Fundamental Doctrines

1. INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
   We believe in the inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. It is plenarily and verbally inspired, that is, fully inspired or God- breathed even in its words, and therefore true from first to last, completely reliable, and without contradiction. These sixty-six books, being inspired by God in their original writings, and by His singular care and providence have been preserved through the ages. They are therefore the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian. In all controversies of the church and religion, the Bible is to be the supreme judge by which all these controversies are to be determined. All decrees of councils, opinions, and doctrines of men are to be examined in the light of the Word of God to ascertain whether they are founded upon the testimony of Scripture. The authority of the Holy Scriptures, which ought to be believed and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church but wholly upon God (Who is truth alone), the Author; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God. All other books, whether Book of Mormon, or any other claimed revelation or addition to the Scriptures, are not of divine inspiration and therefore are not part of the canon of the Scriptures and have no authority in the church of God. Matt. 5:18, Luke 24:27, Acts 17:11, I Thess. 2:13, II Tim. 3:16-17, II Peter 1:16-21
   
   
2. SINFULNESS OF MAN
   We believe that God created man, both male and female, in His own image and that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The whole duty of man is to fear God and to keep His commandments. Though man was created in a state of holiness and innocence, he willfully disobeyed God, and became totally depraved because of his transgression. By depravity we mean man’s complete lack of original righteousness and of holy affection toward God, and also the corruption of his moral nature and his bias toward evil. Depravity has produced a total spiritual inability in the sense that man cannot by his own volition change his character and life so as to make them conformable to the law of God, nor change his fundamental preference of self and sin to supreme love of God, nor change his fundamental preference of self and sin to supreme love of God. Depravity from its negative standpoint does not mean that every sinner is devoid of all qualities pleasing to men or that he commits every form of sin. However, it does mean that every sinner is totally destitute of that love to God which is the fundamental requirement of the law; that he is supremely given to a preference of himself to God; that he has an aversion to God which is active enmity to Him; that his every faculty is disordered and corrupted; that he has no thought, feeling, or deed of which God can approve in any degree; and that he has entered upon a line of constant progress in depravity from which he can in no wise turn away in his own strength. We further believe that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that all men are by birth and choice sinners and are under the just condemnation of God. Unless man repents of his sin and receives Christ as his only Lord and Saviour, then he shall be cast into the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death and eternal separation from God and will for all eternity suffer for his rebellion against God. Gen. 1:27, Psalms 51:5, Isa. 1:6, Jer. 9:5; 13:23, Luke 10:27, Rom. 3:23; 8:5-8, Eph. 4:17-19, Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8
   
   
3. DEITY OF CHRIST
   We believe the Lord Jesus Christ to be in every way very God, who was manifest in the flesh, the only Saviour of the world, especially those who believe. He, being very God has all the fullness, majesty, and glory of the Godhead dwelling in Him. Since He is God, He possesses all the divine attributes of God for He is the complete and true revelation of God. Christ, as the second person of the Trinity, is coequal with God the Father. He being God therefore is the subject of our faith and worship. He being very God is eternal and righteous in all of His ways and judgments. John 1:1-18; 5:18; 14:9, I Tim. 4:10
   
   
4. VIRGIN BIRTH
   We believe the eternal, only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, came by voluntary act to redeem men from the guilt and power of sin and was conceived in the virgin Mary’s womb by the Holy Ghost. Christ lived a holy life, without sin of any kind, and in all things He pleased the Father. Matt. 3:17, Luke 1:26-35, John 8:29; 10:17-18, Romans 8:3, I Peter 2:22 5.
   
   
5. VICARIOUS ATONEMENT
   We believe in the vicarious atonement of Christ for the sins of all mankind. That is, we believe that Christ suffered and died in our stead on the tree, and that His death made full and final payment for our sins. Christ’s vicarious atonement satisfies the justice of God as well as satisfies the demands of the law. By justice we mean that form of moral excellence which demands the righteous distribution of rewards and punishments which render it certain, under the government of God, that obedience will be rewarded and sin which is disobedience or transgression of the law are met entirely. Christ having lived a holy and sinless life and in all things pleasing the Father was the only One able to bear our sins in His body on the tree, and by His death and shedding of His precious blood made full payment for the sins of mankind. Furthermore, we believe that His death was once for all, never to be repeated, and that the bloodless sacrifice of the Mass is an unscriptural, superstitious act of idolatry. Rom. 1:32; 3:21-26, Heb. 10:10-14, I Peter 2:24
   
