This
Church holds the following statement of faith as being a
summary of Christian doctrine whose authority consists only
in its agreement with the Word of God.
OF
THE SCRIPTURES
We
believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New
Testament Scriptures, was written by men divinely inspired
and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that
it has God for its Author, salvation for its end, and 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, creed and opinions should be tried. We further
hold to the belief that God has preserved His holy Word
in the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
OF
THE TRUE GOD
We
believe that there is one, and only one, living and true
God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH,
the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; that He
is inexpressible, glorious in His Holiness and worthy of
all possible Honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity
of the Godhead there are three persons - the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost - equal in every divine perfection
and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great
work of redemption.
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OF
THE FALL OF MAN
We
believe that man was created in holiness under the law of
his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from that
holy and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind
are now sinners, not by constraint but choice, being by
nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law
of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under
just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse.
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OF
THE WAY OF SALVATION
We
believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace
through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who, by
the atonement of the Father, freely took upon Himself our
nature; that being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born
of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin, He honored the divine
law by His personal obedience and by His death made a full
atonement for our sins; that, having risen from the dead,
He is now enthroned in Heaven and, He is in every way qualified
to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient
Saviour.
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OF
JUSTIFICATION
We
believe that the great gospel blessing, which Christ secures
to such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification
includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life
in principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not
in consideration of any works of righteousness which we
have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s
blood, by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness
is freely imputed to us of God; that justification brings
us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God
and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
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OF
THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We
believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to
all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all
to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith;
and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest
sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary
rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in
an aggravated condemnation.
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OF
GRACE IN REGENERATION
We
believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated
or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy
disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner
above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit,
in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary
obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears
in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of
life.
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OF
REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We
believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and
also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating
Spirit of God, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt,
danger, and helplessness and of the way of salvation by
Christ we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession,
and supplication for mercy; and at the same time we heartily
receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and
King, and rely on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient
Saviour.
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ETERNAL
SECURITY
We
believe as a result of God’s work on our behalf at
salvation, we are adopted into His family, sealed by His
Spirit and that nothing can separate us from that position.
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OF GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
We
believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according
to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves
sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency
of man, God’s purpose comprehends all the means in
connection with the end; that grace is a most glorious display
of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free,
wise, holy and unchangeable; that grace utterly excludes
boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust
in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it
encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that
it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe
the Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance;
and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands
and deserves the utmost diligence.
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OF
SANCTIFICATION
We
believe that sanctification is the process by which, according
to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness;
that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration;
and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by
the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and
Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means-especially
the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness,
and prayer.
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OF
THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We
believe that such only are real believers as endure unto
the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is
the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial
professors; that a special Providence watches over their
welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation.
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OF
THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL
We
believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable
rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and
good; that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to
fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from
their love of sin; and that the one great end of the Gospel
is to deliver them from this inability and to restore them,
through a Mediator, to unfeigned obedience to the holy law
and of the means of grace connected with the establishment
of the visual church.
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OF
A GOSPEL CHURCH
We
believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation
of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith
and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of
Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts,
rights and privileges invested in His Word; that its only
scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons,
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in
the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
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OF
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We
believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water
of a believer, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy
Ghost to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our
faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour with its
effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members
of the church by the sacred use of the bread and wine are
to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is to
be preceded always by solemn self-examination.
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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 by abstaining
from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity;
by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private
and public; and by preparation for that rest which remaineth
for all the people of God.
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OF
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We
believe that civil government is of divine appointment for
the interests and good of human society; and that magistrates
are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed,
except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince
of the kings of the earth.
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OF
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We
believe that there is a radical and essential difference
between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as
through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous
in His esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence
and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse;
and that this distinction holds among men both in and after
death.
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OF
THE WORLD TO COME
We
believe that the end of this age is approaching.
We
believe in “That blessed hope” - the personal,
imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and of
the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and
the everlasting punishment of the lost.
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