What We Believe
Trusting the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation and looking to the New Testament as our rule of faith and practice, we therefore voluntarily band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ for a more certain preservation of the principles of our faith, to the end that this body may be governed in an orderly manner consistent with the eternal Word of God, in the adoption of this Constitution for our government, the affirmation of faith as a guide to our doctrine, and the covenant as a guide for conduct.
1. THE WORD OF GOD - We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (John 17: 17; Rom. 15 :4; II Tim. 3: 16, 17; II Pet. 1: 19-21)
2. THE TRINITY - We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Matt. 28: 19; John 1: 1-4; I John 5:7)
3. GOD THE FATHER - We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 3: 16, 17; John 4:24; John 17:5)
4. JESUS CHRIST - We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (Isa. 7:14; John 1:14; Phil. 2:5 - 11; Heb. 1:2, 3; 1 John 1:7)
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT - We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and ruler. (John 14:26; John 16:7 - 15; Rom. 8:14 - 17; Eph. 1:13, 14)
6. REGENERATION - We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12,13; John 3 :3,16,17; Acts 20:21; Eph. 2:1-9; Titus 3:5)
7. THE CHURCH - We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Mt 16:16-18; Acts 2:38-41; Eph 2:19-22; Eph 5:25-27)
8. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT - We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others, the full stature of maturity in Christ. (II Cor. 9;6-8; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 2:14-16; Col. 3:17-23; I Thess. 5:17,18)
9. THE ORDINANCES - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28;18-20; Acts 2;41, 42; Rom. 6;3-5; I Cor. 11 :23-32)
10. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY - We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
11. CHURCH COOPERATION - We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
12. THE LAST TIMES - We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (John 5;28,29; Rev. 20: 1-15; II Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:31 46)
Our Church Covenant
Having been led, by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another, as one body in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.
For the Advancement of this Church
We promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to forsake the ways of sin and to walk together in Christian love and in the paths of righteousness. With this in view we engage to strive together for both the peace and purity of this Church; to sustain its worship and steadfastly to cherish and hold its ordinances, discipline and doctrines.
As Christian Stewards
We promise to contribute, as faithful stewards, such time, talent and money in the measure that God prospers each of us, that the responsibility for the work of the local church and the world-wide ministry of spreading the Gospel be faithfully and effectively discharged.
Alone and at Home
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to teach the Bible to our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
Before the World
We promise to be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements; to be exemplary in our deportment; to avoid unkind words and unrighteous anger, to abstain from the use or endorsement of those products and habits proven harmful to man and incompatible with the Spirit of Christ; to combine zeal and knowledge in our efforts to advance the cause of our Savior, and to make Christ first in all things both spiritual and temporal.
Toward One Another
We further engage to give and receive admonition with meekness and affection; to remember each other in prayer, and to aid each other in case of sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the Scripture, to seek it without delay, to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord's return.
When We Move
We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of the Word of God.