Statement of Declaration

Statement of Declaration

1. THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe that the Triune God is eternally self-existent, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Redeemer of mankind. God is manifested in three persons; God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 5:7; John 1:1, 4:24; Matthew 10:20; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

2. AUTHORIZED AND INERRANT WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, inerrant in the original autographs and the only rule of faith, guide for practice and indisputable and ultimate authority of the Revelation of God, His Will and His Way. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 19:7-11; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

3. DIVINE AND HUMAN LORD
We believe in that Jesus Christ was both divine as the incarnation of the Father and human, as born of a virgin and subject to every temptation to which we are subjected. (1 John 1:1-10; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16; Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; Acts 11:22; Titus 1:5)

4. ATONEMENT
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man and that all must be born again through faith in Him or are lost eternally. Redemption is accomplished by the cross and blood of our Lord. Jesus Christ, by grace through faith, believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead. Christ, then, effected our atonement through substitutionary sacrifice. (Hebrews 2:9; John 3:1-18; John 6:44-49; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:9-11)

5. RESURRECTION
We believe in the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His bodily ascension into heaven. Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father as our Mediator, High Priest and Advocate. We believe that, according to the Scriptures, He arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers. (John 20:20; Philippians 3:20-21; Acts 3:12-26; John 20; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28)

6. SALVATION
We believe that one is saved by grace and faith in the Person and solely the finished work of Jesus Christ. We further believe that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8)

7. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification, the setting apart unto God, has three parts. It is already complete for every saved person because his position toward God is the same as Christ's position. Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set apart unto God. We believe, however, that man retains his sinful nature, which cannot be totally eradicated in this life. Accordingly, while the standing of the Christian in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more perfect than his daily experience in life. Sanctification, then, is progressive, a progressive sanctification as the Christian grows in grace and is changed by the unhindered power of the Spirit. We also believe that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Lord and shall be "like Him". (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 7:1; Ephesians 4:24, 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians. 5:23; Hebrews 10:10,

8. THE RETURN OF CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH
We believe in the personal, visible, imminent return of Jesus Christ both for His Saints and with His Saints in reign to victory. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Corinthians 15:50-55, Revelation 19:19-20:1-6)

9. ORDINANCES
The Lord's Supper and Holy Communion are the ordinances of the church to be observed as public declaration of salvation through Jesus Christ and the commemoration of His death, burial and resurrection in victory over Satan, death, hell and the grave. (Matthew 3:11, 14; 26:26-29; Luke 22:17-23)

10. LOCAL CHURCH AUTONOMY
We believe in the autonomy of the local church as an independent entity with regard to matters of government, polity operation and discipline. We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the church which is the body and bride of Christ. (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; Acts 11:22; Titus 1:5)