THE SCRIPTURES.
We believe that the original writing of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally, plenarily, and inerrantly inspired of God and that they constitute the absolute authority in all matters of faith and practice (II Timothy 3.16, 17; Psalm 119. 105). We believe in the literal, historical, grammatical and contextual interpretation of the Bible, which reveals divinely determined dispensations defining man’s responsibility under God in successive ages (Ephesians 3. 2-10).
THE TRINITY.
We believe in the Trinity-God the Father (Romans 1. 7), God the Son (Romans 9. 5), and the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3. 16), being one God eternally existent in three persons (Matthew 28. 19), equal in all attributes (John 10. 30).
GOD THE FATHER.
The Father’s distinct role in the trinity is that of exercising His will or sovereign plan, and being the recipient of all prayers. He is the source of all blessings, curses, and chastisement. He is also the source of judgment until the day of Jesus Christ. God the Father is the one who draws men to himself unto salvation.
JESUS CHRIST.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered, and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people.
HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit is the promised Comforter sent by the Father and the Son, possessing full personality and deity. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the agent of the new birth, at which time He baptizes believers into the body of Christ, and His work among believers is that He seals, indwells, fills, guides, and teaches. The sign gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles and healing, were powerful indicators in New Testament times whereby the authenticity of the gospel was established on earth but these gifts are not normative for today..
THE FALL OF MAN.
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man disobeyed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his descendants inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and are sinners from conception. Now all are born into sin although we are ignorant of our fallen reality until becoming morally are of it.
SALVATION.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood to make atonement for the sins of mankind (Eph. 1. 7; John 6. 37, 44). On the basis of His substitutionary death and resurrection all who repent and believe receive God’s gift of eternal life (Acts 20. 21; John 6. 47). Because it is wholly given by grace, the believer’s salvation is eternally secure (Ephesians 2. 8-10; John 10. 28). It is God’s design that all believers manifest their salvation by a life pleasing to God and set apart unto Him (Romans 12. 1, 2). Every Believer is provided positional (I Corinthians 1. 2) and progressive (II Timothy 2. 21) sanctification and is promised ultimate sanctification in heaven (Ephesians 5. 25-27).
JUSTIFICATION.
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made. It is given not for anything done by them; but, on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receive and rest on Him and His righteousness by faith.
SANCTIFICATION.
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in obedience to all Christ’s commands.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.
Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
THE CHURCH.
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular communities or local churches; and to each of these churches, He has given needful authority through a plurality of under shepherds as leaders and servers or deacons for administering the order, discipline, and worship which He has appointed. The church celebrates two specific ordinances: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
MARRIAGE AND GENDER.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.