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THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." (II Timothy 3:16).
We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is inspired in that holy men of
God "were moved by the Holy Spirit," (II Peter 1:21) to write the Scriptures.
We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts
of scripture as it appeared in the original manuscripts.
We believe that all Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His
person and work, in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion,
even of the Old Testament, is properly read, or understood, until it leads to
Him. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical
instruction. (Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11;
II Timothy 3:16)
THE TRIUNE GODHEAD
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer
and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is
revealed to us as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
GOD THE FATHER
God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care.
He is all-powerful, all-loving, all- knowing, and all-wise. He is fatherly
in attitude toward all men but is father, indeed, to those who have become
children of God through Jesus Christ, Who will deliver them into the father's
hands. (Genesis 1:1; I Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7;
Romans 8:14,15; I Corinthians 8:6; 1Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)
GOD THE SON
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man
without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born
of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. This
redemption He accomplished by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless,
substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous
judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that
redemption / justification by his bodily resurrection from the grave,
He ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of
those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34; John 1:1,2,14,18; Romans 3:24-26, 8:34)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person Who convicts the world of
sin (righteousness and judgment), that He alone brings new life to those who
are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one
true Church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently,
seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them,
fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to
live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust
of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
(John 3:3-8, 14:16,17; 16:7-11; I Corinthians 12:7 11,13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)
CREATION
We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe
that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act.
(Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16,17)
MAN
Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and, is lost;
this is true of all men, and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit,
he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Genesis 1:26,27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10,23)
THE DEVIL, SATAN
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the reason for the fall
of man, and is destined to the judgement of an eternal punishment in the lake of
fire. (Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him
are redeemed by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the
crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven;
He is our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1-3,14; 3:1-7,16; Hebrews 10:4-14,
I John 2:2)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace. It cannot be gained or
made more secure by meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon all who put
their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who so trust
the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the
regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9,10;
Ephesians 1:7, 2:8,9)
THE CHRISTIAN WALK
We believe that we are called with a holy calling, to walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit that
we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the flesh is never eradicated in
this life and the individual chooses to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus
Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit or it will surely manifest its
presence in our lives to the dishonor of our Lord.(Romans 6:11-13; 8:2,4,12,13;
Galations 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:1-10: I Peter 1:14-16;
I John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
THE GREAT COMMISSION
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian's duty and privilege to seek
the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission and to minister in His name to
a needy world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit
minister’s redemption and reconciliation in the world.
(Matthew 25:31-46; 28; 18-20)
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