ARTICLE I. OF THE SCRIPTURES.
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written is the plenary and verbally-inspired
product of Spirit-controlled men, and, therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for
its matter. The Bible is the sixty-six books such as is contained in the bible.
We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried.
II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21
ARTICLE II. OF THE TRUE GOD.
A. We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker
and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and all other
perfections, 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 Spirit, equal in every
divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption.
Exodus 20: 2,3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7
B. We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine
as no other man can be, being truly God, existing from all eternity, co-equal with the
Father and the Holy Spirit; that He never ceased to be God even for a moment and that
His humiliation did not consist in His separation from His Deity; as man He was
miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, being true man, but
without sin.
John 1 : 1, 2; I John 5 : 20; Matthew 1 : 20; Luke 1 : 26-38
C. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with the Father and 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 of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of
the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent of the New Birth; that He
seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
John 14: 16,17; Matthew 28: 19; Hebrews 9: 14; John 14: 26; Luke 1: 35; Genesis
1: 1-3; John 16: 8-11; Acts 5: 30-32; John 3: 5,6; Ephesians 1: 13,14; Mark 1: 8; John 1:
33; Acts 11: 16; Luke 24: 49; Romans 8: 14, 16, 26, 27
2We believe that some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues,
interpretation of tongues, miraculous healing and apostleship were temporary. We
believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of baptism or
the filling of the Spirit, and that the final deliverance of the body form sickness or death
awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. Further, we believe that
tongues were a sign only for the childhood of the church and specifically for the Jew.
Acts 4: 8, 31; Romans 8: 23; I Cor. 13: 8-13; I Cor. 14: 22,23
ARTICLE III. OF THE DEVIL, OR SATAN
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the
authority of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to judgment of an eternal justice
in the lake of fire.
Matthew 4: 1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10
ARTICLE IV. OF CREATION.
We accept the Genesis account of creation, and believe that man and all other created
things came by direct creation of God in six twenty-four hour days and not by evolution.
Genesis, Chaps. 1 and 2; Colossians 1: 16,17; John 1:3
ARTICLE V. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence, but by
voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all
mankind are under condemnation, being conceived and born in sin, being sinners not
only by constraint, but of choice, and therefore under just condemnation, without defense
or excuse.
Genesis 3: 1-6, 24; Romans 5: 12, 19; Romans 1: 18, 32; 3: 10-18
ARTICLE VI. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus 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; Isaiah7:14; Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1: 14
(Articles of Faith Continued..)
3ARTICLE VII. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN.
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 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 by 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 sin
in His own body in 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 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11;
Phillipians 2: 7; Hebrews 2: 14; Isaiah 53: 4-7; Romans 3: 25;
I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24
ARTICLE VIII. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION.
We 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 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, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection
with the Holy Scriptures, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its
proper evidence appears in the Holy fruits of repentance and faith with newness of life.
John 3: 3, 6-8; II Cor. 5: 17; I John 5:1; Acts 16: 30-33; II Pet. 1:4
Romans 6: 23; Ephesians 2: 1, 8-9; II Cor. 5:19; Colossians 2:13
ARTICLE IX. OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
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 as well as embraces al 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 deserves the utmost diligence.
Ephesians 1; II Timothy 1: 8,9; Romans 8: 28-31; II Peter 1:2-11
(Articles of faith cont...)
4ARTICLE X. 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 gift of eternal life on
principals of righteousness imputed to and declared upon the believer; that it is
bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but
solely in mercy by grace through faith in redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed
to us and we are declared just before God.
Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Rom. 3:21-26; 5:1,9:8:1
ARTICLE XI. 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 throughout their earthly
love 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, with self-examination,
self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer; that it will be complete when Christ returns.
I Thess. 4:3-8; John 17: 17-19; Philippians 2:12,13; I John 3:2,3
ARTICLE XII. OF THE HARMONY OF GOD’S MORAL LAW AND THE GOSPEL OF
GRACE
We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral
government; that it is holy, just and good; that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to
fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from the love of sin; to deliver them from
which, and restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law by
the Holy Spirit’s working, is one great end of the Gospel
Romans 3:31; 7:12-14; 7:22-25; 8:2-4; I Timothy 1: 8-11
ARTICLE XIII. OF THE CHURCH
A. We believe that the Church which is His Body is a New Testament institution,
unknown by the prophets of the Old Testament; established by Christ, Who is its only
Head; revealed through the apostles; authorized and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; that
it is the mystical Body of Christ for His service, and the Bride of Christ for His glory. The
Church began with the New Testament saints on the day of Pentecost and will be
complete at the Coming of Christ in the Rapture.
