AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

Article III of Our Constitution

THE WORD OF GOD: We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.  2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21

THE TRINITY: We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.  Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14

GOD THE FATHER: We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  1 Kings 8:27, Psalms 99:5,  Jeremiah 32:17, Daniel 2:20, Matthew 6:6, John 4:24, Romans 6:23, James 5:11, 1 John 4:8

JESUS CHRIST: We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.  Matthew 1:20, Matthew 1:23,25, Matthew 4:23, Mark 16:6, Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 2:24

THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.  John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16: 8-11, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:14, Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Titus 3:5

REGENERATION: We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  John 1:12, Acts 2:38, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Titus 3:5

THE CHURCH: We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.  Matthew 16:18, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:41-47

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT: We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.  Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:10

THE ORDINANCES: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19, Luke 22:19-20, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 11:24-28

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We believe that where and when the world (including the government) seeks to violate Biblical truth, of necessity the Church can and must speak humbly and clearly to direct the world in the right path, as is in keeping with the purpose of the Church.  Matthew 22:21, Acts 5:29, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 2:9

CHURCH COOPERATION: We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.

THE LAST THINGS: We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.  Matthew 25:46, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 20:11-15

MARRIAGE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY: We believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God for the well-being of mankind and the propagation of the human race. It is the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman and, according to the Biblical ideal, is to be broken only by death. We believe that God has commanded that intimate (human) sexual activity shall be engaged in only within the confines of marriage. We believe that all forms of intimate sexual activity outside the confines of marriage are perversions of God’s gifts of gender and sex, and are therefore sinful acts.  Genesis 2:24, Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-11, 7:10, Ephesians 5:33, Romans 1:24-32

LIFE: We believe that all human life is a sacred gift from God, is equally valued by God, and must be respected, loved and protected from the moment of conception (fertilization) until natural death. We believe that the intentional, willful termination (abortion) of pregnancy after conception is the willful taking of another innocent human life, and is therefore a sinful act. We believe that the intentional, willful termination (euthanasia) of life before natural death is also the willful taking of another human life, and is therefore also a sinful act.  Psalms 139:13-16, John 13:34-35, Galatians 3:28