Full Statement of Faith:
DECLARATION OF FAITH
SECTION A: STATEMENT OF FAITH
(1) THE HOLY BIBLE
a, We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. These Scriptures were written by men divinely inspired by God and are a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; the truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried. We preach from the King James Version of the Bible in our normal services.
(2) DISPENSATIONALISM
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations, or rules of life, which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships - the law, the church, and the kingdom - and are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; I Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18;
Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25; Colossians 1:27; Revelations 20:2-6)
(3) THE TRUE GOD
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, confidence and love, revealed under the personal and relative distinctions of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great redemptive work.
(4) THE GODHEAD
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit - each coeternal in being; co-identical in nature; coequal in power and glory;
and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy. 6:4; Matthew 28:19;
II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26)
(5) THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; his virgin birth; and that he is the incarnation of the Father, very God of very God; for whom and by whom all things were created. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3)
(6) CREATION
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis Chapter 1; Genesis Chapter 2; Exodus 20:11)
(7) SATAN
We believe that Satan is an angel created by God; active in every life today; ever the opponent of Jesus Christ; continually opposing God’s Word and ever making the believer his special object of attack. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18)
(8) THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his maker; but by voluntary transgression he fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence by which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice, being by nature utterly void of holiness required by the law of God; wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satan and of their own sinful passions; therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense of excuse. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-15; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:6-24; and Romans 5:17-19)
(9) THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; John 1:14; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8)
(10) THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he ascended bodily into Heaven and is now at the right hand of God as our mediator, priest and advocate.
(Hebrews 7:24; Hebrews 9:24; I Timothy 2:5)
(11) THE WAY OF SALVATION
a. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8- 10; I Peter 1:18-19)
b. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace and that, in order to be saved, man must be regenerated. The regenerated sinner is a new creature in Christ Jesus and has eternal life through the substitutionary blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9), and by His death on the cross, a complete and perfect sacrifice for sin was made and no one is excluded from the offer of salvation. (John 1:1-3; John 3:3; John 3:16; John 10:28-29;
II Corinthians. 5:17; I John 5:11-13; II Corinthians 7:10)
(12) THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration; baptizing all believers into the body of Christ; indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14)
b. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures; and the Holy Spirit completely indwells a believer at salvation. (Romans 8:9) We believe it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to listen to, learn from, and obey the Holy Spirit who is now dwelling within them.
(Ephesians 1:17-18; Ephesians 5:18; I John 2:20; I John 2:27)
(13) THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the imminent, literal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians. 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:50-55; Revelations19:19 - 20:8)
(14) THE WORLD TO COME
We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that a solemn separation will then take place; and that this separation will fix forever the final state of each person in heaven or hell. (Acts 24:15; Matthew 3:49; Matthew 25:31-46)
(15) JUSTIFICATION
(16) ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, Romans 8:38;
Romans 8:39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)
b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
(17) THE ETERNAL STATE
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Revelations 20:5-6; Revelations 20:12-13)
b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelations 20:4-6)
c. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when, with souls and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire; not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment.
(Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelations 20:11-15)
(18) THE CHURCH
a. We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. All members are baptized believers (by immersion in a local New Testament church observing the ordinances of Christ (Lord’s Supper and Baptism); governing by his laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word (King James Version). (I Corinthians 12:4-11) That its offices of ordination are pastors (elders, bishops) and deacons (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 6:5-6; Titus Chapter 2,
I Timothy Chapter 3), whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly set forth in Scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-13; I Timothy 1:5-9, I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:17,
Acts 20:28-31); We believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third,
to teach and instruct as he has commanded. (Matthew 28: 18-20; Matthew 18:20; I Corinthians 1:10; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; Philippians 3:16)
b. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; Acts 20:17-32; I Timothy 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-11)
c. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control.
(Acts 13:1-4; Acts 15:19-31; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:1-4; I Corinthians 3:9-16; I Corinthians 5:4-13; I Peter 5:1-4)
(19) BAPTISM
a. We believe that baptism is by immersion but is not essential to salvation; baptism is a privilege and first act of obedience of all who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. Baptism shows forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. (Romans 6:14; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39)
b. We believe in the dedication of infants, and any persons under the age of accountability.
(20) THE LORD’S SUPPER
a. We believe that The Lord’s Supper is the believer’s privilege. By the sacred use of the bread and fruit of the vine, believers (1) commemorate the love that Christ expressed by dying for the remission of our sins; and (2) look forward to Christ’s second coming.
b. We believe that partaking in The Lord’s Supper must always be preceded by solemn
self-examination. (Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:23-28)
c. We believe The Lord’s Supper is solely for the believer who is in a right fellowship and obedient to God’s Word (which would include the Lord’s command to be baptized). This is not an open Communion service to any, but only baptized believers in the local church or church of like faith.
(21) GIVING
(22) MISSIONS
a. We believe in the urgency of missions and personal evangelism. The missionary enterprise is not optional; to be rejected or accepted at will by believers. It is a mandate from The Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20)
b. We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 2:8; II Corinthians 5:20)
(23) SEPARATION
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12,1-2; Romans 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14 -7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
(24) CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: a) the home, b) the church, and c) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5-22-24; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)
(25) LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31)
(26) HUMAN SEXUALITY
a. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate human sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of human sexual intimacy.
(Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5-13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29;
I Corinthians 5:1-6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
b. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; Ephesians 5:22-23; I Corinthians 7:10)
c. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; I Timothy 3:4-5; I Timothy 3:12)
(27) DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service; they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2; I Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:6)
(28) ABORTION
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental
well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; Psalms 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
SECTION B: AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.
