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We Believe...
THE
BIBLE, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is
the verbally inspired Word of God. It is inerrant in its original
writings and is the only supreme and final authority in all
matters of Faith and Life. (John
17:4-17; I Corinthians 14:37; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21;
I Thessalonians 2:13)
GOD
is one God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in divine perfection
and attributes, yet execute distinct but harmonious offices
in the great work of redemption. (Genesis
1:26-27; 11:5-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; I Chronicles 29:11-12; Matthew
28:19)
The
FATHER is a divine being with all the attributes
of God and qualities of personhood. As the first person of the
Godhead, He orders and disposes all things according to His
own purpose and grace.(Psalm
145:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-23; Ephesians 4:6; 1Corinthians 8:6)
The Father saves from sin all who come to Him through faith
in Jesus Christ. (John
1:12; Romans 8:15-17; Romans 10:9)
JESUS
CHRIST is the true God-man. He was conceived
by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless
life, and was crucified for our sins. He died, was buried, and
was resurrected bodily after three days. He ascended into heaven
and lives there as our High Priest and Advocate. (Matthew
1:20; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,14; John 12:45; John 14:9; Acts
1:8-11; I Corinthians 15:4; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16;
Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1-2)
The HOLY SPIRIT is a divine being with all
the attributes of God and qualities of personhood. By Him every
believer is called, regenerated, baptized into the Body of Christ,
sealed, filled, and sanctified. At the moment of salvation every
believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and equipped for service
with at least one spiritual gift. The sign gifts of the Holy
Spirit have fulfulled their purpose and are not applicable to
the work of the Holy Spirit today. (1Corinthians
12:8-13; 1Corinthians 13:8-13; 1Corinthians 14:22; 2Corinthians
12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4)
ANGELS
are personal beings created to worship and serve God and are not to
be worshipped by man. (Psalm
91:11-12; Matthew 1:20; 22:30; Colossians 2:11; Hebrews 1:14)
SATAN
is the unholy prince of this age and the author of all the powers
of darkness. He and his DEMONS are fallen angles.
They rebelled against God and are destined to eternal punishment
in the lake of fire.
(Genesis
3:1-5; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians
6:10-18; Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10)
The
direct CREATION of the universe and man was
accomplished by God, according to the Genesis account of creation,
apart from any process of evolution. (Genesis
1 & 2)
MAN
was created in the image of God. He sinned and thereby incurred physical
death and spiritual death, which is separation from God. All humans
are born with a SIN NATURE.
(Genesis
1:26-27; 2:7; 2:15-17; 3:7; Romans 5:12-21)
SALVATION
is entirely of grace through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
His death was a representative and substitutionary sacrifice
for our sins. All who believe in Him are justified by His shed
blood, and their salvation is ETERNALLY SECURE
(Ephesians
2:8-9; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:25)
The
NEW BIRTH is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit
by which all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith become children
of God. (John
1:12; 3:1-16; Ephesians 1:13-14)
All
true BELIEVERS are PRIESTS and have
the privilege of direct access to God through Christ and understanding
of the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit. (1Timothy
2:5; 1Peter 2:5; 2:9; 2Peter 1:20; 1John 2:27; Revelation 1:6; Revelation
5:9-10)
THE
CHURCH, a distinctively New Testament organism, is the universal
Body of Christ. The local church is an independent and self-governing
body under the headship of Jesus Christ and the authority of His Word.
It is composed solely of born-again, baptized believers associated in
faith and fellowship. (Matthew
28:19: Acts 2:42; 2:46-47; 8:30-39; 1Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians
1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:25-27; Colossians 1:18)
BAPTISM
is the immersion of believers in water as a testimony of faith
and public identification with the crucified, buried, and risen
Savior, symbolizing death to sin and resurrection to new life.
The LORD'S SUPPER is a commemoration of His
death for our sins until He comes and shall always be preceded
by solemn self-examination. (Matthew
28:19-20; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:3-4: 1Corinthians 11:23-33)
The
RAPTURE of the Church is the catching up of all believers,
living and dead, at Christ's imminent return. It will be followed by
a period of tribulation, the visible bodily return of Jesus Christ to
this earth, His millennial reign, the Great White Throne Judgment, and
the eternal state.
(1Corinthians
15:51-53; 1Thessalonians 4:13-17; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:1-15)
We
believe in the BODILY RESURRECTION of the dead,
both of the lost and the saved: for the lost, everlasting conscious
punishment in HELL eternally separated from
God; and for the saved, the everlasting enjoyment of God's presence
in HEAVEN.
(John
5:29; 1Corinthians 15:20-24; 2Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 20:11-15)
CIVIL
GOVERNMENT is of divine origin and appointment for
the interest and order of human society. Civil authorities are
to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed in their legitimate, God-ordained
spheres of responsibility. When civil authorities contradict
or oppose the authoritative Word of God, the Church must obey
God. (Matthew
22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1Timothy 2:1-2)
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