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The
Bible (KJV) is the inspired,
inerrant, infallible Word of God.
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God
is infinite, eternal,
unchangeable and almighty.
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Jesus Christ
is the virgin born Son of God, the only hope of
eternal life.
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The
Holy Spirit is our comforter, our guide
and our teacher who indwells every believer.
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Salvation
is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as
personal savior.
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The
Lord’s Second coming to earth will be
personal, physical and premillennial.
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Heaven
and hell are
literal and eternal places: heaven for the saved,
hell for the unsaved.
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The
church is a local visible body of
scripturally baptized believers working together to
do God’s work.
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Baptism
& the Lord’s Supper are local church
ordinances administered by the
authority of a local Baptist church and are symbolic
in nature.
This church
holds the following Statement of Faith as being a
summary of Christian
doctrine whose authority consists only in its agreement
with the Word of God.
I. OF
THE SCRIPTURES

We believe
that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally
inspired;
that it has truth without any admixture of error for its
matter; and therefore is,
and shall remain to the end of the age, the only
complete and final revelation
of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian
union and the supreme
standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and
opinions should be tried.
1. By the
"Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six
books, from Genesis
to Revelation, which, as originally written does not
only contain and convey the
Word of God but IS the very Word of God.
2. By "Inspiration"
we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy
men
of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a
definite way that their
writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and
free from error, as no other
writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
3. We
believe the authorized King James Version to be the most
trustworthy of
all English translations. Therefore, in order to avoid
confusion and to promote unity,
we request all preachers and teachers to use the King
James Version as the
common translation when ministering publicly.
Ps. 119:89;
II Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19; Jn. 17:17; Jn.3:32-34;
II Pet. 1:20-21;
I Pet. 1:10-12; Zech. 1:1; Ps. 19:7-11; Ex. 20:3-17; Ps.
1:2; Jn. 12:48.
II.
THE TRUE GOD

We believe
there is one, and only one, living and true God, an
infinite intelligent Spirit,
the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;
inexpressibly glorious in holiness,
and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love;
that in the unity of the Godhead
there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost, equal in every divine
perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious
offices in the great work of redemption.
Ex. 20:2-3;
Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Jn. 4:24; Ps. 147:5; Ps. 83:18;
Ps. 90:2; Jer. 10:10;
Ex. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4-6; I Jn. 5:7; Jn.
10:30; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33;
Mk. 12:30; Matt, 28:19; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14; Eph.
4-6.
III.
THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe
that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God
the Father and
God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active
in the creation, and in
His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the
evil one until God’s purpose
is fulfilled; for He convicts of sin, of judgment and of
righteousness; that He bears
witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and
testimony; that He is the agent
in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides,
teaches, witnesses, sanctifies
and helps the believer.
Jn.
14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; Jn. 14:26; Lk. 1:35;
Gen. 1:1-3; II Thes.2:7;
Jn. 16:8-11; Jn. 15:26-27; Acts. 5:30-32; Jn. 3:5-6;
Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mk. 1:8;
Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:33; Acts. 11:16; Lk. 24:49; Jn. 16:13;
Jn 14:26; Rom. 8:14,16;
II Thes. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27.
IV. OF THE
DEVIL OR SATAN

We believe
that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors;
but through pride
and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after
him a host of angels, that he is "now the malignant prince of
the power of the air, and the unholy god of
this world. We
hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and
His Christ, the accuser of
the saints, the author of all
false religions, the chief power back of the present
apostasy;
the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the
powers of darkness . . . destined
however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and
the judgment of an eternal
justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his
angels.
Isa.
14:12-15; Ezk. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4;
Eph. 2:2; Jn. 14:30;
I Thes. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; I Jn. 3:8; Matt.
13:25, 37-39; Lk. 22:3-4;
Rev. 12:10; II Cor. 11:13-15; Mk. 13:21-22; I Jn. 4:3;
II Jn 7; I Jn 2:22;
Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3, 10; Matt. 25:41.
V. OF
THE CREATION

We believe
in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be
accepted
literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that
man was created directly in
God’s own image and after his own likeness; that man’s
creation was not a
matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species,
or developments through
interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms;
that all animals and
vegetable life were made directly, and God’s established
law was that they
should bring forth only "after their kind."
Gen. 1:1; Ex
20:11; Acts 4:24; Col 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; Jn.
1:3; Rev. 10:6;
Rom. 1:20; Acts. 17:23-26; Jer. 10:12; Neh 9:6; Gen.
1:26-27; 2:21-23; 1:11, 24.
VI. OF THE
FALL OF MAN

