Post by setfree on Jul 29, 2006 21:43:57 GMT -5
THE SCRIPTURES. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD. Our God is one, but manifested in three parts - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Phil. 2:6).
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Without receiving our salvation through Jesus, we can have no relationship with God. (Rom. 5:14; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; I John 3:8; Gen. 1: 26; I. Timothy 2: 5).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8). We can have a personal relationship with God through salvation, God's free gift to man. It is not a result of what we do, but it is only available through God's unearned favor. By admitting we have sinned and believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and accepting Him as our Savior from our sins, we can spend eternity with God. It is through His blood sacrifice that we can have remission of our sins. We must trust in Jesus as our substitute sacrifice for our sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9 ; Romans 5:1 ; Romans 3:24)
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH. Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5).
WATER BAPTISM. Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers, only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39. The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to-wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen"
SANCTIFICATION. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return (Heb. 12:14; I Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil 3:12-14; I Cor. 1:30).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. The angels said to Jesus' disciples,". . . this same Jesus . . . shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes, ". . . the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. . ." (Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16, 17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION. The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting", used in describing the duration of the punishment of the danged in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).
THE GODHEAD. Our God is one, but manifested in three parts - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Phil. 2:6).
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Without receiving our salvation through Jesus, we can have no relationship with God. (Rom. 5:14; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; I John 3:8; Gen. 1: 26; I. Timothy 2: 5).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8). We can have a personal relationship with God through salvation, God's free gift to man. It is not a result of what we do, but it is only available through God's unearned favor. By admitting we have sinned and believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and accepting Him as our Savior from our sins, we can spend eternity with God. It is through His blood sacrifice that we can have remission of our sins. We must trust in Jesus as our substitute sacrifice for our sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9 ; Romans 5:1 ; Romans 3:24)
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH. Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5).
WATER BAPTISM. Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers, only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39. The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to-wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen"
SANCTIFICATION. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return (Heb. 12:14; I Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil 3:12-14; I Cor. 1:30).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. The angels said to Jesus' disciples,". . . this same Jesus . . . shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes, ". . . the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. . ." (Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16, 17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION. The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting", used in describing the duration of the punishment of the danged in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).