SECTION A: STATEMENT OF FAITH
(1) THE HOLY BIBLE
a, We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. These Scriptures were written by men divinely inspired by God and are a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; the truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried. We preach from the King James Version of the Bible in our normal services.
(2) DISPENSATIONALISM
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations, or rules of life, which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships - the law, the church, and the kingdom - and are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; I Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18;
Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25; Colossians 1:27; Revelations 20:2-6)
(3) THE TRUE GOD
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, confidence and love, revealed under the personal and relative distinctions of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great redemptive work.
(4) THE GODHEAD
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit - each coeternal in being; co-identical in nature; coequal in power and glory;
and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy. 6:4; Matthew 28:19;
II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26)
(5) THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; his virgin birth; and that he is the incarnation of the Father, very God of very God; for whom and by whom all things were created. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3)
(6) CREATION
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis Chapter 1; Genesis Chapter 2; Exodus 20:11)
(7) SATAN
We believe that Satan is an angel created by God; active in every life today; ever the opponent of Jesus Christ; continually opposing God’s Word and ever making the believer his special object of attack. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18)
(8) THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his maker; but by voluntary transgression he fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence by which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice, being by nature utterly void of holiness required by the law of God; wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satan and of their own sinful passions; therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense of excuse. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-15; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:6-24; and Romans 5:17-19)
(9) THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; John 1:14; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8)
(10) THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he ascended bodily into Heaven and is now at the right hand of God as our mediator, priest and advocate.
(Hebrews 7:24; Hebrews 9:24; I Timothy 2:5)
(11) THE WAY OF SALVATION
a. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8- 10; I Peter 1:18-19)
b. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace and that, in order to be saved, man must be regenerated. The regenerated sinner is a new creature in Christ Jesus and has eternal life through the substitutionary blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9), and by His death on the cross, a complete and perfect sacrifice for sin was made and no one is excluded from the offer of salvation. (John 1:1-3; John 3:3; John 3:16; John 10:28-29;
II Corinthians. 5:17; I John 5:11-13; II Corinthians 7:10)
(12) THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration; baptizing all believers into the body of Christ; indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14)
b. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures; and the Holy Spirit completely indwells a believer at salvation. (Romans 8:9) We believe it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to listen to, learn from, and obey the Holy Spirit who is now dwelling within them.
(Ephesians 1:17-18; Ephesians 5:18; I John 2:20; I John 2:27)
(13) THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the imminent, literal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians. 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:50-55; Revelations19:19 - 20:8)
(14) THE WORLD TO COME
We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that a solemn separation will then take place; and that this separation will fix forever the final state of each person in heaven or hell. (Acts 24:15; Matthew 3:49; Matthew 25:31-46)
(15) JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ of his fullness bestows on such as believe in him is justification; that justification consists in pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through His own redemptive work and His righteousness (by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us from God) and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. (Romans 8:30)
(16) ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, Romans 8:38;
Romans 8:39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)
b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
(17) THE ETERNAL STATE
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Revelations 20:5-6; Revelations 20:12-13)
b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelations 20:4-6)
c. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when, with souls and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire; not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment.
(Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelations 20:11-15)
(18) THE CHURCH
a. We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. All members are baptized believers (by immersion in a local New Testament church observing the ordinances of Christ (Lord’s Supper and Baptism); governing by his laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word (King James Version). (I Corinthians 12:4-11) That its offices of ordination are pastors (elders, bishops) and deacons (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 6:5-6; Titus Chapter 2,
I Timothy Chapter 3), whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly set forth in Scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-13; I Timothy 1:5-9, I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:17,
Acts 20:28-31); We believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third,
to teach and instruct as he has commanded. (Matthew 28: 18-20; Matthew 18:20; I Corinthians 1:10; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; Philippians 3:16)
b. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; Acts 20:17-32; I Timothy 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-11)
c. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control.
(Acts 13:1-4; Acts 15:19-31; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:1-4; I Corinthians 3:9-16; I Corinthians 5:4-13; I Peter 5:1-4)
(19) BAPTISM
a. We believe that baptism is by immersion but is not essential to salvation; baptism is a privilege and first act of obedience of all who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. Baptism shows forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. (Romans 6:14; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39)
b. We believe in the dedication of infants, and any persons under the age of accountability.
(20) THE LORD’S SUPPER
a. We believe that The Lord’s Supper is the believer’s privilege. By the sacred use of the bread and fruit of the vine, believers (1) commemorate the love that Christ expressed by dying for the remission of our sins; and (2) look forward to Christ’s second coming.
b. We believe that partaking in The Lord’s Supper must always be preceded by solemn
self-examination. (Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:23-28)
c. We believe The Lord’s Supper is solely for the believer who is in a right fellowship and obedient to God’s Word (which would include the Lord’s command to be baptized). This is not an open Communion service to any, but only baptized believers in the local church or church of like faith.
(21) GIVING
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen.14:20; Pro.3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim.5:17-18; I John 3:17)
(22) MISSIONS
a. We believe in the urgency of missions and personal evangelism. The missionary enterprise is not optional; to be rejected or accepted at will by believers. It is a mandate from The Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20)
b. We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 2:8; II Corinthians 5:20)
(23) SEPARATION
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12,1-2; Romans 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14 -7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
(24) CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: a) the home, b) the church, and c) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5-22-24; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)
(25) LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31)
(26) HUMAN SEXUALITY
a. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate human sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of human sexual intimacy.
(Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5-13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29;
I Corinthians 5:1-6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
b. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; Ephesians 5:22-23; I Corinthians 7:10)
c. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; I Timothy 3:4-5; I Timothy 3:12)
(27) DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service; they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2; I Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:6)
(28) ABORTION
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental
well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; Psalms 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
SECTION B: AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.