What We Believe

What We Believe

THE TRINITY

God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Mark 1:9-11Heb. 1:1-3Acts 5:4)

GOD

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. (Deut. 6:4-6)

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, born of a virgin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King of the church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (1 Tim 2:5Matt 5:171 Cor. 15:1-3Heb. 1:1-3)

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-112 Cor. 3:61 Cor. 12:12-14Rom. 8:9Eph. 5:38)

THE SCRIPTURES

The Bible is God’s written revelation to man, and that the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit represents the inspired, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, sufficient, authoritative Word of God in all parts. (1 Corinthians 2:7-142 Timothy 3:16,17)

THE FALL OF MAN

God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity (i.e. descendants) inherits a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Gen. 6:5Rom. 3:18)

ELECTION

Election is God’s eternal choice of many persons unto everlasting life– not because of foreseen merit in them, but of his mere mercy in Christ. These persons are, therefore, called justified and glorified. (Eph. 1:4-82:8-9Romans 8:28-29)

REPENTANCE AND FAITH

Repentance is a gift of God, wherein the Holy Spirit makes a person aware of their own sin, so that one is humbled by godly sorrow, detesting sin, with a purpose and endeavors to walk before God so as to please Him in everything. Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is granted to the believer by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, leads him/her in a lifestyle moving towards one of holiness and joy. (2 Cor. 7:10Mark 1:10)

JUSTIFICATION

Justification is a legal declaration of God in which He freely chooses to acquit a sinner by faith in the atoning work of Christ; therefore, grace grants him/her Christ’s righteous- ness. (Rom 4:25,5:16,18)

SANCTIFICATION

Those believers who have their faith in Christ have been and will be saved. Sanctification means that there will be a continued progression in holy living and character development by the Holy Spirit and will continue until we die or the Lord returns. (Rom. 8:13,28,29John 16:114:1717:17)

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Those whom Christ has saved and the Spirit indwells, though still sinful, will indeed continue in their sanctification (i.e. being made holy) and will never lose their salvation. (Heb. 12:2Phil 1:6John 17:12Heb. 10:23)

THE CHURCH

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with particular churches; and to each of these churches Jesus has given authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Elders and Deacons. (Col. 1:182:10, Heb. 10:251 Tim. 3:1-16Titus 1:1-16)

BAPTISM

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, upon every believer, wherein the believer is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving of one’s self up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:18;20)

THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. 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. (1 Cor. 11: 23-28)

THE JUDGMENT

God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to their deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life. (Matt. 7:21-2325:14-46Phil. 2:5-11)