Articles of Faith

1We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and it is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; 2that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, 3and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; 4that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; 5and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, 6and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

Scriptures: 1II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:21; 2II Timothy 3:15, I Thessalonians 2:13, I Peter 1:9-12; 3Proverbs 30:5-6, II Peter 1:20; 4Romans 2:12, Romans 2:16, John 12:48; 5Philippians 3:16, Matthew 24:35, Amos 3:3; 6I John 4:1

1We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, 2an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, 3the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; 4inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; 5that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine perfection, 6and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Scriptures: 1Isaiah 45:5, Deuteronomy 4:35, Jeremiah 10:10, I Corinthians 8:4-6; 2Psalm 147:5, John 4:24, Psalms 83:18; 3Romans 1:20, Hebrews 3:4; 4Exodus15:11, Isaiah 6:3, I Peter1:15-16, Revelation 4:6-8, Mark12:30, Revelation 4:11, Matthew10:37, Jeremiah 2:12-13; 5Matthew 28:19, I John 5:7; 6I Corinthians12:4-6, John10:30, Philippians 2:5-6, John 5:17-18, John 15:26, Acts 5:3-4, I Corinthians 2:10-11, Ephesians 2:18, Revelation 1:4-5, II Corinthians 13:14

1We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, 2but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; 3in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; 4being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; 5and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

Scriptures: 1Genesis 1:27, Genesis 1:31, Ecclesiastes 7:29, Acts 17:26-29, Genesis 2:16-17, Galatians 3:10, Romans 3:19; 2Genesis 3:6-24; 3Romans 5:12, Romans 5:15-19, Galatians 3:22, Ezekiel 18:19-20; 4Psalms 51:5, Romans 8:7, Isaiah 53:6, Genesis 6:12, Romans 3:9-18, Ephesians 2:1-3, Galatians 3:10; 5Romans 1:18-32, Romans 2:1-16, Romans.1:20

1We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; 2who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; 3honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; 4that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; 5and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Saviour.

Scriptures: 1Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 18:11, Acts 15:11, Hebrews 12:24;

2 I John 4:10, John 3:16, John 1:1-14, Hebrews 4:14, Philippians 2:5-7, II Corinthians 5:21, Psalms 89:19; 3Isaiah 42:21, Galatians 4:4-5, Philippians 2:8, Romans 3:21, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 20:28, Hebrews 2:9&14; 4Romans 4:25, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 1:3, I Corinthians 15:3-4; 5Hebrews 7:25-26, Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 2:18, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:8, Hebrews 9:13-15

1We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; 2that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; 3that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; 4by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; 5that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

Scriptures: 1Acts 13:39, Isaiah 53:11-12; 2Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:9, Zechariah 13:1, Matthew 9:6, Acts 10:43, Romans 5:17, I John 2:25, Romans 6:23; 3Titus 3:5-7, Romans 4:4-5, Romans 3:24-26, John 1:16; 4Romans 5:21, Philippians 3:7-9, Romans 5:19, Romans 4:23-25, Romans 8:1; 5Romans 4:4-5, Romans 5:11, I Corinthians 1:30-31, Matthew 6:33

1We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; 2that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial penitent, and obedient faith; 3and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; 4which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

Scriptures: 1Isaiah 55:1, Revelations 22:17; 2Romans 16:25-26, Mark 1:15, Romans 1:15-17, Luke 14:17; 3John 5:39-40, Romans 9:30-32, Matthew 23:37, Proverbs 1:24, Acts 13:46; 4John 3:19, Matthew 11:20, II Thessalonians 1:7-8

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 it’s proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith and newness of life.

Scriptures:  John 3:3; John 3:6-7; I Corinthians 1:14; Revelations 8:7-9; Revelations 21:27; II Corinthians 5: 17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30-6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 5:5; I John 4:7; John 3:8; John 1:13; James 1:16-18; I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13; I Peter 1:22-25; I John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20¬24; Colossians 3:9-11; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:15-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; Matthew 7:20; I John 5:4 & 18

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 on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Scriptures: Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; I John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 16:30¬31; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; II Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psalms 51; Romans 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 4:14; Psalms 2-6: Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 8:5; II Timothy 1 :12

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 effects in all who truly believe the gospel, that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and desires the utmost diligence.

