We believe that the Holy Bible was written by divinely inspired men and is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end and truth without any mixture of error in its content. Scripture reveals the principles by which God will judge us. Therefore, it is and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard for evaluating all human conduct, creeds and opinions.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. He is all powerful and all knowing. He is worthy of all possible honor, trust and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.

John 4:24; Psalms 147:5; 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelations 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13 Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Phillipians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5

We believe that humanity is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man transgressed the command of God, brought sin into the human race and fell from his original innocence. Therefore, all future generations inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Thus, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring people into His holy fellowship and enable them to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created every person in His own image and in that Christ died for them. Therefore, every human being possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.

The way of salvation of sinners is completely by grace through the mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fulfills and unifies three offices (Prophet, Priest and King). By the appointment of the Father, He freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His substitutionary death made a full atonement for our sin. Having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven. As such, He is qualified in every way to be a suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Savior.

Ephesians 2:5; Matthew 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; Acts 15:11; John 3:16; 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; 12:24; Phillipians 2:6-7; Hebrews 2:9, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 42:21; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5; Romans 3:21; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 20:28; Romans 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Hebrews 9:13-15; Hebrews 1:8, 3; 8:1; Colossians. 3:1-4; Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:18; 7:26; Psalm 89:19; Psalm 14

We believe justification is the great gospel blessing that Christ secures to those who believe in Him. Justification includes the pardon of sin, a right standing before God and the promise of eternal life founded on principles of righteousness. It is not given because of any works of righteousness we have done but only through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. By virtue of this faith, His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God. Justification immediately brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing we need for time and eternity.

John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8 Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:9; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Romans 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Romans 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:23; Phillipians 3:7-9; Romans 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12; Romans 5:1-3, 11; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 4:8

We believe the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a heartfelt, penitent and obedient faith. Preventing this salvation is every sinner’s inherent depravity and rejection of the gospel, a rejection that aggravates a sinner’s condemnation.

Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Luke 14:17; Romans 16:26; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matthew 23:37; Romans 9:32; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 13:46; John 3:19; Matthew 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:8

We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists of giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and the newness of life.

John 3:3, 6-7; Revelation 8:7-9; 21:27 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7; John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-11; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18

We believe repentance and faith are sacred duties as well as inseparable graces. They are produced in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, who convinces us of our guilt, danger, helplessness and the way of salvation by Christ. By these graces we turn to God with genuine sorrow, confession and a petition for mercy; at the same time, heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest and King; relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psalm 51 Romans 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Hebrews 4:14; Psalm 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12

We believe election is the eternal purpose of God according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners. Election is perfectly consistent with human free agency and includes all the means necessary to achieve God’s purpose. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, which is infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable. Election completely rules out boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God and the active imitation of His free

mercy. It encourages the greatest possible exercise of human responsibility. The election of individuals to life may be ascertained by its effects in everyone who truly believes the gospel. Election is the foundation of Christian assurance, and confirming our election deserves our greatest diligence.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14;

2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

We believe sanctification is the process by which we are made partakers of God’s holiness according to His purpose. Sanctification is a progressive work. It begins in regeneration and continues in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and by God’s appointed means. These means include the Word of God, prayer, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, Christian fellowship and the oversight of the visible church.

1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4 Proverbs 4:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 1:5-8; Philippians 3:12-16; 1 John 2:29; Romans 8:5; John 3:6; Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14 Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18; 4:30

We believe all genuine believers endure to the end. Their persevering obedience to Christ is the primary mark distinguishing them from superficial professors. A special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation.

John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18; 1 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matthew 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah 32:40; Psalms 121:3; 91:11-12; Phillipians 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Hebrews 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 4:4

We believe the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral governance. It is holy, just and good. Fallen human beings are unable to fulfill the precepts of the law, which the Scriptures attribute entirely to their love of sin. A chief purpose of the gospel is to deliver people from this unholy affection and to restore them through a mediator to a sincere obedience to the holy law.

Romans 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 3:20; 4:15; 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Galatians 3:21; Psalm 119; Romans 8:7-8; Joshua 24:19; Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44; Romans 8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 8:10; Jude 20-21; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 16:17-18

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 two ordinances of Christ, governed by His law and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. The only scriptural officers are elders (overseers or pastors) and deacons, whose qualifications are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. We likewise believe that the Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby the members of the church, following earnest self-examination, use bread and the cup in a sacred manner to memorialize the death of the Redeemer and His anticipated second coming. The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper belong to the gathered church, making the church visible on earth.

Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

We believe 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 points to the rest that awaits the people of God. It should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36;

John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians

2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.

We believe civil government exists by divine appointment for the benefit and good order of human society. Government officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed. The principle exception is for matters contrary to the scripture and will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 16:18; II Samuel 23:3; Ex. 18:23; Jeremiah 30:21; Matthew 22:46;Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Acts 5:29; Matthew 28; Daniel 3:15-18; Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:16; Psalms 72:11; 2; Romans 14:9-13

We believe there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those who are justified by faith in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His judgement. In contrast, all those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in His sight and under the curse. This distinction among people remains true from the point of death and forevermore.

Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16; 1:17; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:18, 22; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:17-18;1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; 9:23- 26; John 12:25-26; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Matthew 7:13-14

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. Likewise, children, from the moment

of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.