Statements Of Faith

1.    GOD

We believe that there is only one true, living and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A.    One True and Eternal God:  Deuteronomy 6:4; 33:27; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:15-16; 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 14:9-11; I Thessalonians 1:9; Timothy 1:17; 2:5; 6:7; Hebrews 1:1-13; 3:12

            B   The Godhead:

1)      God as Father: Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 4:6

2)      God as Son: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 16:16; John 1:1; 3:14, 16; 14:28; I Corinthians 15:28; Hebrews 1:18

a)      Virgin Birth of Jesus:  Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

3)      God as Holy Spirit:  John 14:16, 26; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4; Romans 8:16

2.    The Bible

We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments; the inspired and infallible Word of God and therein is found the only reliable guide of Christian faith and its conduct.

A.    The Inspired Revelation:  Luke 24:44-46; Romans 16:25-26; II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; II Peter 1:20-21

B.     The Infallible Word: Isaiah 40:8; Luke 21:33; John 17:17; Titus 1:2; I Peter 1:25

C.    The Reliable Guide:  Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:105; 140; John 5:39; Acts 17:11-12; Romans 10:14-15; 15:14; II Timothy 3:16-17

3.    Man

We believe that God created man in his own image to bring Him honor through obedience and that when man disobeyed; he became a fallen and sinful creature, unable to save himself.

We believe that infants are in the covenant of God’s grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of moral responsibility.

A.    Man’s Origin:  Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Psalms 8:5

B.     Man’s Purpose:  Genesis 1:28-31; 2:15-25; Isaiah 43:7

C.    Man’s Sin: Genesis 3: 1-24; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 1:18-3:23; 5:12-21; 7:1-25

D.    Man’s Accountability:  Matthew 19:13-15; Romans 4:15; 5:13; 6:16; Hebrews 11:24-26

4.    Salvation

We believe that salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justification and redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and that this Salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

A.    Salvation:  Hebrews 5:9; 7:25; I Thessalonians 5:9; I Peter 1:9

B.     Regeneration:  John 3:3-8; 1:11-13; I Peter 1:23; Ephesians 2:1-10; II Corinthians 5:17; II Peter 1:4; Titus 3:5

C.    Sanctification:  I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:9-10,29; 13:12; II Timothy 2:21; Romans 12:1-2; I Peter 1:2

D.    Justification:  Romans 3:20-24; 5:1-2; 18; 8:30-33; Acts 13:38-39;  I Corinthians 6:11; II Corinthians 5:21

E.     Redemption:  Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9

F.      Christ Redemptive Work:  John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 22:17; II Peter 3:9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9

G.    Life and Death:  Romans 5:10; Hebrews 9:12-15; John 10:11; I John 3:16

H.    Resurrection:  Romans 4:25; I Peter 1:3; I Corinthians 15:14, 17

I.       Ascension:  Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 9:24; 10:11-12

J.      Intercession:  Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:15; Isaiah 53:12; I Timothy 2:5

K.    Repentance:  Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 24:47; 13: 3-5; Acts 2:38; I Thessalonians 1:9-10

L.     Faith:  John 3:16-18; Hebrews 11:1; 6; I Peter 1:5

5.    Assurance and Endurance

We believe that those that abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation.  However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost.

A.    Assurance:  Matthew 28:20; I Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 5:9

B.     Endurance:  Matthew 10:33; Luke 9:62; Colossians 1:23; Revelations 2:10-11; 3:3-5

C.    Warnings:  John 15:6; Romans 11:20-23; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12; 10:26-29; II Peter 2:20-21

D.    Finally Lost:  John 15:6; I Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 6:4-6

6.    Christian Duties

We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the local church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers and conducting themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.

A.    Faithful Service:  I Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 101:6; Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:7-14; Romans 12:14; I Corinthians 13; II Corinthians 8,9; Ephesians 4,6; Hebrews 12:1

B.     Prayer:  II Chronicles 7:14; Daniel 6:10; Matthew 6:1-13; 26:41; Luke 18:1; I Thessalonians 5:17

C.    Witnessing:  Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8

D.    Tolerance:  Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:22-23; II Peter 1:5-9

E.     Loving Kindness:  John 13:35; I John 3:11; 4:7, 11-12

F.     Financial Stewardship:  Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7

7.    The Church

We believe that the Church Universal is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that its members have been called out of the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, its head.

We believe that a local church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ, voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture and service.

A.    The Church Universal:  Matthew 16:18; John 10:10; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-14, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24; Hebrews 12:23

B.     The Local Church:  Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:38-47; 11:19-30; Revelation 1:4; 3:22

1)      Worship and Service:  Romans 12:1; I Corinthians 14:12; 23-25; Hebrews 10:25; James 1:26-27

2)      Nurture:  Ephesians 4; II Peter 1:2-8; 3:18 

8.    Ordinances

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians only.  We also believe that the Biblical mode of baptism is immersion and participation in the Lord’s Supper should be open to all Christians.  (Note:  Several associations and local churches recognize feet washing as an ordinance.  We believe that this should be left to the individual and that neither the practice nor the non practice of it should be any bar to fellowship, either in the church, local association, the Presbytery or the General Association.  John 13:1; I Timothy 5:10.)

A.    Baptism

1)      Instituted:  Matthew 3:13-15; 28:19

2)      Subjects:  Acts 2:41; 8:12; 37-38; 10:47-48; 16:30-33; 19:5

3)      Biblical Mode:  Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12

4)      Purpose:  Matthew 3:14; I Peter 3:21

B.     Communion

1)      Instituted:  Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-25

2)      Subjects:  I Corinthians 11:27-29

3)      Purpose:  I Corinthians 11:26

9.    The Lord’s Day

We believe in the Sanctity of the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed by worshipping God, witnessing for Christ, and ministering to the needs of humanity.  We believe that secular work on Sunday should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.

A.    Sanctity:  Exodus 20:8; Isaiah 58:13-14

B.     Observance:  Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; 14:1-6; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10 

10.           Last Things

We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of the dead.  We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ; that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven; that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.

A.    Return:  Matthew 24,25; Luke 12:40; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I John 3:2; Revelation 1:7

B.     Resurrection:  John 5:25, 28-29, 6:40; 11:24-25; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 15;  Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6

C.    Judgment and Reward:  Matthew 25:21; Mark 9:43-48; John 5:27; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 14:12; II Corinthians 5:1, 10; Colossians 3:24; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 3:8-13; Jude 21; Revelation 2:7; 14:13; 20:10-15; 22:12