SCRIPTURE​​

 

We believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

 

By ‘The Holy Bible’, we mean the collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, not only contains and conveys the Word of God, but is the very Word of God.

 

By ‘inspiration’, we mean that the Books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally, uniquely, and verbally inspired and free from any error in its original form.

 

We believe that God oversaw transmission and translation of His Word; that, although minor problems do exist in transcription, He preserves His truths as promised. We further believe that inspiration has ceased at the completion of the Canon and since then no person will ever be inspired to write Scripture in this age.

 

Supporting Verses:

Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; John 8:31-32; 17:17; 20:31; Acts 20:32; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:25;

2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19.

 

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THE TRINITY

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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.

 

Supporting Verses:

Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:5-6.

 

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GOD THE FATHER​

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We believe in God the Father, an infinite, intelligent, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He is the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth and worthy of all possible honour, confidence, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He exercises mercy and justice in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from death and sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

 

Supporting Verses:

Exodus 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:2-22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5-6; Revelation 1:6; 4:11.

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GOD THE SON—JESUS CHRIST

 

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s uniquely begotten Son, conceived supernaturally 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.

 

Supporting Verses:

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; 20:28; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 14; 20:28, 30-31; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 1 John 5:20.

 

 

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same essence and divine substance, that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; and that He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers all believers. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is their abiding helper, teacher, and guide.

 

Supporting Verses:
Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Luke 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-14; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 13.

 

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MAN

 

We believe that man was originally created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, and moral responsibility to God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration.

 

Supporting Verses:
Genesis 2:7; 15-25; 3:1-6; Psalm 14:1-3; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1, 3;

James 3:9.

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SALVATION

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We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, by the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or work. We believe in God’s electing grace; that it is the immediate duty of all sinners to accept God’s offer of salvation by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; the rejection of which involves him in an aggravated condemnation in the day of judgment.

 

Supporting Verses:

John 1:12; 3:15-16, 18, 36; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 1:7; 2:4-5, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; 18-19.

 

Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. Thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with genuine contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time turning from our sins, heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all sufficient Saviour.

Supporting Verses:
Psalm 51:1-12; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13-14; Isaiah 55:6-7; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11.

 

Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, all men, being sinners, must be born again; that all who trusted by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit; that the new birth is a new creature in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. We further believe that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that the proper evidence appears in the fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works are the proper evidence and fruit of regeneration and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God. This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such conformity is climaxed in the believer’s glorification at Christ’s return.

Supporting Verses:
John 1:12-13; 3:3, 6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:8; 1 John 5:1.

 

Justification

We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification, that justification includes the complete pardon of sin by the judicial act of God, the imputation to the believer of God’s own righteousness which declares and renders a sinner positionally perfect before God, and the gift of eternal life, and that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. By this means, God is enabled to be just and the justifier of those who come to Him in faith.

 

Supporting Verses:
Isaiah 53:11; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 1:17; 3:20, 26; 4:1-8, 23-25; 5:1, 9, 16-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7;
1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 10:38.

 

Sanctification

We believe that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy and is therefore identified as a saint and accepted of God. This sanctification takes place in two senses: First concerns a positional and instantaneous sanctification that involves the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition. Second concerns a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing he positionally enjoys through justification in Christ. Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more like our Lord Jesus Christ. The believer will experience final sanctification when Christ returns during which the saint will be completely sanctified.

 

Supporting Verses:
Acts 20:32; Romans 6:1-22; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:4; 5:26-27; Philippians 2:12, 13; 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23; Hebrews 2:11; 13:12; 10:10, 14.

 

Security and Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally secure since they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are kept by the power of God unto salvation; that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; and that they can never be lost. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality.

 

Supporting Verses:
Matthew 13:23; John 8:31, 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Peter 1:5.

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THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the church of our Lord Jesus Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ—baptism and Lord’s supper; that they are governed by His law of love; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its offices of ordination are pastors-elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; first, to go and make individual disciples; second, to baptize believers; and third, to teach and instruct as He had commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, God’s spirit will lead and give us His perfect and final will in every decision made by the church.

