STATEMENT OF FAITH
CREEDAL STATEMENTS
1. The Holy Trinity. I believe there is but one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity --- the Father, the Son (The Word), and the Holy Spirit. The Father is specially related to God's work in creation; the Son by incarnation is specially related to God work in redemption; and the Holy Spirit by His indwelling is specially related to God's work in sanctification.
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:13-15; Ps. 90:2; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 10:10; John 4:24, 5:18, 10:30, 16:13, 17:3; Acts 5:3, 4; I Cor. 8:6; II Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:16; I John 5:7, 20; Rev. 19:13
2. Jesus Christ. I believe the only begotten Son of God was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin, but also for the actual sins of men, and to reconcile us to God. In the resurrection He came forth from the dead, took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith He ascended into Heaven at the Right Hand of God and is there engaged in intercession for us as Our High Priest.
Matt. 27:62-66, 28:5-9, 16, 17, 18; Mark 15, 16:6, 7, 12,; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; 24:4-8, 23; John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 17; 20:26-29; 21; Acts 1:2, 4:12, 10:40; Rom. 5:10; 8:34; 14:9; II Cor. 5:18, 19, Gal. 1:4, 4:4, 5; I Tim. 1:15; Heb. 9:28; 10:12; 13;20; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2.
3. The Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. He is ever present and efficiently active in and with the Church of Jesus Christ, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers and guiding into all truth.
Matt. 28:19; John 4:24-26; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; II Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6
4. The Holy Scriptures. I believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which I mean the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, to be give by divine inspiration. These Scriptures I hold to be the infallible written Word of God, superior to all human authority, containing all things necessary to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be considered an article of faith. The Authorized King James Version 1611 shall be the official version. While I feel that other versions have some value in my library as a reference, I feel that confusion arises when a church embraces many varied versions which plainly do not say the same thing. The Authorized King James Version is the inspired Word of God; and not to be tampered with.
Deut. 4:2; Psa. 19:7; Prov. 30:6; Luke 24:27; John 17:17; Acts 17:2; Rom 1:2, 15:4, 16:26; I Thes. 2:13; II Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21: Rev. 22:14; Rev. 22:18-19
I further believe that believers who have access to the tree of life and the holy city will lose their salvation if they tamper with the wording of John's prophecy in the Apocalypse, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, by deliberate and malicious distortions, and perversions of it. Rev. 22:18-19.
5. Original Sin. I believe original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man and is naturally engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is wholly gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil and that continually. I believe that original sin continues to exist in the life of the unregenerate until eradicated by the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Psa. 51:5; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 3:10-12; 5:12, 18, 19, Eph. 2:1-3.
6. The Atonement -- Ground of Salvation. I believe that Jesus Christ, by the shedding of His own blood, and by His meritorious death on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this atonement is the only ground of salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual. The atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible and those not having reached the age of accountability, but is efficacious for the salvation of all others only when they repent and believe the Gospel. Wherefore, to expect salvation on the ground of good works, or by the suffering of the pains of our sins deserve, either in the present of future state, is derogatory of Christ sacrifice for us, and is a dangerous deceit.
Act. 13:38, 39, 15:11, 16:31; Rom. 3:28; 5:1, 2, 9; Eph. 2:8, 9; Phil. 3:9; Heb. 11.
7. Free Will. I believe the condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and work, to faith and calling upon God. Be being created in God-likeness I believe all have been granted the ability to choose between right and wrong, and that they are made morally responsible. Thus, grace is freely bestowed upon all men, enabling them to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ, for pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight. Despite this, man after receiving the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, is free to elect the way of sin again and may thus apostatize and be eternally lost except he repent of his sin and be restored to Divine favor.
Pro. 16:1; Jer. 10:23; Matt. 16:17; John 6:44, 65; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 2:13, 4:13.
8. Repentance. I believe that genuine repentance toward God consists in a knowledge of, a sorrow for, and a voluntary confession and forsaking of sin. This is brought about by the knowledge of both the goodness and the severity of God, through the medium of truth and the convincing and convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It is required of all who have by an act or purpose become sinners before God. The spirit of God gives to all who repent, the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy, that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual life.
Matt. 9:13; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20; Rom. 2:4; I John 1:9; Rev. 2:5
9. Justification, Regeneration and Adoption. I believe that justification is that gracious and judicial act of God, by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour. I believe regeneration is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the pardoned sinner enters spiritual life. This work is received through faith in Jesus Christ, whereby the regenerate are delivered from the power of sin which reigns over all the unregenerate, so that they love God, and through grace serve Him with the will and affections of the heart. I believe that adoption is that gracious act of God whereby the justified and the regenerated believer is made a son of God, receiving even the Spirit of adoption whereby he cries, "Abba Father." I further believe that justification, regeneration and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith in the merits of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, preceded by repentance; and that to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
John 1:12, 13; 3:5; Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:28; 4:2-5; 5:1, 2, 9; 8:15; 17; Gal. 3:26; 4:5, 7; Eph. 1:15; 2:5, 8; Titus 3:5; I John 3:1.
10. Entire Sanctification. I believe entire sanctification to be that work of the Holy Spirit by which the child of God is cleansed from all inbred sin through faith in Jesus Christ. It is subsequent to regeneration, and is wrought when the believer presents himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, and is thus enabled through grace to love God with all the heart and to walk in His holy commandments blameless. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by faith, is preceded by entire consecration and is attested to by the direct witness of the Spirit as well as by the fruit of the Spirit. It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empowering the believer for life and service. I believe that this experience admits of expansion both in this life and the next, but that it is, by the Scriptures, the end of the commandment.
Deut. 3:6; Matt. 5:48; Luke 1:74-75; John 17:2-23; Rom. 8:3-4; Eph.4:24; Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 4:12; I Thes. 5:23; II Thes. 2:13; II Tim. 3:17; Heb. 10:14, 18-22; James 4:8; II Peter 1:4; I John 1:7, 9; 3:8, 9; 4:17; Jude 24.
11. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ and that this precious truth and good hope is an inspiration to holy living and godly effort. I believe the Scriptures to teach the coming of Jesus Christ in bodily return to the earth and that He will cause the fulfillment of all prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph over all evil. Faith in the imminence of Jesus Christ's return is a rational and inspiring hope to the people of God. I further believe that those who are abiding in Him when He so comes will be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that they shall ever be with the Lord.
Isa.11:1-12; Dan.12:1-4; Zech. 14:1-11; Matt. 24:1-51; 26:64; Mark 13:26-37; Luke 17:26-37; 21:24-36; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; I Cor. 1:7-8; I Thess. 4:13-18; Heb. 9:27-28; Jas. 5:7-8; II Peter 3:1-14; I John 3:2-3; Jude v. 14; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12, 20.
TO BE CONTINUED...
