––– Statement of
Faith ––––––––––––––––––
I. The Scriptures.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration
of God. Therefore, all scripture is authoritative, infallible and inerrant.
The scriptures are the only sufficient rule for faith and practice.
Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21
II. God.
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things,
having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite and unchanging
in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence
and obedience..
Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17
III. The Trinity.
The Scriptures reveal that the one God eternally exists in three persons:
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each person has distinct personal attributes,
but without division of nature, essence or being. They are equal in
every divine perfection, and execute distinct but harmonious roles in
the great work of redemption.
Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
IV. Providence.
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass,
and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events;
yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to
destroy the natural ability of intelligent creatures.
Isa. 46:9-11; Prov. 16:33; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Jas. 1:13-15
V. Election.
Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not
because of foreseen merit or foreseen faith in them, but of His mere
mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified
and glorified.
Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:27-29; Eph. 1:4, 11
VI. The Fall of Man.
God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but,
through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God,
and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity
inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. As a
result they are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable
of moral action, become actual transgressors.
Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3
VII. Jesus Christ
Since Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is fully God and fully
man, He is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having
taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled
the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners.
He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father,
at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people.
He will return again visibly and bodily. He is the only Mediator, Prophet,
Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
Isa. 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; Acts. 1:9-11; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 1 Cor.
15:3-4; Gal. 3:13;
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1-3
VIII. The Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the
Son. He applies the work of Christ to those who are saved and distributes
spiritual gifts to every believer according to His sovereign good pleasure
for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. He is the Comforter,
the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation and the Guarantor
of our inheritance in Christ.
John 14:16-17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:13-14
IX. Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who gives
life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds
spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing
their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a
work of God's free and special grace alone.
Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1
X. Repentance.
Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy
Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself
for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with
a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all
things.
Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11
XI. Faith.
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 wrought in the heart by the Holy
Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a
life of holiness.
Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-4; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29 Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26.
XII. Justification.
Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe
in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made;
not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the
obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him
and His righteousness by faith alone.
Acts:13:38-39: Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 10:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9
XIII. Sanctification.
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's word and
Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the
supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after
a heavenly life in active obedience to all Christ's commands.
Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:27-37; Rom. 8:1-17: Gal. 5:13-24; 2 Pet. 1:3-11
XIV. Perseverance of the Saints.
All those whom God has regenerated will never totally nor finally fall
away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end;
and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby
they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach
on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be
renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation.
John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6
XV. 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 into
particular churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful
authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He
has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Elders, and Deacons.
John 10:16; Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 1:22; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17-18; Tit.
1:5-9; Heb. 10:25
XVI. Baptism.
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer,
wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and
resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up
to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church
membership, and to participation in the Lord's Supper.
Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13
XVII. The Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered
with the elements of 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 and other graces of Christians,
and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and
of their church fellowship.
Mtt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-24
XVIII. The Lord's Day.
The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and
should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both
public and private.
Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10
XIX. Liberty of Conscience.
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. Civil magistrates being ordained of God,
subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded
by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Mtt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7; 14:4; Acts 5:29; Col. 2:20-23
XX. The Resurrection.
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return
immediately to God-the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved
under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the
dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
Mtt. 15:9; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:23
XXI. The Judgment.
God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ,
when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall
go into everlasting and conscious punishment; the righteous, into everlasting
life.
Mtt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2
Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 7:13-17, 14:9-11
|
