor. 2:17; I Cor. 4:17; Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; I John 14:21; I Thess. 4:2; II  John 6; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 4:7; I Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; I Tim. 3; Titus 1. 

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen  Saviour, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. Communion; in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. Communion is meant to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him and with His church.

Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; John 4:12; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts  16:32-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:47-48; Gal.3:26-28; Rom.6:4; Col. 2:12; I Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42;  I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor.11:28; I Cor. 5:1-8; I Cor. 10:3-32; I Cor.  11:17-32; John 6:26.

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;  and that leaders are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. 

Rom. 13:1-7; Deu. 16:18; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:23; Jer. 30:21; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13; I Tim. 2:1-4;  Acts 5:29; Matt.28; Dan. 3:15-18; Dan. 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matt. 23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Ps.72:11;  Ps.2; Rom. 14:9-13. 

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the unrighteous; 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 sight; while all such as continue in unbelief are in his sight unrighteous, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. 

Mal. 3:18; Pro. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Gen. 18:23; Jer. 15:19; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 6:16; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 7:6; I John  2:29; I John 3:7; Rom. 6:18,22; I Cor. 11:32; Pro. 11:31; I Peter 4:17-18; I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; John 3:36; Isa.  57:21; Ps. 10:4; Isa. 55:6-7; Pro. 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Pro. 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; Luke 9:23-26; Ecc.  3:17; Matt. 7:13- 14. 

We believe that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness. 

I Peter 4:7; I Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; I John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; Matt. 13:39-40; II Peter 3:3-13;  Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; I Thess 4:13-18; I Thess. 5:1-11; Acts 24:15; I Cor. 15:12-58; Luke 14:14;  Dan. 12:2 John 5:28-29; John 6:40; John 11:25-26; II Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matt. 13:49; Matt. 13:37-43; Matt.  24:30- 31; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 22:11; I Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; II Peter 2:9; Jude7; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 6:23;  II Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; II Cor. 4:18; Rom. 3:5-6; II Thess. 1:6-12: Heb. 6:1-2; I Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom.  2:2-16; Rev.20:11-12; I John 2:28; I John 4:17; II Peter 3:11-12.