An Affirmation of Our Faith
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.