CORE BELIEFS — Statement of Faith
We receive the scriptures as the inspired Word of God and as the sole authority in matters of faith and practice.
Its understanding of Christian truth is expressed by the following declaration of faith:1. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word, that it was written by men divinely inspired, and that it is the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).
2. We believe in one true God who is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of man, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:1, 2:7; Exodus 3:14, 15:11ff.; Deuteronomy 6:4, 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 64:8; Matthew 6:9ff., 7:11; John 4:24, 5:26, 14:6-13; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6, 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17).
4. We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in His life, making atonement for the sins of the world by His death and shed blood on Calvary’s cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension and visible return to the world according to His promise (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13).
5. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, instruct and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1). Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
6.We believe that all men by nature and by choice are sinners, but that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior will rejoice in God’s presence forever, and that those who refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Savior will be forever separated from God (Genesis 1:26,27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 59:1,2; Romans 3:22, 23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
7. We believe in the Church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, who have been baptized upon credible confession of faith, and who associate for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to these local churches we are committed for perpetual observances, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, and serving Him as Lord and Master. We believe that human betterment and social improvement are the inevitable by-products of such a gospel (Matthew 16:15-19, 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3).
8. We believe that angels are created beings. They are spiritual, personal and intelligent. The Bible speaks of holy angels and fallen angels. The holy angels glorify God, carry out His will as His messengers, and act as guardians of believers and children. The fallen angels are headed by Lucifer (Satan), who is the chief enemy of God and seeks to destroy His plans. God allows him now, for a time, to function as the prince of this world and to harass believers and nonbelievers alike, yet he is still controlled by God. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel and accuses believers before God (2 Corinthians 4:3,4; Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10; Job 1:12, 2:6; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; Psalm 148:2; Revelation 5:11; Psalm 34:7; Matthew 18:10; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 2 Samuel 14:20; Ephesians 6:12; Mark 12:25; 2 Timothy 2:26; Luke 15:10).
9. We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, church and state must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other (Matthew 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19).
10. It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness, as well as a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30,37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17).
11. All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends, Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12-14; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8).
12. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139);