Declaration of Faith
Section One:
1. Bible: We believe that the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testament, is God's infallible Word, written by men who were uniquely moved by the Holy Spirit, and that it is our supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. We affirm our belief in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in their original writings. II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21. And, in accord with I Peter 1:23, God has preserved His inspired Word in the Textus Receptus, of which the Authorized King James Version is an accurate, faithful, trustworthy, and reliable translation.
2. GOD: We believe in one God, Creator of heaven and earth, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, I John 5:7
a. God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Jude 24-25, I John 1:7
b. God the Son: Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, born of a virgin, sinless in life, who atoned for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, His lordship, and His personal, visible, premillennial return to the world according to His promise. Colossians 1:13-18, Matthew 1:18-25, Hebrews 4:14-16
c. God the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. His works in the believer include (but are not limited to) salvation: baptizing into the body of Christ, indwelling, sealing eternally; progressive sanctification: gifting, filling, teaching, enabling, and glorifying. John 16:8-13, Ephesians 1:13-14, I Corinthians 12:12-14. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe "When that which is perfect (God's Word) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." I Corinthians 1:22, 13:8-11, and 14:21-22.
3. Man: We believe that man was created in the image of God, and was originally without sin. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, all men are now sinners both by nature and by choice. Man is unable to remedy his own lost condition. Every human being is capable, under God, of deciding for himself in the matters of faith and life. Each man is also free to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:10,23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 14:5,22.
4. Salvation: We believe that salvation is God's gift to man in the person of Jesus Christ. Sinful man is saved from the eternal penalty of sin as a result of receiving Jesus Christ, by faith, as the Saviour and Lord of life. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 6:23.
5. The Church: The local Church is an organized body of immersed believers voluntarily associated together for the worship of God, the fellowship of believers, the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ throughout the world, and the observance of the Biblical ordinances (believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper). The Scriptural officers of the Church are described in I Timothy chapter 3. The local Church is independent and autonomous and is free from all outside ecclesiastical or political interference. Acts 4:19, Ephesians 4:4-16, Acts 2:41, I Corinthians 11:23-32, I Timothy 3:1-14.
6. Satan: We believe that Satan is a person, a fallen angel, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-17, Revelation 20:10.
7. Eternity: We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the believer and the non-believer. The saved will enjoy the wonders of God's presence forever, and the lost will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:1-15.
8. Separation: We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy (including but not limited to any lodge, secret organization, cult, or religious group, such as the Charismatic movement and the Ecumenical movement), and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations (including but not limited to the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, all tobacco products, illicit drugs, gambling and any and all forms of dancing), is commanded of God. Romans 12:1-2, 14:13, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, I Thessalonians 5:22, II Timothy 3:1-5, I John 2:15-17, II John 9-11.
9. Human Sexuality: We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a 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. Genesis 2:24, 19:5,13, 26:8-9, Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:26-29, I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9, I Thessalonians 4:1-8, Hebrew 13:4.
10. Divorce and Remarriage: We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. Malachi 2:14-17, Matthew 19:3-12, Romans 7:1-3, I Timothy 3:2,1, Titus 1:6.
11. Abortion: We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. Job 3:16, Psalms 51:5, 139:14-16, Isaiah 44:24, 49:1,5, Jeremiah 1:5, 20:15-18, Luke 1:44.
Section Two:
Authority of Declaration of Faith
The declaration of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Declaration of Faith accurately represents the Bible.
Section Three:
We do now, as members of this local Church, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly agree with these Articles of Faith and most solemnly and joyfully, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, join as one body in Christ, endeavoring to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also endeavor to maintain family and private worship; to train our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to educate our children in the Bible truths; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid gossip, backbiting, and excessive anger.
We further endeavor to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.
We moreover endeavor that when we remove from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other Church where we can carry out the principles and Doctrines of God's Word.