We believe that the Bible was inspired by God, written by men, and is completely free from error. It consists of the Old and New Testaments alone, is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, and reveals the principles by which God will judge us. It includes within it the only way of salvation and will remain to the end of the world the supreme standard and final authority by which all matters of life and doctrine should be tested. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 2:12; 1 Jn. 4:1)
We believe that there is only one living and true God. He is a personal, infinite, intelligent Spirit and is both Creator and the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is merciful, just, loving, and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His glory. He is glorious in holiness and is worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. (Ps. 83:18; Rom. 1:20; Rev. 4:11; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 24:39; Jn. 4:24; Ex. 15:11, Deut. 6:4)
We believe that there is only one God, who exists eternally as three distinct persons– the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is fully God and equal in every divine perfection; carrying out distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Mk. 1:9-11; Matt. 28:19; Jn. 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Eph. 2:18; Rev. 1:4-5)
We believe that all the human race is created in the image of God and that through the voluntary sin of our first parents Adam and Eve, we are all born in sin. As a result, all mankind are now sinners by nature, utterly empty of the holiness required by God and completely and voluntarily inclined to evil. Therefore, the human race is unable to turn to God and is under just condemnation to eternal punishment, without defense or excuse. (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 3:6-24; Jn. 6:44; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:20; Rom 3:19; Jas. 2:10)
We believe that the salvation of sinners is only by the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and rose from the dead. In His death He made full atonement for our sins and became our sacrificial substitute, forgiving our sins, absorbing the wrath of God, and adopting us into the family of God. He ascended into heaven, is enthroned at the right hand of his Father, and now intercedes for the church. (Eph. 2:5; Jn. 3:16; Phil. 2:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Is. 53:4-5; Gal. 4:4-7; Rom 8:34)
We believe that justification is the blessing in which those who believe in Christ are declared righteous. It includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. It is given freely by God, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the work of Christ. This brings us into peace and favour with God, and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity. (Jn. 1:16; Rom. 5:9; Matt. 9:6; Rom. 5:21; Rom. 3:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Tim. 4:8)
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel, and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept the gospel by a repentant and obedient faith. There is nothing that prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which results in increased condemnation. (Rev. 22:17; Mk. 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17; Jn. 5:39-40; 2 Thess. 1:8; Matt. 11:20-24)
We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be regenerated, or born again. Regeneration consists in God giving a holy disposition to the mind, and it is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit in a manner beyond our comprehension. This is in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life, and works of righteousness. (Jn. 3:3; 3:6-7; Ezek. 36:26; Jn 1:13; Eph. 4:20-24; Gal. 5:16-23; Matt. 7:20; Eph. 2:10)
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, brought about in our souls by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with sincere remorse, confession, and a humble request for mercy. At the same time we heartily receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and rely on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; Acts 2:37-38; Ps. 51; Rom. 10:12-13; Heb. 4:14)
We believe that it was the eternal purpose of God, which He graciously planned before creation, to choose some people to be regenerated and saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure. This is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, and is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable. It utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy. It is the foundation of Christian assurance. (2 Tim. 1:8-9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:11; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30)
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness. It is a progressive work that begins in regeneration and carries on in the hearts of believers through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter. The Spirit works through the continual use of spiritual disciplines, including reading and hearing the word of God, Christian fellowship, self-examination, and prayer. (1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 6:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Heb. 10:24-25)
We believe that genuine believers are only those who endure to the end. Their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from those who falsely profess faith in Christ. Christians may fall into sin, which grieves the Spirit, impairs their graces and comforts, brings reproach on the church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again to repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. (1 Jn. 3:9; 5:18; 1 Jn. 2:19; Matt. 13:20-21; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 13:5; Jude. 24-25)
We believe that the invisible church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation throughout all the ages. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of baptized believers covenanted together in faith and fellowship, marked by the right preaching of God’s word and right administration of the ordinances. They are governed by the word of God, which teaches that their offices are elders (pastors) and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined most clearly in the Letters to Timothy and Titus. The mission of the church is to be a corporate display of God’s glory to the world. (Jn. 14:15; Acts 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; Matt. 28:18-20)
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; to show forth our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior in a solemn and beautiful symbol. It symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is obedience to the command of Christ, and pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership, and to the Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be observed by churches until the end of the world. It is to be observed by the eating of bread and the drinking of the cup. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:12; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 22:14-20)
We believe that 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. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society, and that officials are to be prayed for and conscientiously honored. They are to be obeyed except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. (Rom. 13:1-7; Rom. 14:5-6; Deut. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-8; Dan. 3:15-18; Acts 4:18-21; Rev. 19:16)
We believe that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem. At the last day Christ will physically return to earth and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution. A separation will then take place; the wicked will be judged and sentenced to endless conscious punishment, and the righteous to endless joy. Christ’s judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness. Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God. (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Lk. 14:14; Jn. 5:28-29; Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 21:9-27; 22)