Scriptures: II Timothy 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-14; I Peter 1:1-2; Romans 11:5-6; John 15:16; I John 4:19; Hosea 12:9; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matthew 20:16; Acts 15:14; Exodus 33:19; II Timothy 1:9; Romans 11:32-36; I Corinthians 4:7; I Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans 3:27: Romans 4:16; Colossians 3:12; I Corinthians 3:5-7; I Corinthians 15:10; I Peter 5:10; Acts 1:24; I Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Ephesians 1:16; I Thessalonians 2: 12; I Timothy 2:10; I Corinthians 9:22; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; II Peter I: 10; I Thessalonians 1:4-10; Isaiah 42:16; Romans 11:29; II Peter 1:10-11; Philippians 3:12; Hebrews 6:11

1We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; 2that it is a progressive work; 3that it is begun in regeneration; 4and 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.

Scriptures: 1II Corinthians 7:1, II Corinthians 13:9, Ephesians 1:4, I Thessalonians 4:3-4, I Thessalonians 5:23-24, I Peter 1:14-16; 2Proverbs 4:18, II Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-16, Heb 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; 3Romans 8:5, Philippians 1:6, I John 2:29; 4Matthew 26:41, Luke 9:23, Luke 11:34-36, II Corinthians 3:18, II Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians 4:11-12, Ephesians 6:17-18, Philippians 1:9-11, Philippians 2:12-13; I Thessalonians 4:3-4, I Peter 2:2, II Peter 3:18

1We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; 2that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; 3that a special providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Scriptures: 1Job 17:9, John 5:24, John 8:31, Philippians 1:6, I Peter 1:22-23; 2John 6:35-40, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:1, I Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 4:30, I John 2:19, I John 2:27-29, I John 4:4; 2John 6:35-40, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:1, I Corinthians 1:4-8, Ephesians 4:30, I John 2:19, I John 2:27-29, I John 4:4; 3Psalms 121:3, Jeremiah 32:40, Lamentations 3:22-23, Matthew 6:30-33, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 8:28, Philippians 2:12-13, Hebrews1:13-14, Hebrews 13:5, I Peter 1:3-6, Jude 24-25

1We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; 2that it is holy, just, and good; 3and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from their love of sin; 4to 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.

Scriptures: 1Matthew 5:17-18, Luke 16:17, Romans 3:19-20; 2Psalms 119:137-142, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:12,14,22, Galatians 3:21; 3Joshua 24:19, Jeremiah 13:23, Romans 8:7-8; 4John 6:44, Romans 3:31, Romans 8:2-4, Romans 10:4, II Corinthians 5:18-21, I Timothy 1:5, Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 12:14

1We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; 2observing the ordinances of Christ; 3governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word; 4that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistle to Timothy and Titus.

Scriptures: 1I Corinthians 1:1-13, Matthew 18:17, Acts 5:11, Acts 8:1, Acts 11:22, I Corinthians 4:17, I Corinthians 14:23, III John 9, I Timothy 3:5, II Corinthians 8:5, Acts 2:47, I Corinthians 5:12-13, I Corinthians 12:14; 2Acts 2:41-42, I Corinthians 11:2, I Corinthians 11:23-34, Matthew 28:20;

3II Thessalonians 3:6, Romans 16:17-20, Matthew 18:15-20, I Corinthians 5:5-13, II Corinthians 2:5-8, John 14:15, John 15:12, I John 4:21, John 14:21, I Thessalonians 4:2-12, II John 6, Galatians  6:2, Ephesians 4:7, I Corinthians 14:12, Philippians 1:27; 4Philippians 1:1, Acts 14:23, Acts 15:22, I Timothy 3, Titus 1, Acts 6

1We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name or the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; 2to 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; 3that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation; 4and to the Lords Supper in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Scriptures: 1Acts 8:36-39, Matthew 3:5-6, John 3:22-23, John 4:1-2, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 16:32-34, Acts 18:8, Acts 10:47, Galatians 3:26-28; 2Colossians 2:12, I Peter 3:20-21, Acts 22:16; 3Acts 2:41-42, Acts 8:12-13, Acts 9:1-31; 4Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, I Corinthians 11:17-30, I Corinthians 5:1-8, I Corinthians 10:3-32, John 6:26-71

1We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day or Christian Sabbath; 2and it is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations, by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; 3and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.