   
6. RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
   We believe that after Christ died He was buried and there remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day He arose from the dead, having the same body in which He suffered, with which He ascended into heaven and shall return in this same body to take the saints home to glory, later judging all the unconverted. By His resurrection God declared Him to be the only begotten Son of God, to have satisfied divine justice, to have vanquished death and him that has the power of death who is the Devil. He has further provided all aspects of salvation, as well as assured all who confess His name of the resurrection from the dead. He now sits on the right hand of God His Father, ever living to make intercession for all those who have been saved from sin and eternal punishment in hell by Him. By His resurrection and ascension Christ has become the only Head of the Church and the only Mediator between God and man. No Pope of Rome nor any priest can in any sense be the head, mediator, or vicar of God but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition that exalts himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God. John 20:20; 27-28, Acts 2:27, 31, Rom. 5:8-10, I Cor. 15:3-4, Phil 3:10-11, Col. 1:18, 20-22, II Thes. 2:3-12, I Tim. 2:5, Heb. 1:3; 2:14; 7:25; 8:1, Rev. 20:1-15
   
   
7. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
   We believe in the bodily, pre-tribulation, pre- millennial return of Jesus Christ. He will appear in the clouds before the tribulation to receive all the saints of God. Those saints who are living also will be caught up into the clouds and taken to heaven to be with Christ, who will return with Christ before the millennium. We believe the Bible speaks of this future and earthly millennial kingdom, with Christ as the Supreme Ruler and His rule will last for a literal one thousand years. I Thess. 1:10; 4:16 Rev. 3:10; 20:3-4
   
   

Other Doctrines

1. JUSTIFICATION
   We believe that the great gospel blessing, which Christ secures to such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life in 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 in His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. John 1:16 Acts 13:39 Rom 4:4-5; 5:1-2, 9
   
   
2. 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 at salvation; 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. Rom. 8:5 Phil. 2:12-13 I Thess. 4:3 I John 2:29
   
   
3. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
   We believe that such only are real believers who 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. John 2:19; 3:31 Rom. 8:28 Phil. 1:16
   
   
4. TRINITY
   We believe that there is but one true and living God, who exists as three divine Persons. They are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, and are all one God.  Isa. 43:12; 44:6, Jer. 10:10, Mat. 3:16-17; 28:19, II Cor. 13:14, I John 5:5-7 
   
   
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT
   We believe the Scriptures ascribe both deity and personality to God the Holy Spirit. His deity is proclaimed in that He was active in the creation. Divine attributes are ascribed to the Holy Spirit, as well as divine honor and worship. The co-ordinate rank in which He is placed with God the Father, along with the name of God given indirectly to Him, point to the fact of His deity. His personality is set forth in the fact that personal actions are ascribed to Him. His mission was distinctly different from both God the Father and God the Son. The fact that the scriptures say we can sin against the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit well shows His personality. Finally, the fact that the Scriptures say that the Holy Spirit according to His sovereign will gives spiritual gifts and fruits to the redeemed of God only, shows His personality. We further believe that the miraculous gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues and faith healing were stopped when the canon of Scripture was closed and that they are not for today, for they are not needed. We also refuse to accept the teaching of apostolic succession. Gen. 1:2, Matt. 28:19, John 14:26; 15:26, Acts 5:3, Rom. 8:26, Eph. 2:18, I Cor. 2:10-11, Heb. 3:7
   
   
6. THE LOCAL CHURCH
   We believe that the local church should be made up of born again believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by God's Word, and that its elected officers are to be pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.  We also believe that decisions of the local church should come from the majority vote of those who are voting members of that local church.  Matt. 18:17; 28:20, Acts 2:41-42 I Cor. 1:1 13; 11:2, I Tim. 3:1-16, Titus 1:1-16
   
   
7. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
   We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We believe that this demonstrates a solemn and beautiful picture of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the Body of Christ, by the sacred use of the bread and unfermented wine are to commemorate the dying love of Christ, and is to be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Both of the ordinances we practice in obedience to the Lord's commandment.  Matt. 28:19 John 3:22-23, Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39, Rom. 6:4, I Cor 11:26, 28
   
   
8. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
   We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of society; 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, who is the only Lord of the conscience and The Prince of the kings of the earth. Matt. 23:10, Acts 5:29, Rom 13:1-7
   
   
9. THE LORD’S DAY
   The first day of the week is the Lord’s day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.  We strongly encourage our members to rest from secular employment, and encourage only works of necessity and mercy. Ex. 20:3-6, Matt. 4:10; 12:1-3; 28:19, John 4:21, Acts 20:7, Col 3:16, I Cor 16:1-2, Col 3:16, I Tim. 4:13, Rev. 1:1
   
   
10. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
    There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those only who are justified by faith through the grace and blood 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 are under condemnation. Gen. 3:19, Matt. 25:32-46, Mark 9:45, Luke 23:43, Acts 13:36, Rom. 9:22-23, I Cor. 6:3; 15:51-52 II Cor 5:1, 6, 8, Phil. 1:23; 3:21, I Thess. 1:7-10; 4:17, Rev. 22:20