Our Doctrine - Part 2
VI. Of Salvation
We believe the clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21); that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ must accompany repentance; that man must personally repent of his sin of unbelief and believe (place his faith and trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as his personal Lord and Saviour.
We believe salvation is the gift of God; given wholly by His “grace alone” and not of works; that man cannot be saved apart from God’s Holy Spirit drawing him and convicting him of his sin. We believe men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We believe in the eternal security of the believer and that the redeemed, once saved are kept eternally by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever. We believe eternal life is the present possession of every child of God.
(John 1:12; 3:15-18, 36; 5:24; 10:27-30; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Rom. 10:9-13; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:4, 5, 18, 19; 1 John 2:24, 25; 5:11-13; Jude 1, 24)
VII. Of Repentance
We believe repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit; that it is characterized by Godly sorrow for sin as offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; and that true repentance is inseparably related to true faith in Jesus Christ.
(Mk. 1:15; Lk. 13:1-3; Acts 17:30; 20:21; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10)
VIII. Of Justification
We believe justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous through faith in Jesus Christ; that justification included the pardon of sin; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
(Isa. 53:11; Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1, 9; 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; Tit. 3:5-7)
IX. Of Sanctification
We believe sanctification is the Divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner: First, an act of God, based upon the redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Saviour; Second, a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life; Third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord’s return.
(John 17:17; 1 Thess. 4:3, 4; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2)
X. Of Separation
We believe it is an explicit command to all believers to separate themselves from all forms of godlessness, apostasy, compromise, and worldliness; and to live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and that separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures and practices is commanded by God. We recognize the Scriptures plainly teach the use of alcohol as a beverage is unwholesome and dangerous.
We believe the Scriptures teach certain issues of the day to be in direct contradiction to the laws of God. The following are some of the world’s issues which we take a firm stand against. No believer may remain in fellowship who unrepentantly holds to or practices these wicked and perverse standards. We stand firmly and unashamedly against abortion for any reason, homosexuality, lesbianism, mercy killing, pornography, the occult, and other vices of which the world would seek to entangle believers.
We define the family as being one man and one woman being united together in holy matrimony for the due purpose of being one flesh and of raising children as the Lord provides. The previous statement does not exclude single parent families where the spouse is widowed or divorced.
We further believe the Scriptures teach Christians should not marry or have other entangling alliances with unbelievers; that Christians should not fellowship with those who deny the faith. We do not embrace liberal theology, the Charismatic tongues movement, Ecumenicalism, Hyper-Calvinism, and Arminianism. We further believe this local church is required by Scripture to refrain from any alliances with those who would promote “ecumenical” unity in regards to gospel work and other related Christian ministries at the expense of doctrine.
(2 Chron. 19:2; Prov. 20:1; Amos 3:3; Rom. 12:1, 2; 16:17; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:18; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 7-11)
XI. Of The Priesthood of all Believers
We believe Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 5:5-10; 7:25; 10:19-22; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
XII. Of Spiritual Gifts
We believe God is Sovereign in the bestowal of all His gifts; and that the sign gifts gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. We believe these gifts were temporary sign gifts for the lost people of Israel and were given to spread the Gospel message in all languages; and those gifts have ceased since the completion of the Word of God.
We further believe the Bible is the complete revelation of God to man; and, that man does not need, nor does he receive extra-biblical revelations apart from the Word of God.
(Isa. 28:11; Acts 2:1-11; 5:12; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 14:22; Eph. 4:11, 12; Heb. 2:3-4; Rev. 22:18,19)
XIII. Of the Church
We believe the local church is a visible congregation of saved and scripturally baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; meeting together for worship, prayer, fellowship and teaching; having a united testimony; and actively engaged in carrying out the Great Commission.
We hold the local church has absolute right of self-government, free from the interference, control, or dictates of any religious hierarchy of individuals or organization. Jesus Christ is the one and only Head of the Church having given His life for her, and that on all matters of fellowship, of policy and government, of discipline, of benevolence, with the discretionary guidance of the church leadership, as led by the Holy Spirit, the decisions of this local assembly will be final.
(Acts 2:41-42, 47; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)
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