Declaration of Faith
- The Old and New Testament Scriptures were written by men divinely inspired and are the only sufficient and perfect rule of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:19; 24:35; Luke 24:44; John 5:39; 14:15; 17:17; 21:25.
- There is one God, and only one, who is self-existent, eternal and infinite in every excellence, and who has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. Isaiah 45:21, 22; Jeremiah 10:10; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:4; John 1:1-13; I Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:8; John 14:26; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:11; Matthew 28:19.
- Man was created innocent. By disobedience of the common of God he fell, thereby losing his innocence, becoming subject to death and to the eternal displeasure of God. Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:1-6; Psalm 9:17; 14:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 18:19, 20; Matthew 25:46; Romans 1:18, 32: 2:1-16; I Corinthians 15:22; I John 1:8.
- Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, came into the world to save men from the guilt and condemnation of sin, offering His blood as an atonement and making it available to all who exercise faith in Him. John 1:14, 29; Luke 1:26-35; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:20-26; John 3:14-16; Galatians 6:14; Matthew 26:28; Acts 16:31; John 6:53.
- The result of the heart acceptance of Jesus Christ is justification, whereby pardon is secured and we are brought into a state of peace and favor with God. Ephesians 2:7; Romans 4:4, 5; 5:1.
- The human means by which this result is secured is repentance and faith whereby we turn unto God in sincere contrition and accept Jesus Christ as an all-sufficient Savior. Acts 2:38; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 7:25.
- God has His purposes of grace in the salvation of men. These purposes are made effectual by the giving of His Son and in the constraining and regenerating influence of the Holy Ghost upon all who sincerely believe on Christ. But these purposes do not contravene the freedom of man’s will nor render inoperative the proclamation of the gospel to all. Ephesians 1:4; John 1:12, 13; 3:6-8; 6:44; I Peter 1:2; James 1:18; John 16:7-11; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12, 13; John 5:40; Romans 10:13
- Nothing can separate true believers from the love of God, but they are “kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.” The sure proof of this being their patient continuance and progress in righteousness and true holiness. Romans 8:35-39; I Peter 1:5; John 10:27-29; Hebrews 3:14; Matthew 24:13; II Peter 1:3, 4.
- The ordinances of the gospel are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” and symbolizes the fact of regeneration. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of His dying love and symbolizes the fact that the believer is continuously fed and nourished by Christ. In its observance, the Supper is to be placed after Baptism, according to its symbolic and historic order and as required by the teaching of the New Testament. Matthew 3:6, 13-17; 28:19, 20; Mark 1:5, 9-11; 16:16; John 3:5, 23; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22: 19, 20; John 6:51-58, 63; Acts 2:41, 42; I Corinthians 11:23-29.
- The Church Spiritual includes the whole company of believers of whatever name, age, or country and is known only to the eye of God. The Church Formal is a company of believers baptized in the name of the Triune God and observing the forms, ordinances, and principles laid down in the New Testament. Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:19-21; 5:27; I Corinthians 1:2; 11:2; 12:27, 28; Romans 6:17; II Timothy 1:13.
- The first day of the week is to be observed as the Lord’s Day or Christian Sabbath. John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1, 2.
- Civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society, and magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:18-20.
- Jesus Christ is to come again, judge the nations, and fill the earth with His glory and power. Matthew 24:25-51; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; II Thessalonians 2:3-8; Revelation 1:7; 20:1-6.
- There will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust – the just for blessedness and reward, the unjust for judgment and eternal doom. Daniel 12:2; John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; Luke 20:35-38; I Corinthians 15:22-24, 42-58; Matthew 25:31-46; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20.