Statement of Faith
I Believe:
- That "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we
understand the whole book called THE BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the
original writing and that its teaching and authority are absolute,
supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in
all that they wrote. 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Peter 1:21.
- The Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same
nature, attributes and perfection. Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19;
Deuteronomy 4:35; John 17:5.
- In the Personality and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man. John
1:1,14; John 10:30; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30-31; Philippians 2:5-7; 1
Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:19.
- In the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the source and
power of all acceptable worship and service, the infallible interpreter
of the infallible Word, who indwells every true believer, and is ever
present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with
ourselves or our experiences. John 15:26; Acts 5:3, 4; Acts 1:8; Romans
8:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1
Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13, 14.
- That man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, as
stated in the Word of God, but the whole human race fell in the fall of
the first Adam. Not only was his moral nature grievously injured by the
fall but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses
and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. "The carnal mind is
enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God"
(Romans 8:7, 8). Therefore, he cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God
until he is born again by the Holy Spirit. That no degree of reformation
however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture
however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and
societies however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however
administered, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a
new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit
through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation. Genesis 1:26,
27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3, 6, 7; Titus 3:5.
- That Jesus Christ became the sinner's substitute before God, and
died as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. That
He was made a curse for the sinner, dying for his sins according to the
Scriptures, that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good
resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and
regulations of any church can add in the very least to the value of the
precious blood or to the merit of that finished work wrought for us by
Him, who tasted death for every man. 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9; Galatians
3:13; Romans 3:25; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:13, 14, 20,
21.
- In the resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus Christ; that
His body was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that
He ascended into Heaven and sits on the right hand of God as the
believer's high priest and advocate. Luke 24:39; Acts 1:10-11; Ephesians
4:10; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 2:1.
- That Christ in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His
death and resurrection is received by faith alone and that the moment
we trust Him as our Saviour we pass out of death into everlasting life,
justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the
measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved and made one with Him.
At the time of acceptance of Christ as Savior, He comes to dwell within
the believer and to live out His life of holiness and power through him.
Hebrews 9:15; John 5:24; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:3, 23-25; Ephesians 1:3;
John 17:23; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:6-7; Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:8.
- That the Church is composed of all those who truly believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. It is the body and the bride of Christ.
That every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the body
of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having thus become members of one
another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational
bigotry and loving one another with a pure heart fervently. Ephesians
1:22, 23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:22-27; 1 Corinthians
1:10-13; Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 4:3-6; Ephesians 5:32; Philippians
2:1-5; Galatians 5:13-15.
- That all believers in our Lord Jesus are called into a life of
separation from worldly and sinful practices and should abstain from
such amusements and habits as will cause others to stumble, or bring
reproach upon the cross of Christ. Believers are created in Christ Jesus
unto good works. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto
all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith"
(Galatians 6:10). 1 John 2:15, 16; Romans 13:14; Romans 14:13; 1
Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10.
- In the evangelization of the world; that the supreme mission of
the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature.
That special emphasis should be placed upon the evangelization of
children. Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Matthew 18:14.
- In the personal return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; that
the coming again of Jesus Christ is the "Blessed Hope" set before us,
for which we should be constantly looking. Our citizenship is in Heaven
from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians
3:20). Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13;
Philippians 3:20, 21.
- That the souls of those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ
for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there
remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His
coming, when soul and body re-united shall be with Him forever in glory.
Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:22, 25; Philippians 1:23; 1
Thessalonians 4:15-18.
- That the souls of the lost remain after death in misery until the
final judgment of the great white throne, when soul and body reunited
at the resurrection shall be cast "Into the lake of fire" which is "the
second death," to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians
1:8, 9). Luke 16:22-23, 27-28; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5, 11-15; 2
Thessalonians 1:7-9.
- In the reality and personality of Satan, "that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world"
(Revelation 12:9) Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10.
