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What
We Believe
Statement of Faith and Covenant
(1)
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New-Testaments to be the verbally
inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life,
inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed
(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18; John 14:26;
16:12,13). The King James Version of the Bible shall be the
official translation of the church.
(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 divinely ordered stewardships by
which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these -
the age of law, the age of the church, and the age of the
kingdom - are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.
(John 1:17;
I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10;
Col. 1:24,25; Heb. 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6).
(3)
The Godhead
We believe in one
Triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, co-etemal in being, co-identical in nature,
co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and
perfections (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).
(4) The Person and Work of
Christ
a.
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 (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke
1:35; Isa. 9:6, 7:14; Phil. 2:5-8; Gal. 4:4-5).
b.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our
redemption through his death on the cross as a representative,
vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our
justification is make sure by His literal, physical resurrection
from the dead (Rom. 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter
1:3-5).
c.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is
now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest,
He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and
Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John
2:1-2).
(5) 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; 2 Cor. 3:6; I Cor. 12:12-14;
Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14).
b.
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers
to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and, that it is the
privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit
(I John 2:20,27; Eph. 5:18).
c.
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual
gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses the evangelists and
pastor-teachers to equip the believers in the assembly in order
that they can do work of the ministry (I Cor. 12:4-11,28-30;
Eph. 4:7-12; Rom. 12:3-8).
d.
We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as
speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We
believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or
necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and
that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death
awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection,
though God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers
for physical healing (2 Cor. 12:12; I Cor. 13:8; Heb. 2:3-4;
Mark 16:17-20; I Cor. 1:22, 14:21-22).
(6)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that
man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in
Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became
alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and of
himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen.
1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; Eph. 2:1-3,12).
(7) Salvation
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 (Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:18-19).
(8) The 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 (Jn 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom.
8:1,38-39; I Cor.1:4-8; I Pet. 1:4-5; Jude, 1,2).
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 (Rom. 13:13-14;
Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
(9) The Church
a.
We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused
bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all
born-again persons of this present age which started at
Pentecost and will end at the Rapture (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I
Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2).
b.
We believe the establishment and continuance of local churches
is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures
(Acts 14:27,20:17, 20:28-32; I Tim. 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, 15:19-31, 20:28;
Rom. 16:1,4; I Cor. 3:9,16, 5:4-7,13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
d.
We recognize the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord's
Supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this
age (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42. 18:18;
I Cor. 11:23-26).
(10)
Separation
We believe that
all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring
reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from
all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures,
practices and associations is commanded of God (2 Tim. 3:1-5;
Rom. 12:1,2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 2 Cor.
6:14-7:1).
(11) The Second Advent of
Christ
We believe in that
"Blessed hope", the personal imminent return of Christ Who will
rapture His Church prior-to the seven-year tribulation period.
At the end of the tribulation Christ will personally and visibly
return, with His saints, to establish His early Messianic
Kingdom which was promised to the Nation of Israel (1 Thess.
1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13;
Rev. 3:10; Zech.
14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Dan. 2:31-45; Ps. 89:3-4).
(12) 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 (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29, 11:25-26; Rev.
20:5-6,1243).
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; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I
Thess.4:16-17).
c. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after
death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when
with soul 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
(Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mk.
9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15).
(13)
The Personality of Satan
We
believe that Satan is a created being, the author of sin and the
cause of the fall;
that he is the open and declared enemy
of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the
Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41;
Rev. 20:10).
(14)
Creation
We believe that
God created the universe in six literal, successive 24 hour
periods (Genesis 1-2; Exod. 20:11). We reject evolution, the Gap
Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as
unscriptural theories of origin.
(15) Civil Government
We believe that
God has ordained all authority consisting of three basic
institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; and 3) the state.
Every person is subject to those authorities, but all are
answerable to God. God has given each institution specific
responsibility and balanced that grant of authority 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 assigned sphere of responsibility
under God (Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14; Rom.
13:1-7)
(16) Human Sexuality
We believe that
God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be
engaged in outside a marriage between a man and a woman. We
reject homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality,
incest, fornication, and adultery as sinful perversions of God's
gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5,13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30;
Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
(17) Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that
God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the
spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery
except on the grounds of fornication." Although divorced and
remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of
service in the church, they may not be considered for the
offices of pastor or deacon (Mal. 2:14-17;.Matt. 19:3-12; Rom.
7:1-3; I Tim. 3:2,12; Titus 1:6)
God's
Plan of Salvation
 Yes
there really is something in this world that is free besides
advice. This gift is something that money cannot buy. The gift is
Eternal Life. The Bible tells us in the book of Romans chapter 3
verse 23, that the gift of God is Eternal Life.
You can receive this gift right now. Read along to
learn how!
Who is good?
Romans 3:10
"As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one."
Where did sin come from?
Romans 5:12
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin, and so death passeth upon all men, for all have
sinned."
What is the solution for sin?
Roman 5:19
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so
by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made
righteous."
Romans 10:9
"That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shall be saved."
Suggested Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner and do
believe that you died on the cross for my sins. Here and now I
trust you as my personal savior and depend on you to take me to
heaven. Now help me to live for you and be a good Christian. Amen
How can a person share his Christian
faith with a family member or friend?
Ask the following Key Question:
In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a
person to go to heaven?
Then depending on their answer, take out your small sharing Bible
and ask your friend to read a few specific passages with you. Use the FAITH outline;
1. F is for Forgiveness;
We cannot have eternal life in heaven without God's
forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:7 "In Him (Jesus
Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins"
2. A is for Available;
God's forgiveness is available for everyone:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
But God's forgiveness is not Automatic:
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the
kingdom of heaven,"
3. I is for Impossible;
God's available forgiveness is not automatic because it is
impossible for God to
allow sin to enter into
heaven. This is based on the difference between who God is and
who we are
God is love: (See John 3:16 above)
God is perfect in His justice: James 2:13
"For (God's) judgment
is without mercy"
Who we are: Romans 3:23
"for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
So how can a perfect God who does not allow
sin to enter into heaven allow people to go there
who are stained with sin?
4. T is for Turn;
In order for us to receive God's forgiveness we must turn, or
change our direction.
The Bible calls this repent:
Luke 13:5 "but
unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
We must turn from something (our sin
and our self)
And turn towards someone, Jesus Christ, in
order to receive this forgiveness.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For
I delivered to you first of all that
which I also received: that Christ
died
for our sins according
to the Scriptures, 4
and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according
to the Scriptures,"
Romans 10:9 "that
if you confess with your mouth the
Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved."
If I am willing to
repent then I receive the promise of.....
5. H is for Heaven;
Heaven here, and hereafter is a promise from God:
God promises us the possibility and potential
for a better life while we are here on earth:
John 10:10 "I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have
it more
abundantly."
And God promises to take us to heaven when we
die:
John 14:3 "And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself;
that where I am,
there you may
be also."
So how can a person have
eternal life, heaven, and receive Jesus Christ as their personal
savior?
They must exercise faith and
trust and receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior:
Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:13 "For “whoever
calls on the name of the
Lord
shall be saved.”
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it
is the
gift of God, 9
not of works, lest anyone should boast."
All passages quoted from The
New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson:
Nashville For similar messages of salvation, see:
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