Our Beliefs
We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in 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; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. (John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; John 3:8; I Peter 1:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9; Galatians 5:16-23)
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 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, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. (I Thessalonians 4:3; I John 2:29; Romans 8:5; Philippians 2:12, 13)
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 ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistle to Timothy and Titus. (Matthew 18:17; Matthew 28:20; I Corinthians 1:1-13; Acts 2:41, 42; Titus 1; I Corinthians 11:2; I Timothy 3)
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the 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; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Matthew 23:10)
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of Godhead there are three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost–equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Exodus 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:18)
We believe that the great Gospel blessing, which Christ secures to such as believe on Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life in principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. (John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1, 2; Romans 5:9; Romans 4:4, 5)
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; and at the same time we heartily receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and rely on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. (Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Romans 10:9, 10; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 2:37, 38)
We believe that such only are real believers as endure in righteousness; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 3:31; I John 2:19; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6)
We believe water baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the Church commemorate together the dying love of Christ through the sacred use of the bread and wine, should be entered into with solemn self-examination. (Acts 8:36-39; Acts 2:41, 42; John 3:22, 23; I Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:28)
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 our Lord Jesus 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 that this distinction holds among men both in and after death. (Malachi 3:18; Romans 1:17; I John 5:19; Luke 16:25)
We believe that man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3:6-24; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:19; Ezekiel 18:19, 20; Romans 1:20)
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, God’s purpose comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that grace is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; that grace 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 allegiance. (II Timothy 1:9, 10; II Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Exodus 33:18, 19; II Timothy 2:10; II Peter 1:10, 11)
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 their love of sin; and that the one great end of the Gospel is to deliver them from this inability and to restore them, through a Mediator, to unfeigned obedience to the holy law and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church. (Romans 3:31; Romans 7:12; Romans 8:7, 8; Romans 8:2-4)
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes by abstaining from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity; by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest which remaineth for all the people of God. (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Psalm 118:24; Hebrews 4:3-11; II Isaiah 58:13, 14)
We believe that the end of this age is approaching (I Peter 4:7). We believe in “That blessed hope . . .”, the personal, imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (Acts 24:15; Matthew 24:31-46; Revelation 22:11)
