1. The Bible
We believe that the Bible was inspired by God, written by men, and is completely
free from error. It consists of the Old and New Testaments alone, is a perfect
treasure of heavenly instruction, and reveals the principles by which God will judge
us. It includes within it the only way of salvation and will remain to the end of the
world the supreme standard and final authority by which all matters of life and
doctrine should be tested.
(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 2:12; 1 Jn. 4:1)
2. The True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God. He is a personal, infinite,
intelligent Spirit and is both Creator and the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He
is merciful, just, loving, and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His
glory. He is glorious in holiness and is worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and
love.
(Ps. 83:18; Rom. 1:20; Rev. 4:11; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 24:39; Jn. 4:24; Ex. 15:11, Deut.
6:4)
3. The Trinity
We believe that there is only one God, who exists eternally as three distinct persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is fully God and equal in every divine
perfection; carrying out distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption.
(Mk. 1:9-11; Matt. 28:19; Jn. 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Eph. 2:18; Rev. 1:4-5)
4. The Fall of Man
We believe that all the human race is created in the image of God and that through
the voluntary sin of our first parents Adam and Eve, we are all born in sin. As a
result, all mankind are now sinners by nature, utterly empty of the holiness required
by God and completely and voluntarily inclined to evil. Therefore, the human race is
unable to turn to God and is under just condemnation to eternal punishment, without
defense or excuse.
(Gen. 1:27; Gen. 3:6-24; Jn. 6:44; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:20; Rom 3:19; Jas. 2:10)
5. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that the salvation of sinners is only by the grace of God through the work
of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is fully God and fully man,
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to
the Father. He taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died,
and rose from the dead. In His death He made full atonement for our sins and
became our sacrificial substitute, forgiving our sins, absorbing the wrath of God, and
adopting us into the family of God. He ascended into heaven, is enthroned at the
right hand of his Father, and now intercedes for the church.
(Eph. 2:5; Jn. 3:16; Phil. 2:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Is. 53:4-5; Gal. 4:4-7; Rom 8:34)
6. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine Person who convicts the world of sin,
that He brings new life to those who are spiritually dead, that all believers are
baptized with the Holy Spirit and thus placed into the one true Church, which is the
Body of Christ, that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of
redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and empowers them for service (John
16:7-11, 3:5-8; I Cor. 12:7-11,13; John 14:16-17; Eph. 4:30, 5:18; Acts 1:8).
7. Justification
We believe that justification is the blessing in which those who believe in Christ are
declared righteous. It includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the
basis of Christ’s righteousness. It is given freely by God, not in consideration of any
works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the work of
Christ. This brings us into peace and favor with God, and secures every other
blessing needed for time and eternity.
(Jn. 1:16; Rom. 5:9; Matt. 9:6; Rom. 5:21; Rom. 3:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Tim. 4:8)
8. The Freeness Of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel, and
that it is the immediate duty of all to accept the gospel by a repentant and obedient
faith. There is nothing that prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but
his own depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which results in increased
condemnation.
(Rev. 22:17; Mk. 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17; Jn. 5:39-40; 2 Thess. 1:8; Matt. 11:20-24)
9. Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be regenerated, or born again.
Regeneration consists in God giving a holy disposition to the mind, and it is effected
by the power of the Holy Spirit in a manner beyond our comprehension. This is in
connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel.
Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life,
and works of righteousness.
(Jn. 3:3; 3:6-7; Ezek. 36:26; Jn 1:13; Eph. 4:20-24; Gal. 5:16-23; Matt. 7:20; Eph.
2:10)
10. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, brought about in our souls
by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and
helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with sincere
remorse, confession, and a humble request for mercy. At the same time we heartily
receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and rely on Him
alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.
(Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; Acts 2:37-38; Ps. 51; Rom. 10:12-13; Heb. 4:14)
11. Sovereign Grace
We believe that it was the eternal purpose of God, which He graciously planned
before creation, to choose some people to be regenerated and saved, not on
account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good
pleasure. This is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, and is a most
glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and
unchangeable. It utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy. It is the foundation of
Christian assurance.
(2 Tim. 1:8-9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:11; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30)
12. Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God,
we are made partakers of His holiness. It is a progressive work that begins in
regeneration and carries on in the hearts of believers through the presence and
power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter. The Spirit works through the
continual use of spiritual disciplines, including reading and hearing the word of God,
Christian fellowship, self-examination, and prayer.
(1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 6:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Heb. 10:24-25)
13. The Perseverance of Saints
We believe that genuine believers are only those who endure to the end. Their
persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from
those who falsely profess faith in Christ. Christians may fall into sin, which grieves
the Spirit, impairs their graces and comforts, brings reproach on the church and
temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again to repentance,
and be kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.
(1 Jn. 3:9; 5:18; 1 Jn. 2:19; Matt. 13:20-21; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 13:5; Jude. 24-25)
14. The Church
We believe that the invisible church is the communion of God’s people drawn from
every tribe, language, people, and nation throughout all the ages. It is made visible in
local churches, which are congregations of baptized believers covenanted together
in faith and fellowship, marked by the right preaching of God’s word and right
administration of the ordinances. They are governed by the word of God, which
teaches that their offices are elders (pastors) and deacons, whose qualifications,
claims, and duties are defined most clearly in the Letters to Timothy and Titus. The
mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world.
(Jn. 14:15; Acts 6:1-4; Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; Matt. 28:18-20)
15. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the
name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; to show forth our faith in the crucified,
buried, and risen Savior in a solemn and beautiful symbol. It symbolizes our death to
sin and resurrection to a new life. It is obedience to the command of Christ, and prerequisite to the privileges of church membership, and to the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be
observed by churches until the end of the world. It is to be observed by the eating of
bread and the drinking of the cup. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to
commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge,
and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
(Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:12; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 22:14-20)
16. Liberty of Conscience
We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society, and that
We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the
doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or
not contained in it. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the
interests and good order of human society, and that officials are to be prayed for and
conscientiously honored. They are to be 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; Rom. 14:5-6; Deut. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-8; Dan. 3:15-18; Acts
4:18-21; Rev. 19:16)
17. The World to Come
We believe that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem. At the
last day Christ will physically return to earth and raise the dead from the grave to
final retribution. A separation will then take place; the wicked will be judged and
sentenced to endless conscious punishment, and the righteous to endless joy.
Christ’s judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles
of righteousness. Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens
and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God.
(Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Lk. 14:14; Jn. 5:28-29; Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 21:9-27; 22)