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What We Believe
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The Scripture: We believe that all Scripture of the Old and New Testaments is verbally inspired by
God, and inerrant in the original writings; and that it is of supreme and final authority in faith
and life. The Scripture is given to man that he might know God, and that he might know God's will
for man. (2 Timothy 3: 16,17; 2 Peter 1:21)
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The Godhead: We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and
worthy of the same confidence and obedience. Matthew 28:18,19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
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The Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be
God, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He came to reveal God to mankind and to redeem
our sinful race by giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, satisfying God's
righteous judgments against sin. He then arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the Father's right hand, where
He intercedes on the believer's behalf. (John 1:1-12, 14, 18; Luke 1:34,35; Romans 3:24-26; 8:34)
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Man Created and Fallen: We believe man's purpose is to glorify God. Man was originally created in
the image and after the likeness of God, but fell because of sin, and as a consequence was separated from God.
Therefore man in his natural state is condemned to an eternal death. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 6:23)
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Salvation: We believe that man may have salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin through personal
trust in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for man's sin. Through faith alone in Jesus Christ,
man is born again, receives a new nature, and has the promise of eternal life. Salvation cannot come through works,
but only through the grace of God. We believe that at death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence
of Christ; the souls of unbelievers pass immediately into torment to be separated from God forever. (1 Peter 2:24;
John 3:3,16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8: Philippians 1:23;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20: 11-15)
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The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person of the Trinity who convicts
the world of sin, gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ, unites all believers in one body,
indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him,
and empowers and gifts them for service. He seeks to direct their attention not to themselves nor to their
experience, but to Christ. (John 3:5-8; 14:16,17; 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; ; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; Acts 1:8)
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Eternal Security and the Assurance of the Believer: We believe that those who have put their faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation have the promise of eternal life as a permanent possession. It is the privilege
of the believer to have a present and continuing assurance that he possesses salvation, and this salvation can never
be lost or forfeited. (John 5:24; 10:28-30; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:11-13)
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Satan and Sin: We believe that Satan is a created being and that he fell to his present state because
of sin. He has been judged and defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ and will be eternally punished
in the lake of fire. He is the author of sin. Sin is anything contrary to or falling short of the glory of God. We
recognize that Christians are in a spiritual warfare against Satan and his forces. Though he is a defeated foe, the
Christian can have victory in his daily battle only by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Satan's desire is to oppress
believers and prevent the salvation of unbelievers. (Isaiah 14: 12-17; Genesis 3:1-19; John 8:44;12:31; Revelation
20:10; I John 5:17; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-22)
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The Church: We believe that all who have placed their faith in Christ are united by the Holy Spirit
into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head. This body was formed on the day of Pentecost and
will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own. The members of this one spiritual body are directed to
associate themselves together in local assemblies for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and the
administration of the ordinances — baptism and the Lord's Supper. They are likewise to maintain the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2: 42-47; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians
11:23-26; Ephesians 4:3)
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The Return of Christ: We believe in the imminent , personal return of Jesus Christ. He will descend
from heaven to receive to Himself both His own who are alive and remain until His coming, and all who have died in
Jesus. This event is the blessed hope set before us in Scripture; for this we should be constantly looking because
no man knows the time of His coming. (John 14: 1-3: I Corinthians 15: 51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
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The Christian Walk: We believe that the Christian is commanded in the Word of God to live a godly
life; in the world, but not of it. This can only be accomplished by living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit so
as to reveal the fruit of the Spirit. The life of the believer should be fruitful in spiritual service and lived
for the glory of God. (Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:18-19; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Galatians 5:16-24; John 15:1-8;
Romans 12:1-2)
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Spiritual Gifts: Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service. Every believer is equipped
with spiritual gifts to be exercised for the edification of others and for the glory of the Lord. We recognize
differences of opinion regarding the present-day validity of the sign gifts, and that the public exercise of them
can be divisive and polarize the members of the body of Christ. We will, therefore, refrain from the public exercise
or promotion of these gifts. (1 Peter 4:10,11; Romans 12: 8-12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16)
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Baptism: This church will practice believers baptism by immersion, but recognizes other forms of
baptism for membership. (Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 28:18-20)
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