Beliefs


I.           Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is 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 should be tried.

II.          Of the True God

We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite intelligent Spirit, whose name is YAHWEH, 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 Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

III.     Of Creation

We believe that the universe and all that are in it were formed by the decree of God and is rightfully his own possession; that God created as a sovereign act of love, not to fulfill any deficiency in himself; that the act of creating was a triune act, decreed by the Father, executed by the Son and superintended by the Spirit; that the Son continually upholds the created world by His power; that the original creation was very good, without any shadow of evil; that this creation testifies of the eternal glory of God and convicts all men for their failure to worship; that the formation of things which are seen from the things which are unseen is the declaration of faith; that the days in Genesis 1 are literal days ; that on the sixth day, God created mankind in His image as the apple of his eye and the crowning glory of the created order; and that physical bodies and the material world are not inherently evil, but have been placed under the bondage of vanity in positive expectation that they will be entirely restored on the last day.


IV. Of Sexuality

We believe that gender is a good gift of God’s creation, whereby from the beginning He created them male and female, so they may manifest unique attributes of God by distinct roles, both being from the moment of conception wholly in His image; that marriage is designed to be a lifelong, covenant union of man and woman as one flesh; that marriage serves as a picture of Christ’s relationship with His church; and that the marriage bed is to be held in honor among all, with sexual intimacy and cohabitation reserved for the married as a unique manifestation of the oneness we experience with the Lord and our eternal home with Him.

V.                Of the Fall of Man

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

VI.             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 nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven; and 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.

VII.          Of 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 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.

VIII.     Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation in the new birth are made free to all by the gospel; that this salvation secures newness of life now and eternal life in the age to come; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

IX.                Of Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces without which no man may be saved, 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 Savior.

X.              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.

XI.            Of Perseverance of the 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 although they may stumble and wrestle with sin, grieving the Spirit and depriving themselves of temporal blessings, they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

XII.           Of a Gospel Church

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, 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 to Timothy and Titus; that God has restricted exercising church authority and teaching to men; that the church has no King but Christ, yet he administers His reign through the Holy Spirit in the membership and that no corporate or denominational body has any authority to bind them.

XIII.        Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a 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 Savior, 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 the fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

XIV.      Of the Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, commemorating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead; and it is to be kept sacred to worship by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for the rest that remains for the people of God.

XV. Of the Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that it ought to always respect the freedom of the conscience, not interfering with or accomplishing the spiritual work of the church, but rendering unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s; that its power is necessarily limited, being weak through the flesh, such that it can never accomplish the work of the gospel in affecting true righteousness; 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.

XVI.        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.

XVII.           Of the World to Come

We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; 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.
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