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The Triune God
(Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2;
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7; 40:18-31; Matthew 3:16-17;
28:19-20; John 14:6-27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14;
Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:13-18)
We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign of the
universe; that He only is God, creative and administrative, holy in
nature, attributes, and purpose; that He, as God, is Triune in
essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ
(Matthew 1:20-25; 16:15-16; Luke
1:26-35; John 1:1-18; Acts 2:22-36; Romans 8:3, 32-34; Galatians
4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-22; 1 Timothy 6:14-16;
Hebrews 1:1-5; 7:22-28; 9:24-28; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3, 15)
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead;
that He was eternally one with the Father; that He became incarnate
by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, so that two
whole and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and manhood,
are thus united in one Person very God and very man, the God-man.
We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He truly
arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all
things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He
ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us.
Holy Spirit
(John 7:39; 14:15-18, 26; 16:7-15;
Acts 2:33; 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27; Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6; Ephesians
3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1
John 3:24; 4:13)
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Triune
Godhead, that He is ever present and efficiently active in and with
the Church of Christ, convincing the world of sin, regenerating
those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers, and guiding
into all truth as it is in Jesus.
Bible
(Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 1
Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter
1:20-21)
We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by
which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments,
given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will of God
concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation, so that
whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an
article of faith.
Sin, Original and Personal
(Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job
15:14; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-25;
5:12-14; 7:1-8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John
1:7-8; Personal sin: Matthew 22:36-40 {with 1 John 3:4}; John
8:34-36; 16:8-9; Romans 3:23; 6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23; 1 John
1:9-2:4; 3:7-10)
We believe that sin came into the world through the disobedience of
our first parents, and death by sin. We believe that sin is of two
kinds: original sin or depravity, and actual or personal sin.
We believe that original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of
the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason of which everyone
is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of
our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God,
is without spiritual life, and inclined to evil, and that
continually. We further believe that original sin continues to exist
with the new life of the regenerate, until the heart is fully
cleansed by the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
We believe that original sin differs from actual sin in that it
constitutes an inherited propensity to actual sin for which no one
is accountable until its divinely provided remedy is neglected or
rejected.
We believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary violation of a
known law of God by a morally responsible person. It is therefore
not to be confused with involuntary and inescapable shortcomings,
infirmities, faults, mistakes, failures, or other deviations from a
standard of perfect conduct that are the residual effects of the
Fall. However, such innocent effects do not include attitudes or
responses contrary to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be
called sins of the spirit. We believe that personal sin is primarily
and essentially a violation of the law of love; and that in relation
to Christ sin may be defined as unbelief.
Atonement
(Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; Mark 10:45;
Luke 24:46-48; John 1:29; 3:14-17; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26;
4:17-25; 5:6-21; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21;
Galatians 1:3-4; 3:13-14; Colossians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus
2:11-14; Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:19-25; 1
John 2:1-2)
We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of
His own blood, and by His death on the Cross, made a full atonement
for all human sin, and that this Atonement is the only ground of
salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s
race. The Atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of
the irresponsible and for the children in innocency but is
efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of
responsibility only when they repent and believe.
Grace
(Godlikeness and moral
responsibility: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 30:19;
Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 1:8-10; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Ezekiel
18:1-4; Micah 6:8; Romans 1:19-20; 2:1-16; 14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8;
Natural inability: Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms 14:1-4; 51:5; John 3:6a;
Romans 3:10-12; 5:12-14, 20a; 7:14-25; Free grace and works of
faith: Ezekiel 18:25-26; John 1:12-13; 3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans
5:6-8, 18; 6:15-16, 23; 10:6-8; 11:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14;
10:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8-10;
Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:10a; Titus
2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-15; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; James 2:18-22; 2
Peter 1:10-11; 2:20-22)
We believe that the human race’s creation in Godlikeness included
ability to choose between right and wrong, and that thus human
beings were made morally responsible; that through the fall of Adam
they became depraved so that they cannot now turn and prepare
themselves by their own natural strength and works to faith and
calling upon God. But we also believe that the grace of God through
Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all people, enabling all who
will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for
pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and
acceptable in His sight.
We believe that all persons, though in the possession of the
experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from
grace and apostatize and, unless they repent of their sins, be
hopelessly and eternally lost.
Repentance
(2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 32:5-6;
51:1-17; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 3:12-14; Ezekiel 18:30-32;
33:14-16; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 3:1-14; 13:1-5; 18:9-14; Acts 2:38;
3:19; 5:31; 17:30-31; 26:16-18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11; 1
Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9)
We believe that repentance, which is a sincere and thorough change
of the mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt
and a voluntary turning away from sin, is demanded of all who have
by act or purpose become sinners against God. The Spirit of God
gives to all who will repent the gracious help of penitence of heart
and hope of mercy, that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual
life.