 

Supporting Verses:
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-12; 5:23-24, 29-30; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3-4.

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SEPARATION​

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We believe the Biblical doctrine of separation must be practiced for believers to be obedient to the Word of God. There is a distinction between separation on a personal level (personal separation) and on a corporate level (ecclesiastical separation). The Christian who practices personal separation demonstrates in his conduct and attitude a strict obedience to God and His Word. He refuses to look and act like the world; he has no desire for the world; he avoids individuals who are evil in conduct, false in teaching, and unspiritual in life-style. Ecclesiastical separation involves, positively, identification with groups faithful to the truth of God's Word and negatively, refusal to be identified with any teacher, church, denomination, or other religious organization that does not hold to and contend for those fundamentals of the Faith concerning the Bible, Christ, and salvation and its faithful practice. We believe Biblical separation encompasses four spheres:

 

Personal Separation from the World

Personal Separation from the World. We believe this separation is first, a recognition of the completely evil character of the world and involves a decision not to desire or expect approval or fair treatment from it. Second, it is an avoidance of all actions which might fall into the category of worldliness as defined above. The Christian should disassociate himself from the sins of the world, its idols, and all its unbiblical ambitions and schemes. As salt and light to this evil world, believers should represent Christ by avoiding things that are doubtful or that put a stumbling block in the way of other believers. 

 

Supporting Verses:

Matthew 5:13; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 6:15-7:1; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 5:22; James 4:4.

 

Ecclesiastical Separation from False Teachers

We believe that Christians must judge all doctrinal teaching in the light of Scripture. If a man, as a preacher or a teacher of God's people, denies any of the fundamental doctrines of Scripture, true believers should first recognize him as a false teacher. Second, it is necessary to rebuke the false teachers in order to deliver those who have been influenced by their teaching. Third, since it is clear from Scripture that apostates by a deliberate choice have rejected revealed truth, there is no hope that such men will ever be converted and must be expelled from the church. Finally, when expelling such men is impossible because the majority of the people in the church are supporting them, it then becomes necessary for believers to withdraw from that group. All conduct toward false teachers should be based upon the truth that an apostate gets only progressively worse in his doctrine and that there is no scriptural evidence that an apostate ever returns to Christ.

 

Supporting Verses:
Galatians 1:8-9; 2 John 9-11; Romans 16: 17-18; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; Revelation 2:2, 6, 14-16.

 

Separation from Disobedient Brothers

We believe that such action should only be taken as a final resort should a disobedient believer refuse to respond to repeated urges to correct his errant life-style, beliefs, or practice. Concerned Christians must break fellowship with heavy hearts, and even then maintain the hope that true repentance will be the result. Furthermore, the act of separating from a Christian brother may vary in extent and nature from one case to another according to the severity and persistence of his disobedience.

 

Supporting Verses: 

1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; Matthew 18:15-18; Titus 3:9-10.

 

Separation of Church and State

We believe that the Church and State should be separate, the State owing the Church protection and full freedom; no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the State. The State should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion and a free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.

 

Supporting Verses: 
Matthew 22:21; James 4:12.

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LAST THINGS​

 

We believe the Scriptures teach that at death the spirit of a believer passes instantly into the presence of Christ and remains in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when Christ comes for His own; that the blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal, pretribulational, premillennial appearance of Christ in the air to rapture all believers; that His righteous judgments will then be poured out on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation (the seventieth week of Daniel), the last half of which is the Great Tribulation; and that the climax of this fearful era will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to introduce the Davidic Kingdom, during which Israel will be saved and restored as a nation; Satan will be bound and the curse will be lifted from the physical creation. We further believe that following the Millennium, the Great White Throne Judgment will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be re-united and cast into the Lake of Fire.

 

Supporting Verses: 

Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:34-37; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 1:10-11; Romans 8:16-19; 11:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 6:17; 19:11-16; 20:2-3, 11-15.