|
|
|||||
|
Our Faith ~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
Table of Contents |
||
|
We believe that God has revealed Himself in the inspired Scriptures, the autographs being His very breath, θεοπευστοζ, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Holy Spirit worked through human authors to record God's revelation, 2 Peter 1:21. God's Word is true in all that it proclaims, authorative, and sufficient for all the needs of life on this earth, 2 Peter 1:3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. |
|||||
|
We believe there is one and only living and true God, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth, Genesis 1:1, who is self-existent, uncaused, and eternal, Exodus 3:14, John 1:1. God is one, existing in three co-eternal, co-equal persons with one essence and purpose, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each possessing distinct roles and functions, Luke 3:22, 1 Corinthians 8:6. |
|||||
|
We believe that Jesus was conceived
in Mary miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit, without the agency
of a man, and the He is both the Son of God and God the Son,
Isaiah 7:14,
Matthew 1:18-25,
Luke 1:35,
John 1:14,
Philippians 2. |
|||||
|
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son, and the of the same nature; that he was active in the creation; that in relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, indwells, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer, Genesis 1:1-3, Matthew 28:19, John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 12:11. |
|||||
|
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, Matthew 4:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:2, |
|||||
|
We believe and accept the Genesis account of the Creation and believe the mankind exists by the direct creation of God in six 24 hour days. Genesis 1-2, Colossians 1:16, John 1:3. |
|||||
|
We believe that mankind was created in the image of likeness of God without a sin nature, Genesis 1:26-27, but by voluntary transgression, fell from this innocent state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, by nature and by choice, Genesis 3:1-6, and are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse, Romans 1:18-32; 5:10-19, Ephesians 2:1-3. |
|||||
|
We believe that in
order to be saved, sinners must be born again,
John 3:3-8. The one
dead in trespasses and in sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and
receives eternal life, the free gift of God, which is brought about in a
manner above comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in
connection with divine truth, so as to secure our obedience to the gospel,
evidencing itself in repentance, faith, and newness of life,
Romans 6:23,
Ephesians 2:1-10,
Colossians 2:13,
2 Corinthians 5:17. As a result,
believers are justified, or judicially declared righteous by God, based
not on any personal good works, but solely upon the righteousness of Jesus
which is imputed to the believer,
Romans 5:1,
9,
18-19;
8:1. |
|||||
|
We believe that Jesus commanded the local church to participate in two exercises that hold spiritual significance. Baptism by immersion, Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 8:38-39, is an act of obedience and identification, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, Acts 2:41. Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is to be a remembrance of Christ's death through the partaking of the elements, symbolizing His body and blood, and should be done regularly giving an opportunity for serious examination of one's life, Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.
|
|||||
|
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and executing the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, Acts 2:41-47. We believe that its officers are Pastor and Deacon whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures, 1 Timothy 3, & Titus 1. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Jesus to all men as we have opportunity, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 2:9-12, and the edification of the saints, Ephesians 4:11-16. 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 is Christ, through the Holy Spirit, Colossians 1:18.
|
|||||
|
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good oh human society, that officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming prince of the kings of the earth, Matthew 22:21, Acts 4:19-20; 23:5, Romans 13:1-7.
|
|||||
|
We believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, wherein all believers in Jesus from the day of Pentecost to the rapture are caught up in the sky to meet Jesus. Believers then stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward reward or loss of reward based on their works of service on Earth, Romans 14:4, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10. The tribulation is a literal seven year period, the seventieth week of Daniel, when the world, primarily Israel, is judged for son, Daniel 9:27. The Millennium will begin with Christ's triumphant return to Earth, Matthew 24:30, Acts 1:11, Revelation 20:4. He will be seated on the Davidic throne in Jerusalem and will be ruling as the Davidic King, Isaiah 11:1-9. At the end of the one thousand year period, Satan will be released from bondage for his final rebellion, which will be defeated by Christ, and Satan will be cast forever into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:7-10. The unbelieving dead will then be raised to face their final judgment at the Great White Throne from which they will be cast into the Lake of Fire along with Satan to suffer for eternity, Revelation 20:11-15. This will be followed by the destruction of the present heavens and earth, 2 Peter 3:10-11, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth that will include the new Jerusalem, Revelation 21:1-22. Blessing, freedom from sin and its effects, and eternal fellowship with God will be primary in this eternal state.
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
