DECLARATION OF FAITH
I. Of the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible were written by men divinely inspired, and are 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 shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried; that it shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning; and the 1611 King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only English translation used by this Church (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
II. Of the True God
We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, 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 Triune Godhead there are three persons(Matthew 28:19, John 14:10,26), the Father, the Son (John 1:1), and the Holy Ghost; co-equal in power and glory, and having attributes and every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (2 Corinthians 13:14).
III. Of Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27); but by Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and that man is totally depraved and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition but possesses the free will to accept or reject God’s call to salvation (Romans 3:22-23, 5:12, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3).
IV. Dispensations
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations-the Age of the Law, the Age of the Church, and the Age of the Kingdom-are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10, 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-27; Revelation 20:2-6).
V. Of the Way of Salvation
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 sin nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our sins; that it is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and that it is God’s will that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance; that Jesus Christ having risen from the dead is now enthroned in heaven, and in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Saviour (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
VI. Of Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in him is justification; that justification included the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity; that those only who are justified through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit are truly righteous in His sight; those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under condemnation; this distinction between the righteous and the wicked holds in and after death, and will be made manifest at the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10) and the Great White Throne for the impenitent (Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:46-48; John 3:36).
VII. Of Evangelism and Missions
We believe it is the duty of every Christian man and woman, as well as the duty of every Church of Christ, to seek to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth; the new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others; that missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerated life; expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ; the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods sanctioned by the gospel of Christ; that God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; as Ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to all people and nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matthew 10:5-15, 13:1-23, 22:8-10, 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:46-53; John 20:21; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21).
VIII. Of Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local Church financially; God has established the tithe (10% of gross income) as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel; a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 John 3:17).
IX. Of the Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and that it is God’s will that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance; that It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 10:13, 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-15; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
X. Of Grace in Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 12:2; Titus 3:5).
XI. Of Repentance, Faith and Separation
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 upon him alone as the only and all sufficient Saviour; all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord, that our conduct, dress, and speech should be of the highest standards to avoid offending others around us, and that separation from all religious apostasy and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 1:9; 2 John 9-11).
XII. Of God's Purpose of Grace
We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effect in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demand and deserves the utmost diligence (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9).
XIII. Of Sanctification
We believe that 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, the Sealer, and Comforter in the continual use of the appointed means – especially, the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
XIV. Of the Perseverance of 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 salvation (James 1:12).
XV. Of the Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfil its precepts, arises entirely from their love of sin: to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church (Psalm 1:12; Matthew 5:17-18).
XVI. Of a Gospel Church
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of born-again believers (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23); governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, right, and privileges invested in them by his word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus; that the autonomy of the local church is free of any external authority or control; that only water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are recognized as the Scriptural Ordinances of obedience for the church in this Age (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-42, 15:19-31, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 3:9).
XVII. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a born-again believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost: to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect, 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 bread and fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination until He comes again (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 22:19-30; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
XVIII. Of the Christian Sabbath
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, or Christian Sabbath; it is a Christian institution for regular observance and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from unnecessary secular labor and sinful recreation, by the devout observance of all the means of grace both private and public; and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
XIX. Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment consisting of three basic institutions 1) the home; 2) the Church; 3) the State, for the interests and good order of human society; every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word; God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balance those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; the home, the Church and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned responsibility under God; when contradictions arise between authorities, Biblical Authority must exceed all others (Romans 13:7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14).
XX. 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 our 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; that in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6); that souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord wherein conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6) that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection when, with the soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment; believing that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man, that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and that he shall eternally be punished in the Lake of Fire as well (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).
XXI. Of the World to Come
We believe that the end of this world is approaching; that in the last day, that “Blessed Hope,” the personal imminent return of Christ, He will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness; at the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Psalm 89:3-4; Zechariah 14:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6).
XXII. Of Marriage
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one, legitimate meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man (born and remaining male) and one woman (born and remaining female) in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture; that marriage ceremonies performed in any facility or on any property owned, leased or rented by this church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their gender was determined at birth; that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female; that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God; that consequently, members must affirm their biological sex and refrain from any and all attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their birth gender – including but not limited to elective sex-reassignment, transvestitie, transgender, or non-binary acts or conduct; that rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s design of that person; that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the Church as the local Body of Christ and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capcity or who serve as volunteers, or who are members of the church should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and conduct themselves accordingly; that whenever there is a conflict between the Church’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the Church’s statement of faith, doctrines and biblical positions will govern (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:24, 19:5-10; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27-28, 15:19, 19:1-9; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, Ephesians 5:22-27; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Jude 1:7; Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2).
XXIII. Of Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity including verbal, visual, or physical stimulus should be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man (born and remaining a male) and one woman (born and remaining female); that any other type of sexual activity, identity or expression that lies outside of the definition of marriage, including those that are becoming more accepted in the culture and in the courts are sinful perversions of and contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity; that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, pedophilia, adultery, pornography, transvestitism, devian gender or transgender identity, or any other deviant sexual behaviour is a sinful perversion of God’t gift of sex (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).
XXIV. Family Relationships
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church; that the husband is the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the Church; accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-15, 3:4-5, 3:12).
We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society; that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, that in doing so, the husband should reverence his wife as a help meet; that the wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the Church submits to the headship of Christ; that children are a heritage from the Lord; that Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values through a consistent lifestyle, exame and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18; Exodus 20:12; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
XXV. Divorce and remarriage
We believe that God intends that a marriage between one man and one woman should last until one of the spouses dies; although, divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions or serve in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon based on biblical principles (1 Timothy 3:2, 3:12).
XXVI. Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living, human being; that abortion is defined as the elective man-made death, ejection or removal of the unborn child from the womb; that it constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life; that abortion is murder by any means whether surgical, chemical, physical injury, or deliberate conduct for the purpose of terminating a pregnancy (Psalm 139:14-15; Isaiah 44:24, 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44).
XXVII. Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal 24-hour periods; that all of creation was created mature, thus giving the appearance that it is much older than it is; that we reject evolution, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11).
Authority of Statement of Faith
This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The King James 1611 version of the Holy Bible itself is the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind and is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teachings of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the statement of Faith and the Authorized Version King James Bible. For the purposes of the Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor, Deacons, and Cabinet of Men are the Church’s final interpretative authority of the Bible’s meaning and application.