·
We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the
Holy Bible.
The 66 books comprising
the Old and New Testament canon were inerrant in the original writings and
thus constitute the believer's final authority for faith and practice (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
·
We believe in the existence of one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
We also believe in the
doctrine of the Trinity; that is, within the unity of the Godhead there
exists three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who in essence are
co-equal and co-eternal, yet distinct though harmonious works.
·
We believe in God, the Father, commonly spoken
of as the first member of the Trinity. God is an infinite and perfect Spirit
who is the source and support of all things. He is perfect in perfections
and purposes. (See Genesis 17:1; Psalm 139:7, 11; Acts 15:18; Ephesians
1:11.)
·
We believe in Jesus Christ, commonly spoken of
as the second member of the Trinity. He was and is the Eternal Son of God,
possessing both absolute deity and perfect humanity. He was born of the
Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and gave His life on Calvary as a
sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He arose bodily from
the grave, ascended back into heaven, and is today acting as the believer's
advocate and Great High Priest. (See Luke 24:39; John 1:1, 15a; 9:6; Hebrews
4:15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:1.)
·
We believe in the Holy Spirit. As the third
member of the Trinity, He is not just an influence but a person equal in
essence to the Father and Son. He is actively involved in the world, both in
bringing the lost to Christ for salvation and in performing many wonderful
ministries for the saints. He also gives gifts to believers and seeks to
fill the obedient Christian, giving him power for service. (See Matthew
28:19; John 3:5; 16:8; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:7ff, 13; Ephesians 4:30;
5:18.)
·
We believe that the universe and mankind are
the results of the direct creative act of God. God created the universe and
that which it contains in six consecutive days of 24 hours each. We reject
all forms of evolution, whether theistic or naturalistic. (See Genesis 1:1,
27; Colossians 1:16.)
·
We believe in the existence of angels. Angels
are spirit beings created by God for the purpose of bringing Him glory and
fulfilling His purpose in the universe. Though more powerful than human
begins, they are not all-powerful. (See Psalm 103:20; 148:5; Hebrews
1:13-14.)
·
We believe that within the body of angelic
beings exists a group which we refer to as fallen angels, headed by Satan
himself. Satan, also known as the devil, is a real person created by God as
the angel Lucifer, who, because of rebellion, fell from that lofty position.
When he fell, he took part of the angelic hosts with him. Today these
demonic hosts serve Satan just as the good angels serve God. Satan is in the
business of opposing God and God's people in any way possible. His eternal
destiny has already been determined in the lake of fire. (See Isaiah
14:12-14; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7; 20:10.)
·
We believe that man is a direct creation of God.
Man, who was created in the image and likeness of God in a state of
sinlessness or innocence, did by transgression fall from that lofty
position; in so doing, all of mankind are now sinners by nature and by
choice. In the fall, mankind incurred the just condemnation of a Holy God,
resulting in both spiritual and physical death. (See Genesis 1:26-27;
3:1-19; Romans 5:12-19; 2:10-12, 23.)
·
We believe in the salvation of sinners. The
basis or ground of our salvation is the finished work of Christ on Calvary,
and the avenue of our salvation is repentance toward God and faith in Jesus
Christ. Salvation does not come by what we can do but by what He has done.
It is offered freely to all. We are simply the recipients of His matchless
grace. When we receive Christ as our Savior, we are regenerated, justified,
adopted, sanctified, and shall some day be glorified. When we are genuinely
saved, we can never be finally lost because our destiny depends on His
keeping power and not on our own. (See John 3:16; Acts 3:19; 4:12; 20:21;
Romans 5:1; 8:15, 30; 1 Corinthians 6;11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:6;
1 Timothy 4;10; Titus 3:5-7.)
·
We believe in the sanctification of the
believer. Sanctification in the Bible has the idea of the believer's being
set apart for God's service and thus becoming more like his Master.
Sanctification can be viewed in three aspects. Positional sanctification
occurs the moment a person is saved; he dons the robes of Christ's
righteousness. Practical sanctification is an ongoing process whereby the
believer becomes more and more conformed to the likeness of God's Son.
Perfect sanctification shall occur someday when we go to be with the Lord (either
through death or translation) and no longer have to contend with the old
nature because we shall become like He is. (See 1 Corinthians 1:2;
Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2.)
·
We believe God has given spiritual gifts to
Christians to serve in and through the local church. Every believer has at
least one gift, and the use of gifts is always for the ultimate purpose of
bringing glory to God. Among the gifts listed in the Bible, we believe that
the sign gifts (miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues,
prophecy) were temporary in nature and given to the church in its infant
state before the completion of the canon of Scripture. Therefore, we reject
the modern Charismatic Movement and the confusion it has brought. (See
Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:1-11; 13:8; Ephesians 4:11-12.)
·
We believe in the church of Jesus Christ as
God's institution for this age to accomplish His purposes in the world. The
church as the body of Christ is comprised of all believers from Pentecost to
the Rapture. Local churches are visible expressions of the body of Christ
meeting in a particular time and place. Christ is the Head of the Church,
and the Word of God is its source of authority. The local church is to be
comprised of baptized (by immersion) believers who meet together for worship,
fellowship, service, edification, and evangelism. Local churches should be
led by men serving in the biblical offices of pastor and deacons. They are
to observe the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper. (See Acts
1:5; 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 12:13; Galatians 1:2; Colossians 1:18;
1 Timothy 3:2, 8.)
·
We believe that God has a plan and program for
the end of the age. The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the return
of the Lord Jesus. We believe His return will be accomplished in two phases.
The first phase, called the Rapture of the church, will be premillennial and
is an imminent event. After the Rapture, the seven-year tribulation will
occur, climaxed by the second phase of Christ's return, referred to as the
Revelation. Following this will be the millennial reign of Christ,
culminating in the Great White Throne Judgment of the lost. Next comes the
eternal state. We believe in the conscious, eternal punishment of the lost
in hell and the blessed eternal felicity of the saints in heaven. (See 1
Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 3:10, 6-19; 19:11-16; 20:1-6, 11-15;
21:1-8.)
·
We believe God has called believers to live a
life characterized by personal, ecclesiastical, and even familial separation.
Personally we are to refrain from all things that would defile us or bring
shame to the name of Christ, which we bear. We are called to live a life
characterized by holiness and purity, as examples to a watching world of
what a believer is to be. Ecclesiastically, we are called upon to refrain
from cooperation or alliances with groups that do not stand unashamedly for
the truths revealed in the Word of God. Thus, we cannot accept the position
reflected in the Ecumenical Movement, Neo-Orthodoxy, New Evangelicalism, or
the various branches of the Charismatic Movement. We believe cooperation
should be limited to those of like precious faith. (See Romans 16:17; 1
Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2
Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 John 2:15, 17; 2 John 9, 10.)