Justification,
Regeneration, and Adoption
(Luke 18:14; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8;
5:24; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 3:21-26, 28; 4:5-9, 17-25; 5:1,
16-19; 6:4; 7:6; 8:1, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians
5:17-21; Galatians 2:16-21; 3:1-14, 26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:1,
4-5; Philippians 3:3-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:23;
1 John 1:9; 3:1-2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9-13, 18)
We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial act of
God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release
from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to
all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious
work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is
spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual life,
capable of faith, love, and obedience.
We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the
justified and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God.
We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption are
simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained
upon the condition of faith, preceded by repentance; and that to
this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
Entire Sanctification
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel
36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John
7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13,
19; 8:1-4, 8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Galatians 2:20;
5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians 3:10-15;
Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11;
10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; ("Christian perfection,"
"perfect love": Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; Romans
12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews
6:1; 1 John 4:17-18; "Heart purity": Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1
Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3; "Baptism with the Holy Spirit": Jeremiah
31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke
3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; "Fullness of the blessing": Romans
15:29; "Christian holiness": Matthew 5:1-7:29; John 15:1-11; Romans
12:1-15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17-5:20; Philippians
1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20-3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8;
5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter
1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 20-21)
We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent
to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin,
or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God,
and the holy obedience of love made perfect.
It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and comprehends
in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the
abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the
believer for life and service.
Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought
instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to
this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
This experience is also known by various terms representing its
different phases, such as "Christian perfection," "perfect love,"
"heart purity," "the baptism with the Holy Spirit," "the fullness of
the blessing," and "Christian holiness."
We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart
and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the
result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth
in grace.
We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the
impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse must be consciously
nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and
processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness
of character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor one’s
witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and
ultimately lost.
The Church
(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33;
Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19, 24; 18:15-20; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26;
20:21-23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28-29;
4:16; 10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 7:17;
11:1, 17-33; 12:3, 12-31; 14:26-40; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:1;
Galatians 5:6, 13-14; 6:1-5, 15; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27;
Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews
10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12, 21; 4:1-2, 10-11; 1 John 4:17;
Jude 24; Revelation 5:9-10)
We believe in the Church, the community that confesses
Jesus Christ as Lord, the covenant people of God made new in Christ,
the Body of Christ called together by the Holy Spirit through the
Word.
God calls the Church to express its life in the unity and fellowship
of the Spirit; in worship through the preaching of the Word,
observance of the sacraments, and ministry in His name; by obedience
to Christ and mutual accountability.
The mission of the Church in the world is to continue the redemptive
work of Christ in the power of the Spirit through holy living,
evangelism, discipleship, and service.
The Church is a historical reality, which organizes itself in
culturally conditioned forms; exists both as local congregations and
as a universal body; sets apart persons called of God for specific
ministries. God calls the Church to live under His rule in
anticipation of the consummation at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Baptism
(Matthew 3:1-7; 28:16-20; Acts
2:37-41; 8:35-39; 10:44-48; 16:29-34; 19:1-6; Romans 6:3-4;
Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-22)
We believe that Christian baptism, commanded by our Lord,
is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of the
atonement of Jesus Christ, to be administered to believers and
declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and full
purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness.
Baptism being a symbol of the new covenant, young children may be
baptized, upon request of parents or guardians who shall give
assurance for them of necessary Christian training.
Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion,
according to the choice of the applicant.
The Lord’s Supper
(Exodus 12:1-14; Matthew 26:26-29;
Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; John 6:28-58; 1 Corinthians 10:14-21;
11:23-32)
We believe that the Memorial and Communion Supper instituted by our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is essentially a New Testament
sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial death, through the merits
of which believers have life and salvation and promise of all
spiritual blessings in Christ. It is distinctively for those who are
prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it
they show forth the Lord’s death till He come again. It being the
Communion feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for
the saints should be called to participate therein.
Divine Healing
(2 Kings 5:1-19; Psalm 103:1-5;
Matthew 4:23-24; 9:18-35; John 4:46-54; Acts 5:12-16; 9:32-42;
14:8-15; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; James
5:13-16)
We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and urge our
people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for the healing of the
sick. We also believe God heals through the means of medical
science.
Second Coming of Christ
(Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:1-3;
Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus
2:11-14; Hebrews 9:26-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 22:7-20)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that we who
are alive at His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in
Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught
up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we
shall ever be with the Lord.
Resurrection, Judgment, and
Destiny
(Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel 2:10;
Psalm 50:6; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark
9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; 20:27-38; John 3:16-18; 5:25-29; 11:21-27;
Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:1-16; 14:7-12; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2
Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15;
22:1-15)
We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the bodies both of
the just and of the unjust shall be raised to life and united with
their spirits-"they that have done good, unto the resurrection of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation."
We believe in future judgment in which every person shall appear
before God to be judged according to his or her deeds in this life.
We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured to all who
savingly believe in, and obediently follow, Jesus Christ our Lord;
and that the finally impenitent shall suffer eternally in hell.
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