Our Beliefs

  • We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its content. It reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

    Psalm 19:7–11 | Isaiah 40:8 | Isaiah 55:10–11 | 2 Timothy 3:15–17 | Hebrews 1:1–2 | 2 Peter 1:19–21

  • We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

    Genesis 1:1 | Exodus 3:13–15 | Deuteronomy 6:4–5| Isaiah 40:28 | Ephesians 1:3–14 | Revelation 4:9–11

  • We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but voluntarily sinned and fell from that holy and happy state. As a consequence, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice. By nature, humanity is utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

    Genesis 1:27 | Genesis 3:1–19 | Psalm 8:3–8 | Isaiah 53:6 | Romans 1:18–23 | Romans 5:12–17

  • We believe that the salvation of sinners is solely by grace, through the mediatorial offices of the son of God. By the appointment of the Father, He freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins, and having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven. United in His wonderful person are the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.

    Jeremiah 31:31–34 | Isaiah 53:4–5 | John 3:16–21 | Romans 3:21–26 | 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

  • We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. Being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it embraces all the means in connection with the end. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable. It utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy. It encourages the use of means in the highest degree and may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel. It is the foundation of Christian assurance and to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

    Deuteronomy 7:6–8 | Isaiah 43:1 | Matthew 11:25–27 | Romans 9:10–13 | 1 Corinthians 1:26–31

  • We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel and it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

    Isaiah 55:1 | Mark 1:14–15 | Matthew 11:28–30 | Romans 10:11–13 | Revelation 22:17

  • We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life. It is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God. It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

    Habakkuk 2:4 | Luke 18:14 | Romans 5:1 | Galatians 2:16 | Philippians 3:8–9

  • We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again. Regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind and it is effected in a manner beyond our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

    Ezekiel 36:26 | John 3:3 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | 1 Peter 1:3 | 1 John 5:1

  • We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy. At the same time we heartily receive the lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and rely on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

    Hosea 14:1–7 | Luke 18:13 | Acts 2:37–38 | 1 Timothy 1:12–16 | Hebrews 4:14–16

  • We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness. It is a progressive work that begins in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means—especially, the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.

    John 17:17 | 2 Corinthians 3:18 | Philippians 2:12–13 | Colossians 3:1–4 | Hebrews 10:19–23

  • We believe that those with genuine faith will endure to the end and their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors. A special providence watches over their welfare and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

    Jeremiah 32:38–41 | John 10:27–28 | Romans 8:30 | 1 Peter 1:4–5 | Jude 20–25

  • We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. They observe the ordinances of Christ and are governed by His laws and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word. Its only scriptural officers are elders or pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.

    Matthew 16:16 | 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 | Ephesians 4:11–12 | 1 Timothy 3:1–13 | Titus 1:5–9

  • We believe that Christian baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by Christ, to be dispensed upon each person professing faith by baptizing the believer in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. The regular mode of baptism is by immersion in water, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper—in which the members of the church, by the reverent use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

    Matthew 28:19 | Acts 8:34–38 | Romans 6:3–4 | Luke 22:14–20 | 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

  • We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men. We also believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society, and that authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only when obedience would require the believer to oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ as expressed in Scripture, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

    Daniel 3:16–18 | Mark 12:13–17 | Romans 13:1–7 | 1 Peter 2:13–17

  • We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem. All who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse. This distinction holds among men both in and after death.

    Malachi 3:18 | Matthew 7:24–27 | John 3:36 | John 8:21–24 | 1 Peter 4:17–18

  • We believe that the end of the world is approaching, and at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution. A solemn separation will then take place, and the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy. This judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell.

    Matthew 13:36–43 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | 2 Peter 3:11–13 | Revelation 21:1–8