Our Doctrines

1.   The Bible

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinions should be tried.

 

2.   God

There is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections, to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

 

3.   Satan

Satan, the devil was once an anointed cherub, created by God to serve Him, but through pride, fell and is now a powerful and wicked foe of God and man.  He is under God’s curse which will finally confine him to eternal damnation.

 

4.   Man

Man was created by the direct, creative power of almighty God, in the image of God, in a state of innocency, and as such was given dominion over the earth.  He was commanded to replenish the earth and subdue it.  Man was created in a state of holiness under the law of his maker. 

 

5.   Sin – The fall of man

God gave Adam only one restriction…not to eat of the tree of knowledge.  But through temptation of Satan he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, and under condemnation, and as soon as they were capable of moral action, became actual transgressors.  God cursed cursed man, Satan, and the earth as a result of this fall.

 

6.   The Savior – Jesus Christ

God’s word teaches that God’s son, The Lord Jesus Christ came down to earth according to a previous arrangement made in ages past, and was born, as to his human body, of a virgin; lived a sinless life in obedience to every wish and will of the father; and died on the cross as the sacrificial, substitutionary lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world; to make atonement for sin, dying under the Elpenalty of man’s sin, and rising from the dead to live evermore. 

 

7.   Grace

The grace of God in salvation, the freeness of salvation as God’s gift to be received as a gift by faith alone, is clearly taught in scriptures. 

a.    Justification

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ.

b.   Regeneration

Regeneration or the new birth is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby we become partakers of the divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of God's free grace conditioned upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God.

c.    Election

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which he regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.  It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of men, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. 

d.   Sanctification

Is the process by which according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness, that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

e.    Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.

8.   The security of the believer

The Bible, our authority in all spiritual matters, teaches that when God saves a soul, he saves it forever.  Since salvation is all of God, and since the believer is accepted in Christ alone, through the new birth, this truth is both obvious and scriptural. 

a.    We are born the children of God and cannot be unborn.

b.   When Christians sin God chastises them and keeps them. 

c.    Sins of Christians are not charged to them as far as their having to die for them is concerned. 

9.   Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is a fact.  The New Testament affirms that Jesus’ physical body did not decay in the grave.  It was made alive again, gloriously transformed so that it was changed and no longer limited by time and space nor subject to change, decay, and Death.

There will be a resurrection of all men both the righteous and the wicked.  This idea is positively affirmed in Acts 24:15 and implied elsewhere.  Our element of hope in the resurrection is based on faith in the resurrection of Jesus. 

 

10.                   Return of Christ

The New Testament teaches in many places the visible and personal return of Jesus to this earth. "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." The time of his coming is not revealed. "Of that day and hour knoweth no one, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36). It is the duty of all believers to live in readiness for his coming and by diligence in good works to make manifest to all men the reality and power of their hope in Christ.

 

11.                   The Judgement

God’s final judgement of men is assumed in the New Testament.  Scripture passages in abundance support this assumption.  Most of the passages are presented not to prove the fact of judgement but to warn men of its coming.  Certain words stand out as descriptive terms wherever judgement is mentioned: separation, blessings, punishments.  There are many illustrations of judgement in the New Testament.  There is more division over the problems involved in the second coming of Christ than at any other point.  Most agree with it; but the interpretations are varied…one’s belief in certain things relating to the second coming should never be made a test of one’s faith.

 

Our Ordinances

1.   Baptism

a.    Four things are necessary for New Testament Baptism

                                                   i.     Scriptural Authority.  Jesus gave authority to the Church in the Great Comission.  When Paul organized churches, he gave them the ordinances.

                                                 ii.     Scriptural Subject.  A believer in Christ

                                               iii.     Scriptural Design.  A setting forth of the believer’s death to sin, burial to the world, and entrance into the new life…accomplished by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  It is only a meaningless form otherwise.

                                               iv.     Scriptural Mode.  Immersion.  The Greek word used for baptism means “to dip”.  Baptism by immersion was the practice of the early church. 

b.   The purpose of Baptism

                                                   i.     Confession of Faith.

                                                 ii.     It illustrates to the world, salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

                                               iii.     Baptism shows the beginning of a new life.

                                               iv.     It is an act of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                 v.     It is the putting on of the uniform of a soldier of Christ.

                                               vi.     Baptism is a pre-requisite to church membership

2.   The Lord’s Supper

a.    Requirements for the observance of the Lord’s Supper.

                                                   i.     Regeneration by faith.

                                                 ii.     Baptism

                                               iii.     Steadfastness in doctrine.

                                               iv.     Fellowship

                                                 v.     A coming together as a church to observe the supper.

                                               vi.     Self-Judgement

b.   The real meaning of the Lord’s Supper.

                                                   i.     A memorial or reminder of our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection for our salvation.  That points to justification.

                                                 ii.     A feeding of the soul on Christ as the true bread of heaven, by mediating on his love and sacrifice.  Food for the soul points to sanctification. 

                                               iii.     A looking forward to his return for us, at which time we shall be changed and made like him.  This points to Glorification. 

A more compete version including scripture references is available upon request.