Beliefs

ARTICLE I. THE SCRIPTURES

1. We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed and opinions should be tried. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21

2. By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God. Matthew 5:17-18

3. By “Inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. Job 32:8; 2 Timothy 3:16

ARTICLE II. THE TRUE GOD
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 unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Isaiah 40, Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10,26

ARTICLE III. THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
1. 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 man. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,14; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8

2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5

3. 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; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2

ARTICLE IV. THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; and in His relation to the unbelieving world He convicts of Sin, of The Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwells and seals the believer, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9,26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14

2. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11,28; Ephesians 4:7-12

3. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. 1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22

ARTICLE V. THE DEVIL OR SATAN
1. We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but, through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels, that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to the man’s great tempter the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28

ARTICLE VI. THE CREATION
1. We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life were made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only after their kind. Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; Matthew 19: 4-6; 24:37-39; Mark 10:6

ARTICLE VII. THE FALL OF MAN
1. We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his maker, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinner, not by constraint but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12; 3:10-18; John 8:43-44; 3:19; 5:40; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:17-18

ARTICLE VIII. GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
1. We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3-8; 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:5-10

ARTICLE IX. THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
1. We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent 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; or the fact that they have never heard; which involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Romans 10:14 17; Ephesians 1:3-12; Romans 8: 28-32; 2 Peter 3:9

ARTICLE X. JUSTIFICATION
1. We believe that the great Gospel which Christ secures to such as believes in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness, not which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is imputed unto us. Romans 6:23; 4:1-25; 8:33

ARTICLE XI. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
1. We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligation, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby; being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all sufficient Savior. Luke 24:27; Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 1:17; 4; 5:1; Hebrews 11:6

ARTICLE XII. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
1. We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their faith to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal Salvation. 1 John 2:19; 5:13; Romans 8:28-29; 31-39; 11:29; John 6: 47; 5:24; Philippians 1:6

ARTICLE XIII. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
1. We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, and truly righteous in his esteem while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among man both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. John 5: 25-29; 6:40; Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15

ARTICLE XIV. THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST
1. We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ arose bodily “the third day according to the Scriptures”, that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”, “That this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” bodily, personally and visibly; that the dead in Christ shall rise first:, that the living saints “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”, that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David’s and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet”. Matthew 16: 21; 26:64; Acts 1:11; 26:22-23; Revelation 16:15; 22:20; Jude 14; Job 19: 25-27; Psalm 16: 10; John 2:19;

ARTICLE XV. THE CHURCH
1. We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of 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 officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claim and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individuals disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach and instruct as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent of Christ through The Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Matthew 18: 18; 28:18-20; Mark 16: 16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; Acts 6:3; 11:30; 20:28-29; 1 Timothy 3; 5:17; James 5:14

ARTICLE XVI. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
1. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, 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 and to the Lord’s Supper; 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. John 3:22-23; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34; Matthew 13-17

ARTICLE XVII. MISSIONS
1. We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the local churches. Matthew 28: 18-20; Acts; Romans 10:13-18

ARTICLE XVIII. THE GRACE OF GIVING
1. We believe that God’s method of financing His earthly work spreading the Gospel to all nations, the care of the churches and the support of the ministry, is by the tithes and offerings of His people. That is to be given to the Lord through His church or storehouse to be distributed as directed by leadership of the Spirit as the need arises, the time to tithe is upon the first day of the week. That everyone is accountable to the Lord for one tenth of his income and that tithing was instituted long before the law was ever given and was practiced by the earthly church. Genesis 8: 20; 14:20; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians; 8-9

ARTICLE XIX. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
1. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be opposed, where they ask of us what is contrary to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ as given in Scripture; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of earth. Romans 13: 1-7; Daniel 1:5-16; 3; 6; 1 Peter 2:17; Proverbs 24:21; Acts 4: 1-22; Matthew 22: 15:22

ARTICLE XX. HUMAN SEXUALITY
1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4

2. We believe that the only Scripture marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23