What We Believe

I. The Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction (II Timothy 3:16-17), that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter (Proverbs 30:5-6), that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us (Romans 2:12), and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. II. The True God We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent, Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth (John4:24) inexpressibly glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11), and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Mark 12:30), that in unity of the Godhead there are three persons, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. III. The Fall Of Man We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker (Genesis 1:27), but by voluntary transgression fell from the holy and happy state (Genesis 3:6-24), in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners (Romans 5:19), not by constraint but choice, being by nature utterly void of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation (Ephesians 2:3), without defense or excuse (Ezekiel 18:19-20). IV. The Way Of Salvation We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:5), through the substitutionary death of the Son of God (John 3:16), who according to the will of the Father, became man, yet without sin (Philippians 2:6-7), honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5), that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Saviour (hebrews 7:25). V. Justification We believe the Scriptures teach that the great gospel blessing which Christ (John 1:16) secures to such as believe in Him is justification (Acts 13:9), that justification includes the pardon of sin (Romans 5:9), and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness, that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness, which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ, by means of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God (Romans 5:19), that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity (Romans 5:1-2) VI. The Freeness Of Salvation We believe the Scriptures teach that blessing of salvation are made free to all men by the gospel (Isaiah 55:1), that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (Acts 17:30), and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on Earth, but his own determined depravity, and voluntary rejection of the gospel (John 5:40) which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation (John 3:19). VII. Regeneration We believe the Scriptures teach that in order to be saved, men must be regenerated or born again (John 3:3), that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind (II Corinthians 5:17), that it is effected in a manner above our own comprehension by the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth (John 3:8), so as to secure our voluntary obedience of the gospel (I Peter 1:22-25), and its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life (Ephesians 5:9). VIII. Repentance And Faith We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in the soul by regenerating Spirit of God (Mark 1:15), whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ (John 16:8), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour (Romans 10:9-11). IX. God's Purpose Of Grace We believe the Scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners (II Timothy 1:8-9), that being perfectly consistent with the end (II Thessalonians 2:13-14), that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness (I Corinthians 4:7), that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility (II Timothy 2:10), that it encourages the use of means, that it is the foundation of Christian assurance, and that to a ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence (II Peter 1:10-11). X. Sanctification We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the purpose by which according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness (I Thessalonians 4:3), that it is a progressive work (Proverbs 4:18), that it is begun in regeneration, that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (Philippians 1:12-13) and in the practice of all godly exercise and duties (I Timothy 4:7). XI. Perseverance Of Saints We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerated, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and perish, but will endure unto the end (John 8:31), that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors (John 2:19), that a special Providence watches over their welfare (Romans 8:28), and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (Philippians 1:6). XII. The Law and Gospel We believe the Scriptures teach that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government (Romans 3:31), that is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12), and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arise entirely from their sinful nature (Romans 8:7-8), to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible Church (Roman 8:2-4). XIII. A Gospel Church We believe the Scriptures teach that a visible Church of Jesus Christ is a company of baptized believers (Acts 2:41-42) associated by the covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel (II Corinthians 8:5), observing the ordinances of Christ (I Corinthians 11:2), governed by His laws (Matthew 28:20), and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word (I Corinthians 14:12), that its only scriptural officers are bishops of pastors, and deacons (Philippians 1:1) whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. XIV. Christian Baptism We believe the scriptures teach that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ (Acts 8:36-39), into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect, in His death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:4), that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation, and to the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41-42). XV. The Lord's Supper We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord's Supper is a provision of bread and fruit of the vine representing Christ's body and blood, partaken of by born again believers assembled for that purpose (LUKE 22:19-20), in commemoration of the death of their Lord (I Corinthians 11:28), showing their faith and participating in the merits of His sacrifice, their dependence on Him for spiritual life and nourishment (John 6:35,54-56), and their hope of life eternal through His resurrection from the dead, its observance to be preceded by faithful self-examination (I Corinthians 11:28). XVI. The Lord's Day We believe the Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day (Acts 20:7), and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes (Exodus 20:8) by abstaining from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity (Isaiah 58:13-14), by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private and public (Hebrews 10:24-25), and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God. XVII. Civil Government We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society (Romans 13:1-7), and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed (Matthew 22:21), except things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:29), who is the only Lord of the conscience and Prince of the Kings of the Earth (Matthew 23:10). XVIII. Separation of Church and State We believe in the separation of church and state (Matthew 22:21) XIX. Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked (Malachi 3:18), that such only as are regenerate, being justified through faith in Jesus Christ and sanctioned by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem (Romans 1:17), while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and under the curse (I John 5:19), and this distinction holds among men, both in and after death (Proverbs 14:32). XX. Rapture and Subsequent Events We believe in the premillennial return of Christ, an event which can occur at any moment, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without dying, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of the Tribulation (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:42-44, 52-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 3:10. We believe that the Tribulation which follows the Rapture of the church, will be culminated by the revelation of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial kingdom (Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30; Revelation 20:1-4,6).