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I believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-20; Isaiah 8:20; John 17:17. (Explanatory)
I believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, 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 God head there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 15:26; Philippians 2:5-6; Acts 5:3-4.
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 righteousness, and judgment; 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 seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. Acts 5:3; John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Romans 8:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:26-27.
I believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors, but that through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a 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 back of the present apostasy; the lord of the anti-christ, and the author of all powers of darkness -- destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God's 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; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Revelation 12:10; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; 1 John 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41.
I believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Romans 1:20; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24.
I believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice; and therefore, under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 3:10-19; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32; Romans 1:20; Romans 1:28; Galatians 3:22.
I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4.
I believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the sole mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example of His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior. Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 2:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:12-15; Hebrews 7:25.
I believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8; John 1:12; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9.
I believe that the great gospel blessing which Jesus Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift 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, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:1; Titus 3:5-7.
I believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and 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 and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalm 51; Isaiah 55:6; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-10.
I believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of immersed believers associated by a covenant of 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 officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. I believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second to build up the church; Third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. I do not believe in the reversal of this order. I hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.
Baptism
Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41-42 The Lord's Supper
1 Corinthians 11:23-28
I believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6; John 10:28; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1
I believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such as only through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; 1 John 5:19; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matthew 25:34-46; John 8:21
I believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of conscience , and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. Romans 13:1-7; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:19-21; Acts 5:29; Acts 4:19; Daniel 3:17-18; Philippians 2:10-11; Psalm 72:11.
I believe in and accept the Sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. The Bodily Resurrection
The Ascension
The High Priesthood
The Second Coming Before the Tribulation
The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead
The Change of the Living in Christ
The Throne of David
The Millennial Reign
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