Scriptures: 1Acts 20:7, Genesis 2:2-3, John 20:19, I Corinthians 16:1-2; 2Colossians 2:16-17, Mark 2:27, Exodus 20:8, Revelation 1:10, Isaiah 58:13-14, Isaiah 56:2-8, Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 11:26, Acts 13:44, Leviticus 19:30, Luke 4:16, Acts 17:2-3, Psalm 26:8; 3Hebrews 4:3-11

1We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; 2and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; 3except 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.

Scriptures: 1Romans 13:1-7, Deuteronomy 16:18, II Samuel 23:3, Exodus 18:19-23, Jeremiah 30:21, Matthew 22:21, Titus 3:1, I Peter 2:13; 2I Timothy 2:1-8; 3Acts 5:29, Matthew 10:28, Daniel 3:15-18, Daniel 6:7-10, Acts 4:18-20, Matthew 23:10, Romans 14:4, Revelation 19:16, Psalm 72:11, Psalm 2, Romans 14:9-13

1We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; 2that 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; 3while 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.

Scriptures: 1Malachi 3:18, Proverbs 12:26, Isaiah 5:20, Genesis 18:23, Jeremiah 15:19, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 6:16, Ecclesiastes 3:17; 2Romans 1:17, Romans 7:6, I John 2:29, I John 3:7, Romans 6:18-22, I Corinthians 11:32, Proverbs 11:31, I Peter 4:17-18, I John 5:19; 3Galatians 3:10, John 3:36, Isaiah 57:21, Psalm 10:4, Isaiah 55:6-7, Proverbs 14:32, Luke 16:19-31, John 8:21-24, John 12:25-26

1We believe that the end of this world is approaching; 2that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to the final retribution; 3that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; 4and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.

Scriptures: 1I Peter 4:7, I Corinthians 7:29-31, Hebrews 1:10-12, Matthew 24:35, I John 2:17, Matthew 28:20, Matthew 13:39-40, II Peter 3:3-13; 2Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7, Hebrews 9:28, Acts 3:21, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:30-31, I John 2:28; 3I Thessalonians 5:1-11, Acts 4:15, I Corinthians 15:12-58, Luke 14:14, Daniel 12:2, John 5:28-29, John 6:40, John 11:25-26, Acts 10:42, Matthew 13:49, Matthew 13:37-43, Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 22:11;4Mark 9:43-48, II Peter 2:9, Jude 7, Philippians 3:19, Romans 6:22, II Corinthians 5:10-11, John 4:36, Romans 3:5-6, II Thessalonians 1:6-12, Hebrews 6:1-2, I Corinthians 4:5, Acts 17:31, Romans 2:2-16, I John 4:17

1We believe that marriage is a divinely established union. That it is defined in the Holy Scriptures as being between one natural born man and one natural born woman. 2Marriage is the foundational relationship of the natural family. The Scriptures teach that it was instituted to combat loneliness through companionship, to prevent sexual immorality and to populate the earth. 3That it is for the mutual benefit of the man and the woman and is intended to give glory to God. 4We believe that it is a lifelong union. 5That the ultimate purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship that Christ has with His bride, the church and to pervert this relationship is to distort the gospel message.

Scriptures: 1Genesis 2:23-24, Mark 10:6-8; 2Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18 & 21-22, Psalms 127:3-5, I Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4; 3Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Ephesians 5:28-29, Revelation 4:11; 4Matthew 19:6-8, Romans 7:2-3, I Corinthians 7:39; 5Ephesians 5:22-32

1We believe that mankind was made in the image and likeness of God and that human life is sacred and holy. 2In the creation, mankind was given dominion and priority over the animal kingdom. 3Human life is highly valued by God and should therefore be protected in every stage. 4We believe that life begins at conception and ends at a time appointed by God. 5We believe that mankind was created with the purpose of glorifying God and that innocent human life should not be devalued or destroyed. In every stage it should be protected and nurtured to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally created.

Scriptures: 1Genesis 1:27, Genesis 9:5-6; 2Genesis 1:28-29, Genesis 2:19; 3Exodus 21:22-25, Psalms 106:37-40, Matthew 10:29-31, Matthew 12:11-12. John 3:16; 4Job 14:5, Psalms 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 17:26;

5Deuteronomy 27:25, Proverbs 6:16-17, John 9:1-3, I Corinthians 6:19-20, Revelation 4:11