(A) We believe in the absolute authority and accuracy of the sixty-six books of the Bible; its full verbal inspiration in the original manuscripts and its all sufficiency as the Christians’ rule of faith and practice. We believe in the normal literal interpretation of the scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
(B) We believe there is but one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each sharing the same divine essence and attributes. We believe that He is the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, perfect in holiness, and in love, infinite in wisdom and measureless in power. (Deut. 6:4; Neh. 9:6; 1 Chron. 29:11- 12; Ex. 15:11; 1 John 4:8B; Matt. 28:19)
(C) We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and that He is the true God and true man. He is sufficient as the only mediator between God and man. (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 12, 14; John 12:45; John 14:9, 1 Timothy 2:5)
(D) We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity; that His ministry to the unbelieving world is to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. His ministry to the believer if fivefold.
1) He regenerates or gives new birth to those who believe and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
2) He indwells every believer’s life.
3) He baptizes every believer into the body of Christ.
4) He seals every believer.
5) He fills every believer who is obedient to the Word.
The first four works of the Holy Spirit occur instantaneously and permanently at the moment of salvation to every believer. The fifth work can occur at the moment of salvation or at many different times throughout the believer’s lifetime. It is not a permanent work and can occur only as a result of obedience to the Word of God; and does not require any accompanying outward signs of evidence. (John 16:8-11; 3:3, 7; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:16-18; Titus 3:5; John 14:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Romans 5:5)
(E) We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct creation; that he sinned and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death. Thus, we believe that all men by nature and choice are sinners and that, apart from Christ, shall be forever separated from God. (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; Ezek. 18:20A; Romans 3:23; 6:23)
(F) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scripture as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe on Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rev. 1:5; Romans 5:12-21)
(G) We believe that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, and that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit, baptized with the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. We become children of God, a relationship in which we are eternally secure. (Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:3, 7; 1 Cor. 12:23; John 1:12; 10:27-29; Romans 8:5-39)
(H) We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present ministry there for us as high priest and advocate. We believe in the personal, visible, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and in His coming in glory with the believers to set up His kingdom upon the earth. (1Cor. 15:4; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 19:11-26; 20:1-15)
(I) We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just, the bodily resurrection of the unjust, the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (1 Cor. 15:20-24; Rev. 20:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:8)
(J) We believe that the local Church is a voluntary association of baptized believers; equal in privilege, subject to the Word of God, and independent of any external ecclesiastical control of authority whatsoever.
We believe that God’s Word commands every believer to be baptized by immersion in water after salvation.
We believe baptism has no saving merit but is a public demonstration of the believer’s faith in the union with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. (Acts 8:38; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5)
(K) We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a provision of bread and the cup which are symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood; that the Lord’s Supper is partaken by saved individuals in commemoration of the suffering and death of their Lord and in anticipation of His soon coming again; that its observance is to be preceded by faithful self-examination. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-30)
