ARTICLE I – OF THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was plenary and verbally inspired and the product of the Spirit controlled men, and therefore, is thrust without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for human conduct, creeds and opinions.

(II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21)

ARTICLE II – OF THE TRUE GOD

We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – yet one in substance and equal in every perfection.

(Exodus 20:2,3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7)

We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He is divine as no other man can be, being Very God of Very God, existing from all eternity, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as man He was miraculously begotten, of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary.

(John 1:1,2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness of the truth, is the Agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides every true Child of God.

(II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16; Romans 8:14-27)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Relationship and standing: We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is once for all at time of regeneration. This baptism is the identification of the believer into the body of Christ.

(I Corinthians 12:13)

Filling of the Holy Spirit – Fellowship and state: We believe that all saved have the Holy Spirit, but not all are filled with the Spirit. As we walk according to the will of God we are filled with the Spirit.

(Ephesians 5:18)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Temporary and permanent: We believe that nine gifts were in the church until the New Testament was completed (I Corinthians 12:8-11). Faith and hope continue after the completion of the New Testament until the coming of Christ. Then faith will be lost in sight; hope in reality; but “love never faileth” because it will continue in eternity (I Corinthians 13:13).

ARTICLE III – OF THE DEVIL, OR SATAN

We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, author of all powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.

(Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)

ARTICLE IV – OF THE CREATION

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, “each after its own kind” by the direct act, in six literal, twenty-four (24) hour days, and not by the process of evolution.

(Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11; John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3)

ARTICLE V – OF THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell into sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born into sin and shaped in iniquity and are so without excuse before God.

(Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19;)

ARTICLE VI – OF THE REDEMPTION OF SIN

We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the redemption wrought by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin. By His suffering, death, and resurrection, He made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man. The blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess. It is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy.

(John 3:16-18; Acts 16:30-33; Hebrews 10:4-14; I Peter 1:18-19)

ARTICLE VII – OF SALVATION BY GRACE

We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance of sin are the only conditions of salvation from sin and this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make the salvation more secure.

(Acts 16:32; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-13; Titus 3:5-7)

We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ.

(John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6)

ARTICLE VIII – OF SANCTIFICATION

We believe that every saved person is positionally in Christ, completely set apart for God; that in experience the saved person retains his nature, which is not eradicated in this life, and thus his present state is no more perfect than his daily experience; that there is a progressive sanctification wherein the saved person is to grow in grace and into Christ-likeness by the unhindered power of the Holy Spirit; that when Christ appears the saved person will be fully sanctified so that his state will be conform to his standing.

We believe progressive sanctification involves separation, not only from ungodly living, but also from ungodly teaching; that though we love all men and seek their salvation, there are areas that we cannot have fellowship with unbelievers; that in areas of ecclesiastical fellowship, it may be necessary to separate even from our brethren in Christ, if they in turn maintain fellowship with unbelievers.

(Romans 8:26; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1; II Thessalonian 3:6; Hebrews 10:10; I John 4:1; II John 9-11)

ARTICLE IV – OF THE CHURCH

We believe that the church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, Who is its sole Head; revealed through the holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; Christ’s “body” for service and “bride” for glory. It began on the Day of Pentecost with the baptizing ministry of the Holy Spirit and will be consummated at the coming of Christ at the Rapture.

(Matthew 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-3, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:25-26; I Corinthians 12:2-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

We believe that the church universal is manifest through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are bishops (Pastors) and Deacons; that it has absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and is answerable only to Christ; in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

(Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17; 11:16; Ephesians 4:8, 11-13; I Timothy 3:1-5)

ARTICLE X – OF THE ORDINANCES

We believe that there are two local church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism”. It sets forth, in a beautiful and solemn way, our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church relation. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death and our continual fellowship with Him until He comes. It should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination.

(Acts 8:30-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32)

ARTICLE XI – OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God’s esteem; while all such who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both during life and after death, in the everlasting conscious felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. We believe hell to be a literal place of incessant suffering for the unbelievers, devil, and his angels.

(Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:31-34; Luke 6:25; John 8:21; Revelation 20:15; 21:8; Mark 9:43-48)

ARTICLE XII – OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, premillennial return of Christ; that he will come into the air to catch away His church, before the seven year tribulation period, followed by the Judgment Seat of Christ, and that He will come with His church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom on earth.

(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Corinthians5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21)

ARTICLE XIII – OF THE RESURRECTION

We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne of Judgment to receive their final doom.

(John 5:21-39; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15)