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OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
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WE BELIEVE in the verbal plenary inspiration
of the Scriptures. Both Old and New Testaments are the Word of God,
without error in the original writings, the complete revelation
of His will for the salvation of men, and the Divine and final authority
for all Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
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WE BELIEVE in one God, Creator of all things,
infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:1-9)
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WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is true God
and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born
of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins,
according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead,
ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God the Father,
He now is our High Priest and Advocate. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25;
Romans 3:20-24; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 4:14-16)
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WE BELIEVE that the ministry of the Holy
Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age,
to convict men, regenerate the sinner, indwell, guide, instruct
and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 3:3;
16:7-11; Titus 3:5)
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WE BELIEVE that man was created in the image
of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost, and only through
regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life
be obtained. (Romans 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:3-8)
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WE BELIEVE that the shed blood of Jesus Christ
and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and
salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ
are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God. (Romans
3:20-24; 8:6-17)
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WE BELIEVE that water baptism of believers
by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and
the Lord's supper are memorial ordinances to be o
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bserved by the
Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded
as means of salvation. Though believers' baptism by immersion is
taught by our church as an outward testimony to saving faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, we do welcome individuals into our membership
whose conviction, based on the Word of God, is for another mode
or method of believers' baptism or for infant baptism. (Matthew
28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
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WE BELIEVE that the true Church, the body
of Christ, is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith
in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians
1:1-3)
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WE BELIEVE that only those who are members
of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local
church. (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)
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WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Lord
and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right,
under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs in conformity
with the teachings of the New Testament. (Acts 15; Ephesians 1:22,23)
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WE BELIEVE in the personal and imminent return
of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this blessed hope has a vital
bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Acts
1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; 1 John 3:2,3)
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WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection of
the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with
the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious
punishment. (Matthew 25:44-46; John 5:28, 29; Revelation 20:15)
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WE BELIEVE in the personality of Satan. (Matthew
4:1-11; Revelation 20:10)
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