We believe
that man was created in innocence under the law of his
Maker,
but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and
happy state, in
consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not
by constraint,
but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation
without defense or excuse.
Gen. 3:1-6,
24; Rom. 5:19; 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1, 3; Rom. 1:18; Ezk.
18:19-20;
Rom. 1:32; 1:20, 28; Gal. 3:32; Rom. 5:12.
VII.
OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

We believe
that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a
miraculous
manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever
born or can ever be
born of woman, and He is both the Son of God, and God
the Son.
Gen. 3:16;
Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:35; Mk. 1:1; Jn.1:14;
Ps. 2:7;
Gal. 4:4; I Jn. 5:20; I Cor. 15:47.
VIII. OF THE
ATONEMENT FOR SIN

We believe
that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace;
through the
mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the
appointment of the Father,
freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin,
honored the divine law by
His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and
vicarious
atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not
in setting us
an example by His death as a martyr, but was the
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 in the tree; 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 every
way qualified to
be a suitable, a compassionate and all-sufficient
Savior.
Eph. 2:8;
Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; Jn. 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7;
Heb. 2:14;
Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 11 Cor.
5:21; Jn. 10:18;
Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:24, 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb.
12:2; 1 Cor. 15:20;
Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:2.
IX. OF
GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION

We believe
in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that
the
new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; 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 God; that the new creation is brought
about in a manner
above our comprehension, not by culture, not by
character, nor by the
will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the
Holy Spirit in
connection with divine truth, so as to secure our
voluntary obedience
to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the
holy fruits of
repentance and faith and newness of life.
Jn. 3:3; Il
Cor. 5:17; I Jn. 5:1; Jn. 3:6-7; Acts. 2:41; 16:30-33;
II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col.
2:13;
Jn. 3:8; 1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9.
X. OF
THE FREENESS OF SALVATION

We believe
in God’s saving grace; that
the blessings of salvation
are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the
immediate duty
of all to accept them by a cordial,
penitent and
obedient faith; and
that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest
sinner on earth
but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection
of the Gospel;
which rejection involves him in an aggravated
condemnation.
I Thes. 1:4;
Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Tit. 1:1; Rom. 8:20-30; Matt.
11:28;
Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Jn. 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor.
15:10;
Eph. 2:4-5; Jn. 5:40; 3:18, 36.
XI. OF
JUSTIFICATION

We believe
that the great Gospel which Christ secures to such as
believe in Him is justification; that justification
includes the pardon
of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
righteousness; that
it is bestowed not in consideration of any works or
righteousness
which we have done; but solely through faith in the
Redeemer’s blood,
His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Acts 13:39;
Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; 5-9; 5:1; Tit. 3:5-7;
Rom. 1:17; Heb. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38.
XII.
OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe
that repentance and faith are solemn obligations; and
also
inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the
quickening Spirit of God;
thereby, being deeply convicted 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 and openly confessing Him
as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Acts. 20:21;
Mk. 1:15; Acts. 2:37-38; Lk. 18:13; Rom. 10:13;
Ps. 51:1-4; 51:7; Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11.
XIII.
OF THE CHURCH

We believe that Jesus started His church
during His personal ministry
here on earth. We do not believe in a universal,
invisible church. But
rather, we believe that a
church of Christ is a local, visible body of
baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and
fellowship
of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ;
governed by His
laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them
by His Word; that its officers of ordination are
pastors, elders or
bishops (all three refer to
the same office) and deacons, whose
qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in
the Scriptures;
we believe the true mission of the church is found in
the Great
Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second,
to
baptize believers; third, to teach and instruct as He
commanded.
We do not believe in the reversal of this order; 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 Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to
cooperate
with each other in contending for the faith and for the
furtherance
of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only
judge of the
measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of
membership,
of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence,
the will
of the local church is final.
Matthew 16: 16-18; 1 Cor. 12:28;
Acts 2:41; I Cor. 11:2;
Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; 15:23;
20:17-28;
I Tim. 3:8-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24;
I Pet. 5:1-4;
Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mal.
3:10;
Lev. 27:32; I Cor. 16:2; I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13;
II Cor. 8:19;
Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 5:22-23; I Cor. 12:28; Lk. 6:13;
Mk. 3:19;
I Tim. 3:15; Acts 1:22; Acts 1:8; Jas. 1:27; Acts 2:42;
I Tim. 3:1-7.
XIV.
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe
that scriptural baptism is the
immersion in water of a
believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of
the Holy
Ghost, with the authority of the local New Testament
church, to
show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith
in the
crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effects in
our death to
sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is
prerequisite to the
privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s
Supper, in which
the members of the church by the sacred use of
unleavened bread
and fruit of the vine (pure grape juice) are to
commemorate together
the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, preceded always by
solemn
self- examination. We believe participation in the
Lord’s Supper
is restricted to only those who are members of that
particular local
church. We do not believe that either baptism or the
Lord’s Supper
affect any saving ability.
Acts
8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; Jn. 3:23; Rom. 6:4-5; Matt. 3:16;
28:19;
Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor.
11:23-28.
XV. OF
THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE
SAINTS

