What We Believe
1. The Word of God
We
believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without
error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith
and conduct.
2.
The Trinity
We believe that there is
one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that
these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute
distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and
redemption.
3.
God the Father
We believe in God, the
Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom,
power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the
affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He
saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
4.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ,
God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in
His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in
His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into
heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible
return to earth.
5.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy
Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of
sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and
empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy
Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding
helper, teacher and guide.
6.
Regeneration
We believe that all people
are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under
condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust
in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
7.
The Church
We believe in the universal
church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all
regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church,
consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a
credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and
fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local
church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost
world.
8.
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians
should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that
their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be
faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to
realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in
Christ.
9.
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord
Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism
and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the
immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We
believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for
commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should
be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
10.
Religious Liberty
We believe that every human
being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in
all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free
from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that
therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different
functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage
of the other.
11.
Church Cooperation
We believe that local
churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with
one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization,
whether it is the Conference or a district conference, exists and
functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is
voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise
cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary
independent basis.
12.
The Last Things
We believe in the personal
and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the
establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the
body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and
the endless suffering of the wicked.
|