OUR BELIEFS

Articles of Faith

1. We believe in the one true and living God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost – and these three are one.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

2. We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the revealed and inspired word of God, and as such are the only rule for both faith and practice. 

Psa. 12:6-7 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

II Pet. 1:19-21 ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise    in your hearts:²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake    as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

3. We believe that the Bible should be our only rule for faith and practice; therefore, we should strive to follow the word of God in our daily lives and should seek to live quiet and peaceable lives, using the scripture as our ultimate authority. Since we bear the name of Christ we should live life in a way that honors God and does not bring reproach on His name.

I Tim. 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; ² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Tit. 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,² To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

4. We believe that all mankind is in a fallen state by nature and consequently in a state of condemnation. Furthermore, we believe that all mankind engages in their sin nature and none live above sin. Therefore, mankind is a sinner both by nature and by practice, and cannot recover themselves from this fallen state by their own free will or ability.

Rom.5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom.7:18-25  ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

5. We believe that God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world according to His good pleasure.  He predestined them to eternal life and glory. 

Eph. 1:3-6  ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Romans 8:29-31 ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

6. We believe Jesus Christ suffered and died a substitutionary death in the place of His chosen people; and that they are justified in the sight of God by the imputed righteousness of Christ alone.

II Cor. 5:21 ²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Eph. 2:5 ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Heb. 10:14  ¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

I Pet. 3:18 ¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

7. We believe that in God’s own time and appointed way the Holy Spirit effectually calls, regenerates, and sanctifies all the elect saints of God during their lifetime, which occurs at some point between conception and death.  Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is not dependent on man or man’s devices, nor is man involved except as the passive recipient in the work of regeneration.

Jno. 3:6-8  ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

II Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

8. We believe all the elect saints are kept by the power of God, preserved in the blood of Jesus Christ, through faith unto salvation.  

I Pet. 1:4-5 ⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Is 49:15-16 ¹⁵ Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.¹⁶ Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Jno. 10:27-30 ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.²⁹My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.³⁰ I and my Father are one.

9. We believe that Christ is the head of the church.  Though from time to time Churches may come together for worship and to form ties of fellowship, nevertheless every Church is a standalone sovereign body, not controlled or ruled by any outside board or other group, and remains both autonomous and independent. The Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and He is its only head.

Eph. 5:23-27²³For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Col. 1:18 ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

10. We believe that baptism and communion are the only two ordinances given to the New Testament Church in the Gospel. Baptism is to be performed by an ordained Minister and is to be by immersion in water.  Communion is the taking of bread and wine in the rememberance of our Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that as Jesus Christ washed His disciples’ feet, and that from time to time we ought to wash one another’s feet.

I Cor. 11:24-26 ²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.²⁵ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Jno 13:13-15  ¹³ Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

11. Furthermore, we believe that no minister has the right to administer the ordinances of the Church, except he who has been baptized, met the qualifications of scripture, a man called by God to the office, and come under the imposition of the hands by a presbytery, and are at the time in good standing with the Church in which he is currently a member.

I Tim. 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

II Tim. 2:1-2Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

12. We believe that God gave the ones He chose to His son Jesus Christ to secure their salvation. We believe that Jesus Christ accepted the responsibility to redeem all the father gave him and that they will everyone be redeemed and will all live with them in eternity.  God’s angel appeared unto Joseph in a dream and told him that a son would be born, gave him His name, and that He shall save His people from their sins.

Mat. 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 6;37-39  ³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁸For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  ³⁹And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 17:1  ¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:  ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.  ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  ⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

13. We believe that good works and obedience to the commands of God are well pleasing in His sight. As such, it is the duty of our members to honor the commitment they have made, and as much as in them is, to live God honoring lives, cheerfully give of themselves to the Church, not to forsake the worship service, and remain unspotted from the world. 

Gal 5:22-26  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

14. We believe that when Jesus returns for the second time, there will be a bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. The dead will be raised from the dust of the earth; those that are alive and remain shall be changed, and all the elect will meet the Lord in the air, forever to be with Him. There will be a general judgment, where the sheep are divided from the goats, that the joys of righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting. We do not believe that Christ is returning to set up another earthly kingdom, but that His Church Kingdom exists today having been established by Christ Himself.

I Cor 15:42-43  ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

I Cor 15:52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Thes 4:16-18  ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

15. We believe that the design and purpose of the written word and the preached word of the glorious gospel of our Lord is to exalt our Saviour, and to equip the children of God with many things including the instruction in righteousness unto all good works.  The gospel of Jesus Christ shines a light upon the finished work of the Son of God which makes the gospel a light giver, not a life giver.  We believe that our eternal salvation is not brought about by the cooperation of mankind with God.  It is not of grace and works, but is solely by grace which is a free gift from God.

II Tim 3:15 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

II Tim 1:10  ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

John 19:30  ²⁸After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,

I thirst. 

²⁹Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  ³⁰When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,

It is finished:

and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

It is finished