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ARTICLE II
Articles of Faith And Doctrine 1. The Inspiration of the Scriptures: The Bible is verbally inspired of God in the original manuscripts, and is infallible. The Scriptures are the ONLY rule and authority for faith and practise.
2Timothy 3:16; 2Peter 1:21.
2. The Trinity of the Godhead: We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are in one God, having precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:6-8; Isaiah 63:8-11; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2Corinthians 12:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6.
3. The Fall of Man: We believe that man, originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate through disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit, and in consequence, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that He totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. Genesis 1:26; 2:17; Isaiah 64:6; John 5:40; 6:53; Ephesians 2:1,3; 1Timothy 5:6; 1John 3:8.
4. The Total Depravity of Man: We believe that this spiritual death, or total corruption of human nature has been transmitted to the entire race of man, the man Christ Jesus alone excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a sinful nature.
Genesis 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; Romans 5:12-19.
5. Regeneration By The Holy Spirit: We believe that, owing to this universal depravity and death in sin, no one can see or enter the kingdom of God unless born of the Spirit whereby he becomes a new creation, in Christ Jesus. John 3:5-8; Galatians 6:15; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23; 1John 5:1.
6. The Atonement by the Blood Of Christ: We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, and made a curse for us, dying in our room and stead, a Sacrifice acceptable to God and effectual for every sinner who receives Him. Matthew 26:28; John 1:12; Romans 5:6-9; 2Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; 1Peter 1:18,19; 2:24.
7. Salvation by Grace through Faith: We believe that sinners are saved by Grace through Faith alone and that not of themselves it is the gift of God, not of works. Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 2:11-14.
8. The Believer's Security and Assurance: We believe in the Eternal Security of all who are actually born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures and that it is the privilege of all such to be assured of their present salvation and eternal safety.
John 5:24; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:33-39; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12.
9. The Deity and the Virgin Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ: We believe in the Deity and the Virgin Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and that all the Scriptures from first to last center about Him, His Person and work, His sacrificial death upon the Cross and His coming again. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18,22,23; Luke 1:35; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23.
10. The Unity of the True Church in the Mystical Body of Christ: We believe that the Church is composed of all who are united by the Holy Spirit to the risen and ascended Son of God, and that by the same Spirit we are all baptized into the Body of Christ, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, thus being members one of another and knit together in love. Romans 12:5; 1Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:3-10; Colossians 2:19.
11. The Personality and Present Mission of the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Personality - The third Person of the Trinity - who is now, throughout this age of Grace, here present in the true Church, having been sent for the express purpose of revealing Christ Jesus to the members of the church that they may be comforted, instructed and built up in their most holy faith, and to the world that sinners may be convicted of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. John 7:38-39; 14:16; 16:13-15; 17:15-26; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4.
12. The Baptism with (in) the Holy Spirit:
We believe when the Holy Spirit came upon the whole body of believers on the Day of Pentecost, it was the fulfillment of the announcement made by John the Baptist and the promises of Christ to His own during His earthly ministry, and that then, the disciples were individually endued with power to witness concerning Christ, and collectively baptized into one body, which was the formation of the Church, which is His Body (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; 24:46-49; John 1:33; 14:16,17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 1:4,5,8; 2:1-4,47).
We further believe since the time the Gospel went to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius and the believing Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, without delay, tarrying, praying, laying on of hands or any other condition save faith, all who believe in Christ are born of the Spirit, sealed by the Spirit, anointed by the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, and by (in) the Holy Spirit baptized into the Body of Christ (John 3:3-6; Acts 10:44; 11;18; 2Corinthians 12:12,13; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 1John 5:1). And we also believe that the New Testament distinguishes between being indwelt by the Spirit, which is true of all believers, and being filled with the Spirit, which is the believer's privilege and duty (Compare with the Spirit, which is found in the following; Acts 2:4 with 4:8-31; Ephesians 1:13,14 with 5:18). There is one baptism with (in) the Spirit, and it is into the Body of Christ, but there are many fillings. Pentecost is an historical event and is not repeated.
13. Sanctification:
We believe that the members of the Body of Christ are sanctified ones, and perfect as to their STANDING before God. As to their state they are not perfectly sinless but may be sanctified with the constant washing of water by the Word, by the Blood of Christ, and by the in-working presence and power of the Holy Spirit. John 17:17-19; Romans 15:16; 1Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22,24; 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; 10:10; 13:12; 1John 1:7-9; Jude 1.
14. The Pre-Millennial Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: We believe this present age will end with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, first to receive His Church unto Himself and then to establish the Throne of David upon the earth and to reign in righteousness over it for a thousand years. 2Samuel 7:16; Psalm 72:7-8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:32-33; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28; Titus 2:13.
15. The Resurrection of the Body: We believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, in bodily form, and thus became the first fruits of them that sleep; that upon His return He will raise out from among the dead those that have died in Christ, this being the first resurrection; and that, after the thousand years, He will raise them that have died in unbelief from their graves to receive their sentence. Psalm 90:3-4; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Romans 1:4; 8:23; 1Corinthians 15.
16. The Eternal Blessedness of the Saved, and the Eternal Punishment of the Lost: We believe that the saints of all ages will be forever with the Lord in a real Heaven and will become joint-heirs with Him as their Redeemer in His inheritance. We further believe that there is an appointed day for the judgement of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, there to remain forever and ever, in varying degrees of torment according to their works. Daniel 7:22-27; 12:3; Romans 8:17; 1Thessalonians 4:17; 2Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8; 22:11.
17. The Personality of Satan: We believe in a personal devil and that he is the arch enemy of God and man and at preset is the god of this age, the prince of the power of the air, "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" that he seeks to condemn mankind, and that he, with all unbelievers shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. Job 1:6-7; 2Thessalonians 2:7-9; 1Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:1-10.
18. The Local Church: We believe that the membership of the local church should be composed of only baptized believers. The local church is a body of the saved, not a body of those who might someday be saved - the Scriptural order being salvation, baptism, church membership. Acts 2:41-42, 44-45.
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