Article I
Inspiration of Scripture
Holy men of God wrote the scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,
II Pet. 1:21. The Bible, as originally written, is perfect and completely
inspired and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, II Tim 3:16,17:James 1:17
Article II
Triune God
There is only one eternal God, Deut. 6:4: Isa. 45:5. The Father is a Spirit
never seen by men, John 1:18: John 4:24, Jesus Christ, the Son, is also eternal.
He was sent to earth to be the Lamb of God, to die for the sins of the whole
world and was raised on the third day. He then ascended to the right hand
of God as High Priest over the House of God, Matt. 16:21; Mark 16:19; John
1:29; Heb 3:1; 7:16; 10:21. The Holy Spirit represents the Father and the
Son to man, convicting of sin, and is a special Comforter to the church, to
dwell in her and to teach her the truths of God, Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17;
15:26; 16:7-15
Article III
Satan
Satan is and has been a real and active force opposing God and man in every
age. Isa. 14:12-13, Mat. 4:1; I Pet. 5:8 He continues to influence the wicked
and to tempt the righteous in these times. He faces a sentence of 1000 years
in the bottomless pit followed by eternity in a lake of fire Rev. 20:2,3,10.
He will give his power to the soon coming Man of Sin, Rev 13:4.
Article IV
Original Sin
Adam disobeyed God and became dead in sin, Gen. 2:17, 3:6. All men are descendants
of him and are also dead in sin, Rom 5:15-19; Eph 2:1-3
Article V
Salvation by Grace
Sinners cannot be saved by any work of their own. Salvation of the depraved
sinner is only by grace through faith, Eph. 2:8-9. The gospel of Christ's
death, burial, and resurrection is the only power to change sinners and give
them life, John 10:10; Rom. 1:16. Jesus laid down His life, giving His precious
blood for the propitiation of the sins of the whole world (1Pet. 1:19, 1 Jn.
2:2). Jesus is the Lamb of God and His shed blood is the only cleansing agent
able to wash and take away the sins of all men (Jn. 1:29, 1 Cor. 5:7, Rev.
1:5). The blood is applied the very first moment a lost sinner repents toward
God and is saved by grace through faith (Ro. 3:25, Eph. 2:8). This salvation
occurs before baptism and church membership, Act 8:36,38. At the moment of
faith in Christ as their Saviour, they are born of His Spirit, John 3:5-8.
This birth of His seed remains in them and it cannot sin, 1 John 3:9. The
Holy Spirit then witnesses with their new spirit that they are the children
of God, Rom 8:16. This salvation cannot be lost, 1 Cor. 3:15. No saved person
can or ever will go to hell or the Lake of Fire, Rev. 20:15. God would have
all to be saved, 1 Tim 2:4. Jesus invites all to come unto Him, Matt, 11:28.
All who remain in their condemned state do so because they will not believe,
John 5:40.
Article VI
Great Commission
The gospel of Christ is to be preached to every person until the end, Mark
16:15. The gospel is the power by which God works all good things toward man,
Rom. 1:16. Because of the gospel, we obtain salvation, the keeping of our
life, the services of God in truth, Phil 1:27; the revealing of mysteries,
Eph 6:19; and a partaking of the glory and kingdom of Christ, Matt 4:23. Thus,
the gospel is the good news from God concerning how we can be brought back
into wholeness and fellowship with Him, starting with faith and ending with
faith, all by His grace.
Article VII
Church Ordinances
All believers are to be baptized and added to the church, Acts 2:41. Baptism,
being a burial, is therefore only by complete immersion, Rom 6:4. The authority
of baptism is by Christ through His church, Matt 28:18-19. The Church is a
body of baptized believers living faithfully unto Christ. The church's ordained
offices are pastors and deacons, Acts 6:1-7; I Tim 3:13. The ordinances of
the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper, Matt 26: 26-27; 28:19 Baptism
is required for proper service, as a symbol of purification of the flesh and
the hope of the future resurrection, Rom 6:1-4. The Lord's Supper is restricted
to the members of that local church and is a confirmation of our relationship
to Him in the New Covenant, Matt 26:26-29; Luke 22:20. Baptism and the Lord's
Supper present a complete picture of the gospel; the death, burial and resurrection
of both Christ and His people.
