What We Believe

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, inerrant, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him, all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 1:17)

God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. (Heb 1:3; Matt 10:29-31; Prov 16:33)

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ—in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified. (Rom 8:30; Eph 1:3-6; Acts 13:48)

God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; he and all future generations inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:4-7; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (Matthew 3:17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 5:6-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:3)

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by God, who imparts new spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Their minds are enlightened spiritually to understand the Word of God, and their whole nature renewed so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3)

Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit, wherein a person being made aware of the evil of their sin, humbles themselves for it, with godly sorrow, and detestation of it, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:9, James 4:10)

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and is the ground out of which all good works proceed. (John 1:12, John 5:24; Ephesians 2:8-9)

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of all who believe in Christ, through the satisfaction of God’s righteous standard in Christ. Justification is not granted because of anything produced in them or done by them; but on account of their faith in the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receive right standing with God and rest in Him and His righteousness. (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:1-2, 18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive whereby a sinner is transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in heartfelt obedience to all Christ’s commands. (John 17:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14)

Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 10:28-29; 1 John 2:19; Romans 8:30)

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to gather together into local churches; and to each of these churches, He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Elders and Deacons. (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus commanded for every believer, wherein an individual is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of their fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving themselves up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church membership. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:38-39)

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship. (Matthew 26:26-27; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 1:10)

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath but also for the sake of conscience. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:12-17)

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. (1 Corinthians 15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21)