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1. WE
BELIEVE that only the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired,
and therefore inerrant, Word of God. It is the final authority for
all we believe and how we are to live. Matthew 5:18; John 10:35;
17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
2. WE
BELIEVE that the one true God exists eternally in three persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are
equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only created
the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially
directs all that exists and that He will bring all things to their
proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name. Psalm
104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians
13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3;
Revelation 1:4-6.
3. WE
BELIEVE that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled
against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast
out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish
his counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. Satan was
judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will, at the end
of the age, be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been
prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 12:25-29; 25:41; John 12:31;
16:11; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6;
Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10.
4. WE
BELIEVE that Adam was originally created in the image of God, righteous
and without sin. In consequence of his disobedience, Adam's posterity
are born subject to both imputed and inherent sin, and are therefore
by nature and choice the children of wrath, justly condemned in
the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute
in any way to their acceptance with God. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5;
Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3.
5. WE
BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully
man, that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless
life, and offered himself as a penal, substitution sacrifice for
sinners. By the blood of His cross He obtained for us eternal redemption,
the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. He was raised bodily
on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there
to make intercession for the saints. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18;
Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians
3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23;
Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2.
6. WE
BELIEVE that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity
on the part of man is required in order to be saved. This saving
grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies
us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God's sight in order
that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,
31-39; 10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7;
1 John 1:7,9.
7. WE
BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy
Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption. The
Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously equips
the Christian for godly living and service. Subsequent to conversion
the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry
and witness. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as
all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are
operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the
kingdom and to empower and edify the church to fulfill its calling
and mission. Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Romans
8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians
3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18.
8. WE
BELIEVE that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances
of the church to be observed until the time of Christ's return.
They are not a means of salvation but are channels of God's sanctifying
grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Matthew 26:26-29;
28:19; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Peter 3:21.
9. WE
BELIEVE that the church is God's primary instrument through which
He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. To equip
the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the church apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We also affirm the
priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian
being joined with and actively involved in a local community of
the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called
and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the kingdom.
However, final governmental authority in the church has ideally
been entrusted to men. Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18,42; Ephesians
3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10.
10.
WE BELIEVE that God has called the church to preach the gospel to
all nations, and especially to remember the poor and to minister
to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service.
This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ
and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. Isaiah 58:6-12;
61:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:18; 21:1-4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy
6:8.
11.
WE BELIEVE in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of
the age when He will return to the earth personally and visibly
to consummate His kingdom. We also believe in and are praying for
a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious
church that will experience an unprecedented unity, purity, and
power in the Holy Spirit. Psalms 2:7-9; 22:27-28; John 14:12; 17:20-26;
Romans 11:25-32; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 50-58; Ephesians 4:11-16;
Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians
1:3-12; Revelation 7:9-14.
12.
WE BELIEVE that when the Christian dies he/she passes immediately
into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship
with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation
of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship
with their great Triune God. We also believe that when the unbeliever
dies he/she is consigned to hell, there to await the Day of Judgment
when he/she shall be punished with eternal separation from the presence
of God. Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians
15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2
Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15.
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