We believe
that such only are real believers as endure unto the
end;
that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand
mark which
distinguishes them from superficial professors, that a
special Providence
watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by
the power of God
through faith unto eternal salvation.
Jn. 8:31-32;
Col. 1:21-23; I Jn. 2:19; Matt. 13:19-21; Rom. 8:23;
Matt. 6:30; Ps. 121:3; Heb. 1:14; I Pet. 1:5; Phil. 1:6;
Jn. 10:28, 29;
16:8; Rom. 8:35-39.
XVI. OF THE
RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

We believe
that there is a radical and essential difference between
the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through
faith are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified
by the Spirit
of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all
such as continue
in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and
under the
curse, 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.
Mal. 3:18;
Gen. 18:23; Rom 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 4:18;
Rom. 1:17; I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I Jn. 2:29; 3:7;
Rom. 6:16;
I Jn. 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32;
Lk. 16:25;
Matt. 25:34-41; Jn. 8:21; Lk. 9:26; Jn. 12:25; Matt.
7:13-14.
XVII.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe
that civil government is of divine appointment, for the
interests and good order of human society; that
magistrates are to
be prayed for; conscientiously honored and obeyed;
except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who is the
only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of
the kings of earth.
Rom. 13:7;
II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts. 23:5; Matt. 22:21;
Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14; I Pet. 2:17; Acts. 5:29; Acts.
4:19-20;
Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 10:6; Phil.
2:10-11; Ps. 72:11.
XVIII.
OF THE RESURRECTION AND
RETURN OF CHRIST
AND RELATED EVENTS

We believe
in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects
at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we
believe that Christ
arose bodily "the third day according to the
Scriptures;" that He
ascended "to the right hand of the throne of God," that
He alone is
our "merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God;"
"That 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" - bodily,
personally and visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall
rise first;" that the
living saints "shall be changed in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump," (we believe this will precede and
usher in the seven
year tribulation period; in other words we hold to a
pre-tribulation,
pre-millennial rapture), and "that the Lord God shall
give unto Him the
throne of His Father David;" and that "Christ shall
reign a thousand years
in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His
feet."
Matt.
28:6-7; Lk. 24:39; Jn. 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mk. 16:6; Lk.
24:2, 4-6;
Acts 1:9; Lk. 24:51; Mk. 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1, 6;
1 Tim. 2:5;
1 Jn. 2:1; Heb. 2:17; 5:9-10; Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1
Thes. 4:16;
Matt. 24:27; 25:13; Jas. 5:8; Matt. 24:42; Heb. 9:28; 1
Thes. 4:16;
1 Cor. 15:42-44, 52, 51-53; 1 Thes. 4:17; Phil. 3:20-21;
Lk. 1:32
Isa. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:4-5; Ps.
72:8; Rev. 20:1-4; 20:6.
XIX.
OF MISSIONS

We believe
that the command to give the Gospel to the world is
clear
and unmistakable and this commission was given to the
churches.
Therefore, every local church should have a world-wide
missions program.
This church will support only those missionaries or
mission projects sent
out directly by or sponsored by a local New Testament
church. We will not
support on a regular basis any missionary or mission
project that is under
the shared authority of a church and any other
organization.
Matt.
28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13,
14-15;
Acts 13:1-4.
XX. OF
THE GRACE OF GIVING

We believe
that God’s method of financing His earthly work of
spreading
the Gospel to all nations; the care of the churches and
the support of the
ministry is by the tithes and offerings of His people.
That it is to be given
to the Lord through His church or storehouse to be
distributed as directed
by the leadership of the Spirit as the need arises. The
time to tithe is upon
the first day of the week. That everyone is accountable
to the Lord for
one-tenth of his income and that tithing was instituted
long before the
law was ever given and was practiced by the early
church.
11 Cor. 8:7;
1 Cor. 16:2; Heb. 7:2; Matt. 23:23; Lev. 27:30; Mal.
3:10;
Acts 4:34, 37. |