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- We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Holy Bible. The 66
books comprising the Old and New Testament canon were inerrant in the original
writings and thus constitute the believer's final authority for faith and
practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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We believe in the existence of one true and living God
(Deuteronomy 6:4). We also believe in the doctrine of the Trinity; that is,
within the unity of the Godhead there exists three persons—Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit—who in essence are co-equal and co-eternal, yet distinct though
harmonious works.
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We believe in God, the Father, commonly spoken of as
the first member of the Trinity. God is an infinite and perfect Spirit who
is the source and support of all things. He is perfect in perfections and
purposes. (See Genesis 17:1; Psalm 139:7, 11; Acts 15:18; Ephesians 1:11.)
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We believe in Jesus Christ, commonly spoken of as the
second member of the Trinity. He was and is the Eternal Son of God, possessing
both absolute deity and perfect humanity. He was born of the Virgin Mary,
lived a sinless life, and gave His life on Calvary as a sufficient sacrifice
for the sins of the whole world. He arose bodily from the grave, ascended
back into heaven, and is today acting as the believer's advocate and Great
High Priest. (See Luke 24:39; John 1:1, 15a; 9:6; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Timothy
2:6; 1 John 2:1.)
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We believe in the Holy Spirit. As the third member of
the Trinity, He is not just an influence but a person equal in essence to
the Father and Son. He is actively involved in the world, both in bringing
the lost to Christ for salvation and in performing many wonderful ministries
for the saints. He also gives gifts to believers and seeks to fill the obedient
Christian, giving him power for service. (See Matthew 28:19; John 3:5; 16:8;
I Corinthians 6:19; 12:7ff, 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18.)
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We believe that the universe and mankind are the results
of the direct creative act of God. God created the universe and that which
it contains in six consecutive days of 24 hours each. We reject all forms
of evolution, whether theistic or naturalistic. (See Genesis 1:1, 27; Colossians
1:16.)
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We believe in the existence of angels. Angels are spirit
beings created by God for the purpose of bringing Him glory and fulfilling
His purpose in the universe. Though more powerful than human begins, they
are not all-powerful. (See Psalm 103:20; 148:5; Hebrews 1:13-14.)
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We believe that within the body of angelic beings exists
a group which we refer to as fallen angels, headed by Satan himself. Satan,
also known as the devil, is a real person created by God as the angel Lucifer,
who, because of rebellion, fell from that lofty position. When he fell, he
took part of the angelic hosts with him. Today these demonic hosts serve Satan
just as the good angels serve God. Satan is in the business of opposing God
and God's people in any way possible. His eternal destiny has already been
determined in the lake of fire. (See Isaiah 14:12-14; I Peter 5:8; Revelation
12:7; 20:10.)
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We believe that man is a direct creation of God. Man,
who was created in the image and likeness of God in a state of sinlessness
or innocence, did by transgression fall from that lofty position; in so doing,
all of mankind are now sinners by nature and by choice. In the fall, mankind
incurred the just condemnation of a Holy God, resulting in both spiritual
and physical death. (See Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-19; 2:10-12,
23.)
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We believe in the salvation of sinners. The basis or
ground of our salvation is the finished work of Christ on Calvary, and the
avenue of our salvation is repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation does not come by what we can do but by what He has done. It is offered
freely to all. We are simply the recipients of His matchless grace. When we
receive Christ as our Savior, we are regenerated, justified, adopted, sanctified,
and shall some day be glorified. When we are genuinely saved, we can never
be finally lost because our destiny depends on His keeping power and not on
our own. (See John 3:16; Acts 3:19; 4:12; 20:21; Romans 5:1; 8:15, 30; 1 Corinthians
6;11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:6; 1 Timothy 4;10; Titus 3:5-7.)
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We believe in the sanctification of the believer. Sanctification
in the Bible has the idea of the believer's being set apart for God's service
and thus becoming more like his Master. Sanctification can be viewed in three
aspects. Positional sanctification occurs the moment a person is saved; he
dons the robes of Christ's righteousness. Practical sanctification is an ongoing
process whereby the believer becomes more and more conformed to the likeness
of God's Son. Perfect sanctification shall occur someday when we go to be
with the Lord (either through death or translation) and no longer have to
contend with the old nature because we shall become like He is. (See 1 Corinthians
1:2; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2.)
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We believe God has given spiritual gifts to Christians
to serve in and through the local church. Every believer has at least one
gift, and the use of gifts is always for the ultimate purpose of bringing
glory to God. Among the gifts listed in the Bible, we believe that the sign
gifts (miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy)
were temporary in nature and given to the church in its infant state before
the completion of the canon of Scripture. Therefore, we reject the modern
Charismatic Movement and the confusion it has brought. (See Romans 12:6-8;
I Corinthians 12:1-11; 13:8; Ephesians 4:11-12.)
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We believe in the church of Jesus Christ as God's institution
for this age to accomplish His purposes in the world. The church as the body
of Christ is comprised of all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture. Local
churches are visible expressions of the body of Christ meeting in a particular
time and place. Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Word of God is its
source of authority. The local church is to be comprised of baptized (by immersion)
believers who meet together for worship, fellowship, service, edification,
and evangelism. Local churches should be led by men serving in the biblical
offices of pastor and deacons. They are to observe the two ordinances of baptism
and the Lord's supper. (See Acts 1:5; 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 12:13;
Galatians 1:2; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:2, 8.)
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We believe that God has a plan and program for the end
of the age. The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the return of the
Lord Jesus. We believe His return will be accomplished in two phases. The
first phase, called the Rapture of the church, will be premillennial and is
an imminent event. After the Rapture, the seven-year tribulation will occur,
climaxed by the second phase of Christ's return, referred to as the Revelation.
Following this will be the millennial reign of Christ, culminating in the
Great White Throne Judgment of the lost. Next comes the eternal state. We
believe in the conscious, eternal punishment of the lost in hell and the blessed
eternal felicity of the saints in heaven. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation
3:10, 6-19; 19:11-16; 20:1-6, 11-15; 21:1-8.)
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We believe God has called believers to live a life characterized
by personal, ecclesiastical, and even familial separation. Personally we are
to refrain from all things that would defile us or bring shame to the name
of Christ, which we bear. We are called to live a life characterized by holiness
and purity, as examples to a watching world of what a believer is to be. Ecclesiastically,
we are called upon to refrain from cooperation or alliances with groups that
do not stand unashamedly for the truths revealed in the Word of God. Thus,
we cannot accept the position reflected in the Ecumenical Movement, Neo-Orthodoxy,
New Evangelicalism, or the various branches of the Charismatic Movement. We
believe cooperation should be limited to those of like precious faith. (See
Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 Thessalonians
5:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 John 2:15, 17; 2 John 9, 10.)
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