We believe that the Holy Bible was (a) written by men supernaturally inspired; (b) that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and (c) 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. (a) II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter l:19-2l; b. John 17:17; c. I Peter 1:23)

(Explanatory)

1. By “THE HOLY BIBLE” we mean the collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written, does not 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 way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

We believe that there is (a) one, and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; (b) inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; (c) 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 redemption. (a. John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; b. Exodus 15:11, Rev. 4:11; c. Matthew 28:19, I Cor. 12:4-6)

We believe in the eternal deity of Jesus Christ; that by Him all things were made; that He was virgin born; that He died an atoning death; that He arose in physical resurrection that He ascended to God’s right hand at which place He is our great High Priest; that He is coming in the air to receive His own unto himself in resurrection and rapture, and that He is to return to earth to establish God’s Kingdom among men. (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:19, 20; Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:29; I John 2:1; I Thess. 4:l3-18; Rev. 19:11-20:6)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; (a) equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; (b) that he was active in creation; (c) that in his relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God ’ s purpose is fulfilled; (d) that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; (e) that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; (f) that He is the agent in the New Birth; (g) that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. (a. John 14:16, 17; b. Genesis 1:1-3; c. II Thess. 2:7; d. John 16:8-1l; e. John 15:26, 27; f. John 3:5, 6; g. Eph. 1:13, 14; 5:18)

We believe (a) that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but (b) by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state; (c) in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and (d) therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (a. Gen. 3:1-6, 24; b. Rom. 5:12, 19; c. Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1, 3; Ezekiel 18:19, 20; d. Rom. 1:20, 28, 32; Gal. 3:22)

We believe (a) that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (b) through the mediatorial officers of the Son of God, who by 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; (c) 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 on the tree; (d) 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 an all-sufficient Savior. (a. Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; b. John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; c. John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; d. I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12—15)

We believe that sanctification has a two-fold meaning, (a) that of setting apart of things, days, or persons specifically for God, and that the believer at the time of his regeneration is so set apart by God the Father; (b) the progressive work of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer, obedient to the Word of God experiences the power of the indwelling Christ for holiness of life and victory over the old nature, which work will be completed when the believer stands in Christ’s presence. (a. I Cor. 1:30; Heb. 10:10, 14; b. Col. 1:26-28; John 17:17; I Thess., 5:23; II Cor. 3:18)

We believe (a) in God’s electing grace, (b) that the blessings of salvation are made free to all through the Gospel; (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and (d) that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; (c) which rejection involves him in aggravated condemnation. (a. I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:l2; I Peter 1:2; b. Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; c. Isa. 55:6; Acts 2:38; d. Isa. 55:7; John 3:15, 16; I Tim. 1:15; e. John 3:18, 36)

We believe that Repentance and Faith are (a) solemn obligations, and (b) also inseparable graces; (c) wrought in our souls by the quickening Sprit of God; (d) thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; (e) at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all sufficient Savior. (a. Acts 20:21; b. Mark 1:15; c. Acts 2:27-38; d. Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; e. Luke 12:8; Rom. 9:11)

We believe that Christian baptism is (a) the believer’s immersion in water; (b) into the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; (c) to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; (d) that in the Scriptural order it (baptism) precedes the privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ; (e) the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine remind us of the love of God in Christ Jesus, “who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all,” that the ordinance is to be observed in anticipation of His coming and preceded always by solemn selfexamination. (a. Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:16; Rom. 6:4, 5; b. Matt. 28:19; c. Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-5; d. Acts 2:41, 42; Matt. 28:18-20; e. I Cor. 11:23-28; Rom. 8:32)

We believe that marriage was the first institution God provided for man, and that it is a sacred covenant relationship and honorable for all (Genesis 2:23-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that “marriage” has only one meaning and that is a marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man (male in his birth anatomy) and one woman (female in her birth anatomy) in a single, exclusive union as written in Scripture (Genesis 1:27; 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-32; Hebrews 13:4). The marriage covenant is to be severed only by death, though divorce is allowed for cases of abandonment or unrepentant sexual immorality (Matthew 19:6, 9; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:12-16).

We believe sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bonds of a Biblically defined marriage and that any form of sexual immorality such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, practice of homosexual or bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and pornography is sinful and offensive to God (Leviticus 18:22-23, 29; 20:13-16; Genesis 19; Matthew 5:27-28; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Hebrews 13:4; Jude 1:7).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Proverbs 28:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:9) and that it is the responsibility of every Christian to show compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity to others as we follow Christ (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 12:14-21; 13:8; Ephesians 4:25-32).