The Bible
We believe in the Holy Bible, 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, as the inspired Word of God and the sole infallible rule of faith for the Church. It is without any error in the original manuscripts and is the all sufficient authority in matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1; Lk. 24:27; 2 Pet. 1:19-20, 2:19-21.
The Trinity
We believe in one God that has eternally existed from eternity past to eternity future in one essence and three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity; invisible, unchanging, having all goodness and sufficiency in Himself to whom belongs all praise, glory, and the allegiance of all created.
Exod. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12; Mal. 3:6; Jhn. 5:26; Rom. 11:36; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Cor. 8:6.
The Father
We believe that God the Father, not begotten or proceeding, within Himself is fully God and is the source of all things.
Exod. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Jhn. 14:11; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 1:3.
The Son
We believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father, who was in the beginning. He created all things, and is fully God and fully man: born of a Virgin, suffered and died on the cross for the propitiation of sin, was resurrected on the third day having conquered death and the grave, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is the only mediator between man and God.
Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18–23; Lk. 1:26–38, 23:26–43, 24:1–6, 24:50–53; Jhn. 1:14, 14:11; 1 Cor. 8:6, 15:3–6; 1 Tim. 2:5.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from Father and Son, and is fully God, who must not be blasphemed, convicts the world of sin, seals the saints, regenerates the hearts of the elect, teaches and guides into all truth, and whom is only received by the believer.
Jhn. 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 14; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 Jhn. 2:20, 27.
Man
We believe man was created in the image of God. God breathed life into their nostrils. Therefore, the life of every human is sanctified by God and shall not be infringed upon from conception until its God-given end. Man was created upright and in perfect relationship with God. Man transgressed the law of God and in doing so brought death into the world. Humanity fell into condemnation. The effect of this fall is that man lost the ability to know himself, have true relations with others, and was separated from God.
Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7; Deut. 32:39; Exod. 20:13; Psa. 139:13; Eccl. 7:29.
Salvation
We believe the only method for man to be renewed to the state of right relationship with God is by new birth. This new birth is brought about by the effective call of the Father, the affective atonement of the Son, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. These are the free gift of God and received through faith so that no man may boast of his own works.
Jhn. 3:3, 6:44; Rom. 10:5–13; Eph. 1:13, 2,8-9.
Marriage
We believe that God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman as the sole means for the practice of sexual activity. All other practice of sexuality outside of the ordained construct of heterosexual monogamous marriage is biblically defined as sexual immorality. Divorce is only permitted by God when the marriage covenant vows have been violated by sexual infidelity. Yet, even in cases of infidelity, God prefers reconciliation because it is consistent with His reconciliatory nature.
Gen. 2:24; Exod. 20:14; Lev. 18:1–30; Deut. 22:22; Ezek. 22:11; Matt. 5:27–30; 19:8; Heb. 13:4.
The Church
We believe in one invisible holy catholic [universal] Church, having been established by Christ the Son Himself, being His chosen bride, and comprised of local autonomous visible bodies. Christ, being sole head and Lord of the Church, has inspired prophets and apostles to lay the foundation, which is none other than Christ Himself, as revealed in the scriptures.
Matt. 16:18, 28:18-20; Heb. 12:23; Col.1:18; Eph. 1:10, 22, 23, 4:11, 12, 5:23, 27, 32; 2 Thess.2:2-9.
Ordinances / Sacraments
God instituted two ordinances, or sacraments, not for salvation, but for the unity of the church, as ordinary means of grace, which are of primary importance. First, is the ordinance/sacrament of believer’s baptism, by immersion, as an outward sign of inward confession, and which was commissioned by Christ Himself. Second, but of no less importance, the ordinance/sacrament of holy communion, in which the broken bread and fruit of the vine are shared in remembrance of the sacrifice for sin. The holy communion is, for the true believer, a physical action by which the believers are truly nourished by Christ Himself. That is to say that, while there is a physical portion to the ordinance/sacrament, there is simultaneously a mystery in which Christ is truly edifying the spirit of the person partaking in the bread and fruit of the vine so as to prepare the partaker for all duties He has called them unto.
In no way is the physical substance of the bread and fruit of the vine changed into the actual body or blood of Christ (known as transubstantiation). However, when the believer takes the cup and the bread in a worthy manner, they are indeed spiritually being nourished by Christ. To quote the Westminster Confession of Faith, it is done in such a way that the, “body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.”[1]
1 Cor. 11:23–26; Heb. 10:11–12, 14, 18; Jhn. 6:22–59.
Second Advent and Final Judgement
We believe in the imminent bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, to claim His rightful lordship over the earth, judge the living and the dead, and establish a government that will know no end.
Ecc. 12:14; Matt. 12:36, 25:32-46; Jhn. 5:22, 27; Acts 17:31; Rom. 14:10, 12; 1 Cor. 6:3; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 6.
Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead: to everlasting honor for those who have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life by grace through faith, and to everlasting dishonor, which is the just due of every man, for those who have no name in the Lambs Book of Life.
Lk. 16:23, 24, 23:43; Jhn. 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; 2 Cor.5:1, 6,8; Phil.1:23, 3:21; Heb. 12:23; 1 Pet. 3:19.
Referenced/Affirmed Documents
- “1689 London Baptist Confession” (http://www.arbca.com/1689-confession)
- “The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel” (https://statementonsocialjustice.com/)
- “The Nashville Statement” (https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/)
- many articles in the “Westminster Confession of Faith”
Citation Foot Notes
[1]. R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2448.