(Articles XIII. of the Church cont...)
Matthew 16:18; Acts 1: 8; 2: 1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:
- 28; Ephesians 1: 22-23; 3: 21; 5: 23-33; I Thessalonians 4: 13-18
5B. We believe that the Church which is His Body is manifested through the local church, which is
a congregation of immersed believers, associated by 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; its officers are pastors and deacons, whose
qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Word. We believe that the true mission
of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have the opportunity.
We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference
of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only superintendent is Christ
through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with one another 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 polity, of
government, of discipline and of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Acts 1: 41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; I Timothy 3: 17;
Colossians 1: 18; Ephesians 5: 23-24; Acts 15: 13-18
ARTICLE XIV. OF THE ORDINANCES
We believe that there are only two ordinances of the church: Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper. We believe that Christian Baptism is the single immersion of a believer in the
Name of the Father , and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to show forth in 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.
We believe that Baptism is a pre-requisite to local church membership.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes,
and of our constant communion with Him; that only baptized believers should be
encouraged to partake, and that only after solemn self-examination.
Acts8: 36-39: Romans 6: 3-5; I Corinthians 11: 23-32; Acts 2: 41-42
ARTICLE XV. OF THE LORD’S DAY
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day, and is a Christian institution; it
is to be kept sacred to spiritual purposes by abstaining from all unnecessary secular labor
and recreations, for it commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the
dead; by the devout observance of all opportunities for growth in grace and knowledge of
the Lord, both private and public, and by preparation for the rest that remains for the
people of God.
Acts 20: 7; I Cor. 16: 2; II Tim. 2; 22; Hebrews 4: 3-11; 10:25
ARTICLE XVI. OF THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for the Lord
Jesus Christ.
6Phil. 1:6; John10: 27-30; 17:24; Romans 8: 35-39; John 5: 24
ARTICLE XVII. 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 Christ
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 hold 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, 23; I John 5:19;
Romans 7: 6; Proverbs 14: 32; Luke 6: 25; Matthew 25: 34-41;
John 3: 16-36; Mark 9: 43-48
ARTICLE XVIII. OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal, bodily, pre-Tribulational and pre-Millennial return of the Lord
Jesus Christ; that He will come before the Tribulation period, in the air, to take away His
Church (the Rapture) and that He will come after the Tribulation with His saints to judge
the living nations and to establish His Kingdom on the earth for the Millennium.
I Thess. 4: 13-18; Matthew 25: 31-46; Rev. 19: 11-21; 20: 1-7; II Thess. 2: 1-4
ARTICLE XIX. OF THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that the believers who have
slept in Christ shall be resurrected when He comes for His Church (the Rapture) and
shall be caught away with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air; and that the wicked
dead shall be resurrected after the Millennial Kingdom and will appear before the Great
White Throne for their final judgment.
John 5: 28-29; I Thess. 4: 13-16; Revelation 7: 9-17; 20: 11-15
ARTICLE XX. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and general
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 the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. Church
and state are separate.
Romans 13: 1-7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18: 21, 11; Acts 23: 5; Acts 4: 19; 5: 20;
Matthew 22:21; Daniel 3: 17,18; I Timothy 2: 1-4
7ARTICLE XXI. OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We believe that Christianity is the true religion of enlightenment and intelligence; that in
Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and that all sound
learning is therefore a part of our Christian heritage; that the new birth opens all human
faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge; that an adequate system of schools is
necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s Church; and that the cause of
education among New Testament churches is coordinate with the causes of evangelism,
missions, and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal
support of the churches.
Matthew 28: 20; Colossians 2:3
ARTICLE XXII. OF SOCIAL SERVICE
We believe that every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ
regnant in his own life and human society to oppose in the Spirit of Christ every form of
greed, selfishness, and vice; to provide for the orphaned, the aged, the helpless, and the
sick; to support everything that is good and righteous in industry, government and society
as a whole for the benefit of men so that all men may live spiritually and righteously
before God; and that all means and methods used in social service for the amelioration of
society and the establishment of righteousness among men must finally depend on the
regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Luke 10: 25-27; Exodus 22: 10, 14; Romans 12 9-21; I Thess. 5: 14,15
ARTICLE XXIII. OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in
outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of
homosexuality, lesbianism, transvestism, bisexuality, beastiality, incest, fornication,
adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (1). We believe that
God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender (2). We believe that the
only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (3).
(1) Gen. 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1;
6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4
(2) Gen. 1:26-28; Deut. 22:5
(3) Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23
ARTICLE XXIV OF ABORTION
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living
human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human
life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to
rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental
well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:1; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24;
49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
ARTICLES OF FAITH adopted April 9, 1970
Amended October 2007