|
The Bible We believe that the Bible,
sixty-six Old and New Testament books, is the only verbally inspired Word of
God, and as such is the final authority for faith and life. In the original
writings (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) the Bible is inerrant, infallible, and
God-breathed. Because of God's sovereign care over His Word, we have reliable
translations available today. We recognize the necessity of the Holy Spirit's
illumination in order for us to correctly understand its meaning. The Godhead We believe there is one God,
eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three
persons are co-eternal in being, coidentical in nature, co-equal in power and
glory, and have the same infinite perfection in their attributes. The Father We believe that God the Father is
the Father of all Creation, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the One who
makes us sons through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ We believe that the Lord Jesus
Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. We believe
in the deity of Christ, His virgin birth and sinless life, vicarious and
representative death, burial and resurrection, and ascension to the right hand
of the Father. From this exalted position He serves as the Great High Priest,
the Mediator between God and man. Holy Spirit We believe that God, the Holy
Spirit, is that person of the Trinity who restrains evil in the world, convicts
men of sin, and regenerates believers (baptizing them at the moment of their
salvation into the body of Christ). He indwells and seals unto the day of
redemption all who are saved. Hefills with power and gives wisdom to those who
are yielded to Him. Satan We believe that Satan is a created
being, the author of sin, and the declared enemy of God and man. We believe he
will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. We believe that God is sovereign
over Satan, and Satan's involvement in a believer's life is subject to
limitations imposed by God. Total Depravity We believe that man was created in
the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the entire human race
fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. We believe man
is totally depraved, utterly unable and unwilling, apart from God in Christ, to
remedy his lost condition. Salvation We believe in the immediate and
eternal salvation of every person who truly believes in Jesus Christ, and by
faith alone, relies on His finished work on the cross as the only righteous
ground on which a Holy God can provide salvation for men. Salvation is by grace,
through faith alone, based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Eternal Security and Assurance We believe that those who have
accepted God's gift of salvation are eternally saved, kept by God's work and
power, and are therefore secure in Christ forever. We believe that it is the
privilege of believers to humbly rejoice in the assurance of their salvation
through the testimony of God's Word. The Church We believe that the Church is the
Body and Bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, composed solely of believers, and every
believer a member. We believe that the Church is distinct from Israel, was begun
at Pentecost, and will continue in its present earthly role until its gathering
up. The Church has the responsibility to edify itself in love, proclaim the
Gospel to the world, and make known the manifold wisdom of God. Local churches
are composed of believers in a locality who gather in Christ's name for worship,
Scriptural instruction, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These local
churches are accountable only to Christ, as Head of the Church, and His Word. We
believe God has committed the oversight of local churches to elders whom He
qualifies and equips for this ministry. Priesthood of Believers We believe that every believer has
direct access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer should
nurture a direct, intimate relationship between himself and the Father, through
the Lord Jesus Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament,
the Levitical priesthood was especially set apart for the purpose of offering up
sacrifices and worship, and ministering to the people. In the New Testament
Church, all believers have the privilege and responsibility to exercise their
appropriate scriptural role as a believer-priest before God. Evangelism We believe that every believer is
to be a witness to the world of the gospel of Christ, both by lifestyle and by
word. Baptism and the Lord's Supper The Scripture teaches that the
Lord gave these two observances for the Church. In baptism by immersion, a
believer publically demonstrates that he has died with Christ, has been buried
with Him, and has risen to walk in newness of life with Him. The Lord's Supper
is a memorial feast at which believers worship the Lord and show His death until
He comes again. In accordance with early church practice, we observe the Lord's
Supper each Lord's day. Dispensations We believe that dispensations are distinguishable arrangements in the outworking of God's program on earth. (For example, the dispensation of the Mosaic Law, the present dispensation of Grace, and the future dispensation of the Millenial Kingdom.) These are not to be intermingled or confused. Therefore, we believe that Israel and the Church are two distinct groups, and there is a future for the nation of Israel in her promised land during the millenial kingdom. During these dispensational periods, the way of salvation has remained unchanged. Salvation is always by grace, through faith in God's revelation, based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is the subject of the whole counsel of Scripture. Second Coming We believe in the "blessed hope,"
the personal, imminent, and premillenial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His
redeemed ones, and in His subsequent return to the earth, with His saints, to
establish His millenial kingdom. Eternal State We believe in the bodily
resurrection of all people-- the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to
judgment and everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.
|