| |
|
|
CHURCH OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT
That, we believe, the Bible teaches the following are the only offices of the Church, and should be held by men
only: Pastor, and Deacon(s). That, we believe the Pastor, and the Deacon(s) must be males whose lives are beyond
Scriptural reproach. That, I also believe in the complete independence and autonomy of the local church from
external control and influences, and in the Biblical obligation of congregational government through pastoral
leadership. 1 Tim. 2:12; 3:1-16; 5:17; Acts 5:1-41; 13:2-4; Heb. 13:17.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
That, we believe, Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of
his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in his death to sin and resurrection to a
new life; that, it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's Supper, in which only
the members of the Church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, are to commemorate
together the substitutionary death of Christ once every year, preceded always by solemn self examination. Acts
8:36-39; Mat. 3:6,16; John 3:23; Rom. 6:4-5.
THE SECURITY AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
That, we believe, the saved will NEVER be lost. Real believers do endure to the end; that their persevering
attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special
Providence watches over their welfare and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal
salvation. John 10:27-29; 8:31-36; Col. 1:21-23; 1 John 2:19; Mat. 13:18-23.
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
That, we believe, there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only
as through faith are justified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as
continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction holds among
men both in and after death, and the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of
the lost. Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:28; Rom. 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31.
MISSION
That, we believe, the command to preach the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was
given to the churches: Matt 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT
That, we believe, the civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society;
that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the
will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the only Lord of conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Rom. 13:7; 2 Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Mat. 22:21.
|
Last updated:
|
|
|