Statement of Faith

DOCTRINE OF THE SCRIPTURES:
I believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without the 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 supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
(2 Peter 1:20; Luke 16:29-31; Acts 1:16; Acts 3:21; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 12:6-7; Luke 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
By "The Holy Bible" I mean that collection of 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally inspired and eternally preserved does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
By "inspiration" I mean that the 66 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 verbally (the very words, not just ideas), and plenarily (completely) inspired and free from error, as no other writings have been or ever will be inspired.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Psalms 119:105, 160; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44, 45; Psalms 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalms 19:7-11; John 5:45; John 5:39)
(The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages I accept and use. The King James Bible is the only English version I accept, use, or endorse. The Bible is my sole authority for faith and practice. 

DOCTRINE OF GOD:
I believe that God is the eternal, self-existent, personal Spirit, He is infinite in knowledge (omniscient); infinite in wisdom, and infinite in power (Omnipotent). He is everywhere (omnipresent); He is the sovereign Creator and Sustainer. I believe that God is absolutely holy, perfect, righteous, loving, and just.
(John 4:24; 1 John 3:20; Acts 15:18; Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 1:20; James 1:17; 1 John 4:8-16; Psalms 139:1-18; 1 Timothy 1:16; Deuteronomy 33:27 

DOCTRINE OF JESUS CHRIST:
I believe in the eternal deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and of the same nature; that He was active in the Creation; that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, not having human father, and is true God and true man, that He was sinless, fulfilling all the righteous commandments of the Law; that He is man's only hope of salvation from sin, being the only mediator between God and man; that He was God manifest in the flesh; that He offered Himself a sacrifice unto death; that He was buried, that He rose again the third day for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He is now seated on the right hand of God the Father.
(Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 10:30; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6; Revelation 20:4-6, Hebrews 7:26, 27; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Hebrews 12:2) 

DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
I 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; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled, that 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 indwells, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
(John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8:11; John 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Romans 8:14, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26, 27) 

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH:
I believe that a Christian Church is a congregation of regenerated persons, baptized by immersion on a profession of faith in Christ; united in covenant for the observance of Christian ordinances, for worship, for instruction, for edification, and for the evangelization of the world; recognizing and accepting Christ as its Supreme Head, Lord and Lawgiver, and taking His Word as its only sufficient rule of faith and practice in all matters of conscience and religion; said Church being understood to be the pillar, ground, and propagator of the Truth. I believe 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. I believe that in all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
(Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13) 

DOCTRINE OF ATONEMENT: 
I believe that salvation is based solely by faith through grace in the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I believe that the only escape from eternal separation from God, which is eternal and unending torment and anguish in Hell and then the Lake of Fire forever, is by repenting of your sins, and  calling upon Jesus Christ to save you from your sins. I believe that the blood of Jesus is the cleansing agent that washes away our sins, and that it is also the sealing agent that gives us eternall life in heaven. I believe that this way of salvation is the only way, and that it has always been that way.
(Rom 5:1; Acts 16: 31; Jn 3:36; Jn 1:12; Eph 2:8,9; Tit 3:5; Lk 16:19-31; Rev 19: 11-15; Rom10: 13; Rom 5:8-9; 1 Jn 1:7;10:28-30; Jn 14:6; Gen 3:15) 

THE ORDINANCES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH:
  • Baptism: I believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local Church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful way our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour. I believe it symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ. Baptism has no merit in salvation, but is a step of obedience by the saved person. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 36-39; 10: 47, 48; 16:30-34; John 3:23; Matthew 3:6; Matthew 3:16; Romans 6:4, 5; Mark 16:16; Colossians 2:12)
  • The Lord's Supper: I  believe that the bread and fruit of the vine in the Lord's Supper are symbols of the body and blood of Christ and that the Supper should be observed as a remembrance of Christ until He comes. I  believe that in no sense is the Lord's Supper a sacrifice or continuation of the sacrifice of Christ or that there is any change in the nature of the elements during their administration. Observance of the Lord's Supper is for believers only and should be preceded by solemn self-examination. (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:42, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

DOCTRINE OF FALLEN ANGELS: 
I 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 an host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. I  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 behind the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness; that he is destined to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3, 4; Revelation 12:10; 1 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21, 22; 1 John 4:3; 1 John 2:22; Revelation 13:13, 14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11, 16, 20; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:1-3; 20:10; Matthew 25:41) 

THE ETERNAL STATE: 
I believe that the spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven; that their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards. (2 Corinthians 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15)  I believe that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately to Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, they shall be judged at the Great White Throne and cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment. (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Peter 1-9; Jude 6, 7; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8; Mark 9:43-48)