What We Believe Part II

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ARTICLE III - ARTICLES OF FAITH

 

1.  Of the true God:  We believe that there is one and only one true and living God, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; revealed under the personal relative distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection and execution; distinct but harmonious; operative in the great work of redemption.  Exodus 20:2,3; Revelation 4:11; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7

           

2.  Of the Scriptures:  We believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, the whole Bible being inspired in the sense that holy men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture.  We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of these writings (39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books).  We believe that the whole Bible in the original writings is without error.  We also believe that all the Scriptures were designed for practical instruction and are the final authority of all doctrine and practice.  II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19,20; Luke 24:44

           

3.  Of the fall of man:  We believe that God created man pure, innocent, and undefiled, but man by voluntary transgression fell, and in consequence of which all mankind are sinners and therefore under just condemnation.  Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans 1:18; Romans 5:12,19

 

4.  Of salvation:  We believe that the salvation of sinful man is wholly of grace through the mediation of the Son of God, who took, upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and made atonement for our sins by His death, being raised from the dead and enthroned in heaven.  We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Who was made to be sin, dying in our stead.  The way of salvation is wholly of grace.  We believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and that repentance is a vital part of believing.  We believe it is God’s divine desire for all men to be saved.  He extends salvation freely to every man.  Ephesians 2:8,9; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4

 

5.  Of justification:  We believe that the Gospel blessing, which Christ bestows on such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification is the pardon of sin.  Justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works, which we have done, but solely through His own redemption and righteousness.  Romans 4:5; 5:1,9

           

6.  Of God’s purpose of grace:  We believe that election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.  Ephesians 1:4-7; I Peter 1:2-4

 

7.  Of the security of the believer:  We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ.  Further, we do not believe this doctrine gives license to sin, but admonishes us to holy living.  John 10:28,29; Titus 2:11,12; I Peter 1:5

 
8.   Of the local church:  We believe that it is an assembly of baptized believers, independent and self-governing, which should fellowship with other churches of like faith and practice.  It is the responsibility of the local church to edify itself and evangelize the world.         

 

We believe that the church is responsible to carry out two ordinances, these being believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  We believe that the only biblical mode of believer’s baptism is that of immersion, and that it is to be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  The ordinance of baptism is for believers only and is a prerequisite for church membership.  Acts 2:41; Acts 8:37,38

           

We believe that the local church has two divinely established offices:  Pastor and Deacon, whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.  I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11; Acts 20:28

 

9.  Of the Lord’s Day:  We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes.  Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2

           

10.  Of the return of Christ:  We believe in the personal, premillenial, pretribulational, and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this blessed hope has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.  Luke 16:19-31; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Matthew 25:46