Statement of Faith

1. The Scriptures

a. We believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:21

For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

b. We believe in the absolute authority of scripture as the guide by which all Christians should govern their lives.

2 Timothy 3:16 & 17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2. The Godhead

We believe...

a. that there is one God who created all things for His glory.

Colossians 1:16 & 17

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Revelations 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

1 Chronicles 17:20

O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Isaiah 44:6-8, 45:5

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

 

b. that Jesus Christ is the expressed fullness of the Godhead; to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself:

Colossians 2:9

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2 Corinthians 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

 

c. that the Holy Spirit is God. God is a spirit.

John 4:24

God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

d. that these three are one. God is the Holy Spirit, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.

John 1:1, 14, 18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

1 John 5:6 & 7

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

3. God's Plan for Salvation

a. We believe that by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin was passed unto all mankind. Therefore, every man is born a sinner and in need of salvation.

Romans 3:10 & 23, 5:12

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

b. God sent his son Jesus that through his shed blood on the cross man might be redeemed and restored to fellowship with God.

John 3:15-17

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 5:6-9

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

c. Salvation cannot be earned by works. It is the free gift of the grace of God, received by faith in Christ's finished work at the cross.

Ephesians 2:8 & 9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

d. When a man recognizes his sinful state and realizes his need for Christ, it worketh godly repentance unto salvation. Upon his confession of faith, he is "born again" of the spirit of God.
He becomes a new creature created in Christ and a joint heir of ALL spiritual blessings and promises.

John 3:3-8

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Romans 8:16-17

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 10:9-10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

4. Baptisms

a. Water Baptism
Water baptism is a commandment of God to those who have confessed Christ as their Saviour. It is an identification of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for the believer. Therefore, full immersion is necessary and should be done in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 6:3-4

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

b. Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a gift from God to ALL believers. It was first given on the day of Pentecost. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues. It is God's seal on the believer and it is the door opener to the power of God.

Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:38-39

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:1-6

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Ephesians 1:13-14

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which it the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

John 7:38-39