OUR COVENANT
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, joyfully and solemnly enter into a covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the grace of God, to live together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in community witness, holiness and comfort, to promote its prosperity and doctrines, to support the ministry and expense of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel.
We further engage to seek God as individuals and as families, bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our relatives and associates; to watch over one another in Christian love; aiding each other in sickness and distress, praying for each other, showing Christian courtesy and kindness to all in word and deed, being slow to take offense, always ready to reconcile; and to zealously assist each other in advancing the cause of Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the grace of God, to live together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in community witness, holiness and comfort, to promote its prosperity and doctrines, to support the ministry and expense of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel.
We further engage to seek God as individuals and as families, bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our relatives and associates; to watch over one another in Christian love; aiding each other in sickness and distress, praying for each other, showing Christian courtesy and kindness to all in word and deed, being slow to take offense, always ready to reconcile; and to zealously assist each other in advancing the cause of Christ.
OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. (Mt. 5:18, II Tim. 3:15-17, II Pet. 1:20-21)
The Godhead
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Dt. 6:4, II Cor. 13:14)
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Jn. 1:1-2, 14; Lk. 1:35)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
(Ro. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Ro. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; I Jn. 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling, equipping, empowering and sealing them unto the day of redemption.
(Jn. 16:8-11; I Cor. 3:16, 12:7, 12-14)
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth and that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to yield their selves to be filled with the Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; Eph. 5:18; I Jn.2:20, 27)
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation and believe that man and all things in existence came about by the direct creation of God and not by macro-evolution. (Gen. 1:1- 2:25; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16-17)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. That man is totally depraved, and is of himself utterly incapable of changing his lost condition.
(Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23, 5:12; Eph.2:1-3,12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; I Pet. 1:18-19)
The Eternal Security of the Believer
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
(Jn. 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Ro. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet 1:5)
The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for the victory of the new nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible.
(Ro. 6:13, 8:12; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Pet. 1:14-16; I Jn. 3:5-9)
Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord, and that separation from all religious apostasy, sinful practices, and associations, is commanded by God.
(Ro. 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17)
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to bear witness by word and deed to the truths of the Bible and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all mankind.
(Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:19-20)
The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, and that the gifts of evangelist, pastor and teacher are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. (II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12)
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted, and the safety of His saints.
(Jn.15:7; Acts 12:5-11; Jas. 5:14-15)
The Church
We Believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and by the fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its officers are pastors, deacons and deaconesses whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Bible.
We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful proclamation of the gospel of our Lord to all men as we have opportunity.
We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for the churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline or benevolence, the will of the local church being final.
(Acts 15:13-18, 20:17- 28, 41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24;
Col. 1:18; I Tim. 3:17)
Christian Giving
We believe that the support of God’s program and local church should be by the free will offerings of God’s people. (I Cor 16:2; II Cor.9:7)
Baptism and Communion
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful symbol our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to new life. We believe that Communion is the commemoration of Christ’s death until He comes again, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.
(Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Ro. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the cause of the Fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.
(Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:13-17; Mt. 4:2, 11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
The Second Coming
We believe that the Second Coming of Christ will be preceded by the Rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years, and the establishment of universal peace. (Ps.72:3-8; Is. 11:6-9; Zech. 14:5; Mic. 4:1-4; Ro. 11:25-27;
I Thes. 1:10; Rev. 3:10)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment;
(Mt.25:46; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain in Hades after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Last Judgment before the throne of God and shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment.
( Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-26; I Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. (Mt. 5:18, II Tim. 3:15-17, II Pet. 1:20-21)
The Godhead
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Dt. 6:4, II Cor. 13:14)
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Jn. 1:1-2, 14; Lk. 1:35)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
(Ro. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Ro. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; I Jn. 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling, equipping, empowering and sealing them unto the day of redemption.
(Jn. 16:8-11; I Cor. 3:16, 12:7, 12-14)
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth and that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to yield their selves to be filled with the Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; Eph. 5:18; I Jn.2:20, 27)
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation and believe that man and all things in existence came about by the direct creation of God and not by macro-evolution. (Gen. 1:1- 2:25; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16-17)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. That man is totally depraved, and is of himself utterly incapable of changing his lost condition.
(Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23, 5:12; Eph.2:1-3,12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; I Pet. 1:18-19)
The Eternal Security of the Believer
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
(Jn. 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Ro. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet 1:5)
The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for the victory of the new nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible.
(Ro. 6:13, 8:12; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Pet. 1:14-16; I Jn. 3:5-9)
Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord, and that separation from all religious apostasy, sinful practices, and associations, is commanded by God.
(Ro. 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17)
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to bear witness by word and deed to the truths of the Bible and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all mankind.
(Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:19-20)
The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, and that the gifts of evangelist, pastor and teacher are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. (II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12)
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted, and the safety of His saints.
(Jn.15:7; Acts 12:5-11; Jas. 5:14-15)
The Church
We Believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and by the fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its officers are pastors, deacons and deaconesses whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Bible.
We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful proclamation of the gospel of our Lord to all men as we have opportunity.
We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for the churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline or benevolence, the will of the local church being final.
(Acts 15:13-18, 20:17- 28, 41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24;
Col. 1:18; I Tim. 3:17)
Christian Giving
We believe that the support of God’s program and local church should be by the free will offerings of God’s people. (I Cor 16:2; II Cor.9:7)
Baptism and Communion
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful symbol our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to new life. We believe that Communion is the commemoration of Christ’s death until He comes again, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.
(Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Ro. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the cause of the Fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.
(Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:13-17; Mt. 4:2, 11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
The Second Coming
We believe that the Second Coming of Christ will be preceded by the Rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years, and the establishment of universal peace. (Ps.72:3-8; Is. 11:6-9; Zech. 14:5; Mic. 4:1-4; Ro. 11:25-27;
I Thes. 1:10; Rev. 3:10)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment;
(Mt.25:46; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain in Hades after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Last Judgment before the throne of God and shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment.
( Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-26; I Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)