Church Covenant
We confess our faith in God, our heavenly Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and our willingness to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to study the Bible; to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute regularly as God has prospered us to the support of this ministry, the expenses of this church, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling, and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation.
This we do for the glory of God, for the good of our fellow men and for growth in Christian grace, seeking to do all things in faith, fellowship and service in the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Doctrinal Statement
Verbal Inspiration
We believe that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God”, by which we understand the whole of the book called The Bible; nor do we take the statement in the sense in which it is sometimes foolishly said that works of human genius are inspired, but in the sense that the Holy Ghost gave the very words of the Sacred Writings to holy men of old; and His divine inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all parts of those writings, historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical, and to the smallest word and inflection of a word, providing such word is found in the original manuscripts. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Mark 12:26,36; 13:11; Acts 1:16; 2:4)
The Trinity
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Hold Spirit; and that these Three are one God, having precisely that same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience. (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6)
God
We 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 (Exodus 20:2,3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; Psalm 147:5); that God is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30); that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons---the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious office in the great work of redemption ( Matthew 28:19; John 5:17; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6).
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35); that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead ( Romans 2:24,25; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24; Ephesians 1:7); that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills that ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1:9, 10; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1,2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, not as influence, but as a Divine Person, is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, is our abiding Comforter and Helper; that He never takes His departure from the weakest of Saints, but He is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not ourselves nor our experiences ( John 7:38,39; 14:16,17; 15:26; 16:13,14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; Philippians 3:3).
The Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell, and in falling, Satan drew after him a host of angels (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4). He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world (Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30). He is man’s great tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1,3; 1 Peter 5:8). He is the enemy of God and His Christ (Zechariah 1:3; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:25,37,39; Luke 22:3,4). Satan is the accuser of the saints (Revelation 12:9,10). Satan is the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21,22). Satan is the lord of the Anti-Christ (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7). He is the author of all the powers of darkness (Revelation 13:13,14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11). Satan is destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son (Revelation 19: 11,16,20; 12:7-9; 20:1-9). Satan is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in Hell, a place prepared for him and his angels (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41).
Man
We believe that man, originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate by eating the forbidden fruit and as the consequence of his disobedience, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that his moral nature was not only grievously injured by the fall, but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; John 5:40; 6:53; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 John 3:8).
Total Depravity
We believe that this spiritual death, or total corruption of human nature, was transmitted to the entire human race, the man Christ Jesus only, excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially and unchangeably bad, being enmity against God, and incapable by any educational process whatever, of subjection to His law (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; Romans 5:12-19; 8:6,7).
The New Birth
We believe that owing to this universal depravity and death in sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation, however great, no attainment of morality, however high, no culture, however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies; however useful, no baptism or other ordinance, however ministered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Ghost through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation (Isaiah 64:4; John 3:5,18; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
The Blood Atonement
We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and made a curse for us, dying in our room and stead; and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolution, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church, or of all the churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles, can add in the very least to the value of that precious blood, or to the merit of that finished work, wrought for us by Him who united His person true and proper divinity with perfect and sinless humanity (Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:23; Romans 5:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19).
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We believe that Christ, in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His obedience unto death, is received by faith alone, and that the moment we trust in Him as our Savior, we pass out of death into everlasting life, being justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He loved, and having His place and portion, as linked to Him, and one with Him forever (John 5:24; 17:23; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:4-10, 13; 1John 4:17; 5:11,12).
Believer’s Assurance
We believe that it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Him as their Savior; and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written Word, exciting within His children filial love, gratitude, and obedience (Luke 10:20; 12:32; Romans 8:16; 8:35-39; John 6:47; 10:28,29; 2Corinthians 5:1; 6:8; 2Timothy 1:12; 1John 5:13).
The Scriptures and Christ
We believe that all the Scriptures, from first to last, center about our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Person and Work, in His First and Second Coming; and, hence, that no chapter even of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to Him; and, moreover, that all the Scriptures from first to last, including every chapter even in the Old Testament, were designed for our practical instruction (Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2,3 18:23; Romans 15:4; 1Corinthians 10:11; 2Timothy 3:16,17).
The Church
We believe that the Church is composed of all who are united by the Holy Spirit in the risen and ascended Son of God; that by the same Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles; and thus being members one of another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace rising above all sectarian prejudices, and denominational bigotry, and loving one another with a pure heart fervently (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:32-47; Romans 12:5; 1Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:2-23; 4:3-10; Colossians 3:14,15).
Separation from the World
We believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and so to live in the Spirit, that we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh being still in us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be kept constantly in subjection to Christ, or it will surely manifest its presence to the dishonor of His name (Romans 13:13,14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 1Peter 1:14-16; 1John 3:5-9).
Resurrection and Eternal State
We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when the soul and the body re-united shall be associated with Him forever in the glory; but the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the Millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; 2Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Revelation 20:11-15).
The Second Coming
We believe that the world will not be converted during the present dispensation but is fast ripening for judgment, while there will be a fearful apostasy in the professing Christian body and hence, that the Lord Jesus will come in person to introduce the Millennial Age, when Israel shall be restored to their own land and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord; and that this personal and premillennial advent is the blessed hope set before us in the Gospel for which we should be constantly looking. We further believe that the rapture of the Church and the Tribulation will take place in God’s own timetable (Luke 12:35-40; 17:26-30; 18:8; Acts 15:14-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,8; 2Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:11-15; Romans 8:1; Daniel 9:24-27).
Baptism
We believe that the Ordinance of Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effects in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:22,23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 28:19,20).
Lord’s Supper
We believe in the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper in which all believers, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate the dying love of Christ, showing forth His broken body and shed blood on our behalf (until He comes) preceded always by solemn self-examination (Acts 2:42; 1Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 26:26-28).
