WE BELIEVE
1. That "All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole book called THE
BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the original writing and that its teaching
and authority are absolute, supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit
guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote. 2 Timothy 3:16;
Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Peter 1:21.
2. The Godhead eternally exists in
three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are
one God, having the same nature, attributes and perfection. Romans
1:20; Matthew 28:19; Deuteronomy 4:35; John 17:5.
3. In the Personality and Deity of
the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin
Mary, truly God and truly man. John 1:1,14; John 10:30; Matthew 1:20;
Luke 1:30-31; Philippians 2:5-7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:19.
4. In the Personality and Deity of
the Holy Spirit, the source and power of all acceptable worship and
service, the infallible interpreter of the infallible Word, who indwells
every true believer, and is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking
to occupy us with Him and not with ourselves or our experiences. John
15:26; Acts 5:3, 4; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 14;
Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13, 14.
5. That man was created in the image
of God, after His likeness, as stated in the Word of God, but the whole
human race fell in the fall of the first Adam. Not only was his moral
nature grievously injured by the fall but he totally lost all spiritual
life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of
the devil. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject
to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the
flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7, 8). Therefore, he cannot see nor
enter the kingdom of God until he is born again by the Holy Spirit. That
no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality
however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and
philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, no baptism or other
ordinance however administered, can help the sinner take even one step
toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life
implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to
salvation. Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3, 6,
7; Titus 3:5.
6. That Jesus Christ became the
sinner's substitute before God, and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for
the sins of the whole world. That He was made a curse for the sinner,
dying for his sins according to the Scriptures, that no repentance, no
feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no
submission to the rules and regulations of any church can add in the
very least to the value of the precious blood or to the merit of that
finished work wrought for us by Him, who tasted death for every man. 1
John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9; Galatians 3:13; Romans 3:25; Romans 4:4-5; Romans
5:8; Colossians 1:13, 14, 20, 21.
7. In the resurrection of the
crucified body of Jesus Christ; that His body was raised from the dead
according to the Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and
sitteth on the right hand of God as the believer's high priest and
advocate. Luke 24:39; Acts 1:10-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John
2:1.
8. That Christ in the fullness of
the blessings He has secured by His death and resurrection is received
by faith alone and that the moment we trust Him as our Savior we pass
out of death into everlasting life, justified from all things, accepted
before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as
He is loved and made one with Him. At the time of acceptance of Christ
as Savior, He comes to dwell within the believer and to live out His
life of holiness and power through him. Hebrews 9:15; John 5:24; Romans
3:28; Romans 4:3, 23-25; Ephesians 1:3; John 17:23; Galatians 2:20;
Galatians 4:6-7; Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:8.
9. That the Church is composed of
all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It is
the body and the bride of Christ. That every believer, whether Jew or
Gentile, is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and
having thus become members of one another we are responsible to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian
prejudices and denominational bigotry and loving one another with a pure
heart fervently. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians
12:22-27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 4:3-6;
Ephesians 5:32; Philippians 2:1-5; Galatians 5:13-15.
10. That all believers in our Lord
Jesus are called into a life of separation from worldly and sinful
practices and should abstain from such amusements and habits as will
cause others to stumble, or bring reproach upon the cross of Christ.
Believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. "As we have
therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them
who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). 1 John 2:15, 16;
Romans 13:14; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10.
11. In the evangelization of the
world; that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to
preach the Gospel to every creature. That special emphasis should be
placed upon the evangelization of children. Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians
5:18, 19; Matthew 18:14.
12. In the personal return of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; that the coming again of Jesus Christ is
the "Blessed Hope" set before us, for which we should be constantly
looking. Our citizenship is in Heaven from whence we look for the
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Acts 1:11; 1
Thessalonians 4:16, 17; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; Philippians 3:20, 21.
13. That the souls of those who have
trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately
pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the
resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body re-united
shall be with Him forever in glory. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke
16:22, 25; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.
14. That the souls of the lost
remain after death in misery until the final judgment of the great white
throne, when soul and body reunited at the resurrection shall be cast
"Into the lake of fire" which is "the second death," to be "punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the
glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9). Luke 16:22-23, 27-28;
Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5, 11-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
15. In the reality and personality
of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Peter
5:8; Revelation 20:10.