What We Believe
Confession of Faith
1. 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 end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore, will remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
3. THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis. He was created in a state of holiness under the law of the maker, but through the temptation of Satan he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness whereby his posterity inherited a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, or under condemnation, and as soon as they were capable of moral action, became actual transgressors.
5. JUSTIFICATION
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ. It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other needed blessing.
7. REGENERATION
Regeneration of the new birth is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit whereby we become partakers of the divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God.
9. GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. It encourages the use of means in the highest degree.
11. PERSEVERANCE
All real believers endure to the end. Their continuance in well-doing is the mark which distinguishes them from mere professors. A special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
11. PERSEVERANCE
All real believers endure to the end. Their continuance in well-doing is the mark which distinguishes them from mere professors. A special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
13. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. This act is a symbol of our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. If you are a follower of Christ, then we invite you to the observance of the Lord’s Supper in which the participants, by the use of bread and wine, commemorate the dying love of Christ.
15. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and wicked. Those only who are justified through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit are truly righteous in His sight. Those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and are under condemnation. This distinction between the righteous and the wicked holds in and after death and will be made manifest at the judgment when final and everlasting awards are made to all men.
17. THE RETURN OF THE LORD
The New Testament teaches in many places the visible and personal return of Jesus to this earth. The time of His coming is not revealed, but we take the Pre-tribulation and Pre-millennial view. It is the duty of all believers to live in readiness for His coming and by diligence in good works to make manifest to all men the reality and power of this hope of Christ.
19. WAR AND PEACE
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ, they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the spirit is the pure gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the practical application of His law of love.
21. COOPERATION
Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over each other or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Individual members of New Testament churches (believers and followers of Jesus Christ) should cooperate with each other and the churches themselves should cooperate with each other in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent program for the extension of Christ’s kingdom. Christian unit in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. It is permissible and desired as between the various groups of Christian denominations when the end to be attained is itself justified and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His word as revealed in the New Testament.
23. STEWARDSHIP
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, all that we have and are, we owe to Him. We have a spiritual obligation to the whole world; a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in our possessions. We are, therefore, under obligation to serve Him with these and are entrusted to use them for the glory of God and helping others. Christians should cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally contribute of their means to advance the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
25. MARRIAGE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY
Marriage is a biblical institution established by God as clearly described in the scriptures. This Church recognizes that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Accordingly, this Church, its pastors, staff and members will not participate in same sex unions or same sex marriages, nor shall its property or resources be used for such purposes. The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography.
2. GOD
There is one and only one living and true God, and He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being; the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe; infinite in holiness and all other perfections; revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being.
4. THE WAY OF SALVATION
The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatory office of the Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary and took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by His death. Being risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections. He is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior. His name is Jesus Christ.
6. THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
8. REPENTANCE AND FAITH
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 Savior.
10. SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is the process by which the regenerate gradually attains to more and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. It continues through the earthly life, and is accomplished by the use of all the ordinary means of grace and particularly by the Word of God.
12. A GOSPEL CHURCH
A church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. In scriptural offices are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons.
12. A GOSPEL CHURCH
A church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. In scriptural offices are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons.
14. THE LORD’S DAY
The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion.
16. THE RESURRECTION
A church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. In scriptural offices are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons.
18. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His word or not contained in it. Church and State should be separate. The state owes to the Church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom, no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The Church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies that the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
20. EDUCATION
Christianity is the religion of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. An adequate system of schools is necessary to complete Spiritual programs of Christ’s people. The cause of missions is general benevolence and should receive along with these the liberal support of the church.
22. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ, they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the spirit is the pure gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the practical application of His law of love.
24. THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God is the reign of God in the heart and life of the individual in every human relationship and in every form and institution of organized human society. The chief means for promoting the Kingdom of God on earth are preaching the gospel of Christ, and teaching the principles of righteousness contained therein. The Kingdom of God will be complete when every thought and will of man shall be brought into captivity to the will of Christ. And it is the duty of all Christ’s people to pray and labor continually that His kingdom may come and His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.