I. The Bible
A. We teach the authority and sufficiency of the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments as originally written; that the Bible was verbally and plenarily inspired1; that the Bible is the product of Spirit-controlled and Spirit-directed men2; that the Bible is without error in the original autographs; and that the Bible is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant in all matters of which it speaks.3
1 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 2 2nd Peter 1:19-21 3 John 10:35
B. We teach that the Bible is the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed and opinions shall be tried, because it is God’s Word.
1st Thessalonians 2:13
C. We teach that the Bible is to be interpreted using a literal, grammatical, and historical hermeneutical methodology.
II. The One True God
We teach that there is one and only one living and true God1, an infinite Spirit2, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth3; inexpressibly glorious in holiness4, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love5; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption6.
1 Exodus 20:2-3, Deuteronomy 6:4, 1st Corinthians 8:6 2 John 4:24 3 Exodus 15:11 4 1st Peter 1:16 5 Revelation 4:11 6 1st Corinthians 12:4-6, 2nd Corinthians 13:14
III. The Virgin Birth
We teach that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman1, and that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son2.
1 Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-35 2 John 1:1, 3, 14, 18, 1st John 1:3
IV. The Resurrection and Priesthood of Christ
We teach the bodily resurrection of Christ and in His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest interceding for us.
Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6, 39, 51; John 20:27; Acts 1:9-11; 1st Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 2:17, 7:25; 12:2; 1st Timothy 2:5; 1st John 2:1
V. The Holy Spirit
We teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person1, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature2, that He was active in the creation3; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment4; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony5; that He is the Agent in the new birth6; that He seals7, endues8, guides9, teaches10, witnesses11, sanctifiesl2, fills13, baptizes14, comforts l5, and helps the believerl6.
1 Luke 1:35; 2nd Corinthians 3:18 2 Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14 3 Genesis 1:1-3 4 John 16:8-11 5 Acts 5:30-32 6 John 3:5-6 7 Ephesians 1:13-14 8 Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8 9 Romans 8:14 10 John 14:26 11 Romans 8:16 12 Romans 8:2-14 13 Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18 141st Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:27 15Acts 9:31; John 14:6, 26, 15:26, 16:7 16John 14:16-17; Romans 8:26-27; 1st Corinthians 12:12-13
VI. Creation
We teach the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man1; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process2; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race3.
1 Genesis 1, 2 2 John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17 3 Matthew 19:4; 1st Timothy 2:13
VII. The Devil or Satan
We teach the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil; and that he was created by God as an angel1 but through pride and rebellion2 became the enemy of his Creator3; that he became the unholy god of this age4 and the ruler of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire5.
1 Ezekiel 28:12-17 2 Isaiah 14:12-15 3 Matthew 4:1-11 4 2nd Corinthians 4:4 5 Revelation 20:10
VIII. The Fall of Man
We teach that man was created in innocence (in the image and likeness of God) under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy statel, and all men sinned in him2, in consequence of which all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam’s fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct3, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse4.
1 Genesis 3:1-6 2 Romans 5:12-19 3 Romans 3:9-18, 23 4 Romans 1:18-32
IX. Grace and the New Birth
We teach that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again1; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus2; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God3; that the new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth4, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life.
1 John 3:3 2 2nd Corinthians 5:17 3 Acts 16:20-33; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; 2nd Peter 1:4; 1st John 5:1 4 John 3:8
X. Salvation
A. We teach that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God1, Who, by the appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience, thus qualifying Himself to be our Savior2; that by the shedding of His blood in His death He fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God regarding sin3; that His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own
body on the tree4; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.
1 Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 2:8 2 Philippians 2:7-8 3 Romans 3:25, 5:8; 2nd Corinthians 5:21; 1st John 4:10 4 Isaiah 53:4-7; 1st Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 2:14-17; 1st Peter 2:24
B. We teach that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation1. Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith2.
1 John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9 2 Acts 17:30, 26:20; 2nd Peter 3:9
XI. The Freeness of Salvation
We teach that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel1; that it is the immediate duty of everyone to accept them in repentance and faith2; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel3, which rejection involves him in an eternal condemnation and torment4.
1 John 3:15-16; Romans 1:16 & 10:13; Revelation 22:17 2 John 3:36; Acts 17:30; 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-8 3 John 1:11-12, 3:18-19, 36; 5:40 4 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9
XII. Justification
We teach that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ1; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done2, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s shed blood3.
1 Romans 3:20, 24 2 Romans 3:20; 4:5; Galatians 2:16 3 Romans 5:1, 9
XIII. Sanctification
We teach that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner; first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior1; second, a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life2; and third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord’s return3.
1 John 17:17-19; 1st Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:9-11; Hebrews 10:10-14 2 2nd Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1st Thessalonians 3:12-13; 4:3-8 3 Philippians 3:10-14; 1st Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:23-24; Jude 24-25
XIV. The Security of the Believer
We teach that anyone who is truly born again is kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.
John 6:39; 10:28-29; Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1st Peter 1:3-5
XV. The Righteous and the Wicked
We teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked1; that only those who are justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem2; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse3; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting joy of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire4.