Article VIII
Church Origin and Perpetuity
The church is built by Jesus and began during His personal ministry on earth,
Mat 16:18. Jesus was and is the only person ever having the authority to start
the church. He is the rock and only foundation on which the church is built.
I Cor 3:11. His churches are local and visible and in no sense universal or
invisible, Gal 1:2; Rev 1:4. Not all saved are in the church. Not all assemblies
claiming to be His qualify as scriptural churches. True churches may lose
their identity as His, Rev 2:5; 3:16. False churches cannot progressively
improve to become His. The true church has never been out of existence. It
has continued from the day Jesus began building and will continue until He
returns, Matt 16:18 28:20; Eph 3:21 This continuance has been by one church
separating members from their local body unto another assembly unto this day,
Acts 8:14-17; 13:1-4.
Article IX
Titles of Church
His church is called His house, I Tim 3:15; His body, Eph 1:22-23; His temple,
I Cor 3:17; His branches, John 15:1-5; His sheep, John 10:1-18, also the house
of prayer in Isaiah. He receives glory through His church, Eph 3:21.
Article X
Offices of Church
The Lord gave His churches pastors and deacons, I Tim 3. Pastors, also called
bishops, are set in their office by the Holy Spirit to oversee and feed the
flock of God, Acts 20:28. A strict life of righteousness is required. Deacons
are chosen by the church to fulfill a material need, Acts 6:3-4. Their lives
are to be impeccable. These offices can only be filled by men.
Article XI
Eternal Purpose
God knows and foreknows all things, Isa 46:10; I Pet 1:2. He elects, John
15:16; Rom 8:23; predestines many things, Eph 1:5,11 and this is all according
to His good pleasure. These are all the right, power and authority of a sovereign
God, Deut 32:39-43. God has an eternal purpose with His creation, which is
accomplished through Jesus, Eph 3:11. This eternal purpose was planned by
God Himself and is explained progressively in the form of covenants, especially
the Abrahamic and the New Covenant. Thus Christ was chosen as the seed of
Abraham, through the line of David, and had to be such to be the proper carrier
of the promises, Matt 1:1; Luke 1:32. One role of the church today is to help
bring people into these promises, Gal 3:14.
Article XII
Sanctification
Sanctification begins in regeneration and is ever progressive. It is the process
by which we are made to partake of God's holiness and are made into the image
of Christ, John 17:17; Acts 20:32; Eph 5:26. IThes. 5:23
Article XIII
Eternal Security
God is able to keep His saints from falling and present them faultless before
the presence of His glory, Jude 24. Saints are holy people who shall judge
the world and the angels, Rom 1:7; Cor 6:2-3; Col 1:2,22.
Article XIV
Day of Assembly
The first day of the week was set by our Lord to worship Him and it replaced
the Sabbath day of the law, Acts 20:7; I Cor 16:2; Col 2:14-17
Article XV
Civil Obedience
Christians are to obey the laws of the land when those laws do not conflict
with God's commands, Act 5:29; Rom 13: 1-4
Article XVI
Christ's Kingdom Reign
Jesus will return to earth again as King, Acts 1:11; I Tim 6:15. The church
shall be presented to Him sanctified, cleansed, washed and without spot or
wrinkle, as His bride Eph 5:25-27. His bride shall walk with Him in righteous
robes of white, Rev 19:8. He shall reign forever and of His kingdom there
shall be no end, Luke 1:33. The New Jerusalem shall descend from God and righteous
saints that do His commandments shall have right to enter, Rev 21:24-27. All
others, living then are without the city and have no right to enter neither
will they have any portion with the bride, Rev 21:27;22:15.
Article XVII
Two Resurrections
Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, they shall
be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years, Rev 20:4-6.
There is also a second resurrection wherein Christ sits on a great white throne
and whosoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake
of fire, Rev 20:11-15.