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The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old
and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God,
and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture, thus at
one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds,
styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are
infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and
final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there are no other writings
similarly inspired by God.
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We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons -
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity
and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing
the world and all the things therein; thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and
goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His
providence he is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
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The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into
fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God,
choosing to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God and suffered the
corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at
the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences
and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then,
wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part of human works or
goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. When God has
begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He
will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
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Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a
true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of
perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the
cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for
all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though
glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the
right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually
makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and
visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
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The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a
life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit,
the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the
Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of
sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates
them. At the point of salvation He permanently in dwells every believer to become
the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts
for the up building of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding
and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making
it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ like character and to bear fruit to
the glory of the Father.
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Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a
resurrection of the body into the spiritual world, and a judgment that will determine the
fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation.
God's judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to perpetuate in eternal
retribution their own rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal
communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
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The natural result of our union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members
of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those
who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to
gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching the Word, observance of
baptism and communion as the sacrament established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to
the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the
world.
Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local
expression of the church. Under the watch-care of elders and the supportive leadership,
its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of
glorifying Christ.
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Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This
church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where
Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord,
to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
We believe that Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches.
All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the
Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension.
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