1 Genesis 18:23-32; Proverbs 15-9; Malachi 3:18; Romans 2:5-11 2 Romans 3:19-26, 4:4-5; 6:17-18 3 John 3:18, 36; 1st John 5:19 4 Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:22-26; Revelation 20:11-15
XVI. The Church
A. We teach that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel1; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word2; that its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures3.
1 Acts 2:41; 20:17, 28; Philippians 2:1-2 2 Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 4:11-16 31st Timothy 1:18-19; 3:1-13, 15; 4:1-16; 5:1, 3, 17-22; 6:11-21; 2nd Timothy 2; 4:1-2; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1st Peter 5:1-4
B. We teach that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity1. 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 Spirit2; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel3; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation, that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
1 Matthew 28:18; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:11-12; Revelation 22:16-17 2 Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18 3 Acts 15:1-2, 19-29; Colossians 4:15-17
C. We teach the unity of all New Testament believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Romans 12:4-5; 1st Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:1-6
XVII. Ordinances
A. We teach that there are two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
B. We teach that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, through Whom we died to sin and rose to a new life; that baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church; and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12
C. We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes again, that it is for believers only, and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1st Corinthians 11:23-30
XVIII. Separation
We teach that God’s call to holiness includes both personal and ecclesiastical separation. We teach separation from joint ministry with unbelief and apostasy1. We teach separation also should be exercised from heretical believers and disobedient brethren who hold peculiar opinions and practices which are divisive, including, but not limited to: unsound Bible interpretations which promote false doctrine2; faulty practices inconsistent with clear Bible teachings3; worldly or immoral lifestyles contrary to the principles of holiness4; and a sectarian spirit destructive to Christian unity5.
1 2nd Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 3:17-19; 2nd John 9-11 2 1st Timothy 6:3-5; 2nd Timothy 2:15-18 3 1st Corinthians 5:11; 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-15 4 1st Corinthians 5:9-ll 5 Romans 16:17; 1st Corinthians 1:10-11; 3:1-4
XIX. Marriage
We teach that God established marriage as a lifelong relationship between one man and one woman1 for the purposes of companionship and mutual aid2, reproduction3 and sexual intimacy4. The marriage relationship between man and woman is to reflect the spiritual relationship that exists between Christ and His Church5.
1 Genesis 2:23-25; Matthew 19:6 2 Genesis 2:18 3 Genesis 1:28 4 1st Corinthians 7:2-5 5 Ephesians 5:22-32
XX. Civil Government
We teach that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society1; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed2, except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of Kings3.
1 Exodus 18:21-22; 2nd Samuel 23:3; Romans 13:1-7 2 Matthew 22:21; 1st Timothy 2:1-4 3 Daniel 3:17-18; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29
XXI. Last Things
A. Concerning Death. We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness1, that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ2, that there is a separation of soul and physical body3, and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture4 when our soul and resurrected body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord5. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ6.
We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life7, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment8.
We teach that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection9, when the soul and the resurrection body will be united10. They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment11 and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire12, cut off from the life of God forever13.
1 Revelation 6:9-11 2 Luke 23:43; 2nd Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23 3 Philippians 1:21-24 4 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17 5 Philippians 3:21; 1st Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54 6 2nd Corinthians 5:8 7 John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2nd Corinthians 4:14 8 Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15 9 Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15 10 John 5:28-29 11 Revelation 20:11-15 12 Matthew 25:41-46 13 Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9
B. Concerning the Rapture of the Church. We teach the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the tribulation1 that will translate His church from this earth2. Between this event and His glorious return with His saints, He will reward believers according to their works3.
1 1st Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13 2 John 14:1-3; 1st Corinthians 15:51-53; 1st Thessalonians 4:15-5:11 3 1st Corinthians 3:11-15; 2nd Corinthians 5:10
C. Concerning the Tribulation Period. We teach that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth1 the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world2, and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth3. At that time the tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged4. This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy5.
1 John 14:1-3; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 2 Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16 3 Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-12 4 Revelation 20:4-6 5 Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46
D. Concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His Millennial Reign. We teach that after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David1 and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth2. During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth3.
We teach that this reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world4.
We teach that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel5 to restore them to the land that they forfeited through their disobedience6. The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside7, but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing8.
We teach that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life9, and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan10.
1 Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11 & 2:29-30 2 Revelation 20:1-7 3 Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16 4 Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7 5 Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17 6 Deuteronomy 28:15-68 7 Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26 8 Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29 9 Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38 10 Revelation 20:7
E. Concerning the Judgment of the Lost. We teach that following the release of Satan after the 1,000-year reign of Christ1, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven2.
We teach that following this event Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone3, whereupon Christ, who is the Judge of all men4, will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne Judgment.
We teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment5 they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire6.
1 Revelation 20:1-7 2 Revelation 20:9 3 Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10 4 John 5:22 5 John 5:28-29 6 Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15
F. Concerning Eternity. We teach that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers1, the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved2 and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells3. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven4 and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will forever enjoy fellowship with God and one another5.
We teach that our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father6, that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever7.
1 2nd Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15 2 2nd Peter 3:10 3 Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15, 21:1-27; 22:1-21 4 Revelation 21:2 5 John 17:3; Revelation 21-22 6 1st Corinthians 15:24-28 7 1st Corinthians 15:28
