WHAT WE BELIEVE
To set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us ... that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed, we send forth the commonly believed confession of faith held among us, as follows:
OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired;
that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and
therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete
and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian
union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and
opinions should be tried.
- By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
- By "inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25 Psa. 119:160;
Psa. 119:105; Psa. 119:130;Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45;
Psa. 119:89; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Pet. 1:2-3; Rev. 22:19; John
12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa. 19:7-11; John
5:45-47; John 5:39.
OF THE TRUE GOD
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; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible
honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are
three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every
divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in
the great work of redemption.
Ex. 20:2-3; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6: John 4:24; Psa. 147:5;
Psa. 83:18; Psa. 90:2; Jer.. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; I Tim. 1:17;
Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; I John
5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6;
Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14.
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
That the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and
God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation;
that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil
one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment
and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel
in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that
He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the
believer.
John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3;
II Thes. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6;
Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16;
Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; II Thes. 2:13;
I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27.
OF THE DEVIL. OR SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but
through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after
him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power
of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's
great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints,
the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present
apostasy; the lord of the anti-Christ. and the author of all the powers
of darkness; destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's
Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared
for him and his angels.
Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Eph.
2:2; John 14:30; I Thes. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; Zech. 1:3; I
John 3:8; Matt. 13:25, 37:39; Luke 22:3-4; Rev. 12:10; II Cor. 11:13-15;
Mark 13:21-22; II John 7; I John 4:3; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13-14; II
Thes. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:10;
Matt. 25:41.
OF THE CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be
accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man
was created directly in God's own image and after his own likeness;
that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change
of species, or development through interminable periods of time from
lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly,
and God's established law was they should bring forth only "after their
kind."
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:18-17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev.
10:8; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-28; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6; Gen. 1:26-27;
Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:24.
OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker,
but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state,
in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint,
but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense
or excuse.
Gen. 3:1-8,24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1, 3; Rom.
1:18; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 1:28; Gal. 3:22.
OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous
manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can
ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God,
the Son.
Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14;
Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; 1 Cor. 15:47.
OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through
the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of
the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored
the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full
and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not
in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary
substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the
unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree;
that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and
uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine
perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate
and an all-sufficient Savior.
Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7;
Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; 1 John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor.
5:21; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa.
53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25;
I John 2:2.
OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that
the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous
and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses
and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal
life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in
a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character,
nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy
Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary
obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy
fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41;
Acts 16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col.
2:13; John 3:8; John 1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9.
OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings of salvation
are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of
all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that
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.
I Thes. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 11:28;
Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13; John 6:37; Isa. 55:6; Acts 2:38;
Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5; John
5:40; John 3:18; John 3:36.
OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as
believe in Him in Justification; that Justification includes the pardon
of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness;
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.
Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Titus
3:5-7; Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38.
OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also
inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of
God; thereby, being deeply convicted 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
heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as
our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4;
Psa. 51:7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11.
OF THE CHURCH
We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers
associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing
the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts,
rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers
of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications,
claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures: we believe
the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; First,
to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third,
to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the
reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute
right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy
of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent
is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches
to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the
furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge
of the measure and method of its co-operation; on all matters of membership,
of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of
the local church is final.
Acts 2:41; Acts 2:42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:4,
8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:1-7;
I Tim. 3:8-13; Matt. 28:19- 20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4;
Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mal. 3:10; Lev.
27:32; I Cor. 16:2; I Cor. 6:1- 3; I Cor. 5:11-13.
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that 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 our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its
effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is
pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's
supper; in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread
and wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded
always by solemn self- examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; John 3:23; Rom. 6:4-5; Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:19;
Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-28.
OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto 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 8:31-32; Col. 1:21, 23; I John 2:19; Matt. 13:19-21; Rom. 8:23;
Matt. 6:30; Psa. 121:3; Heb. 1:14; I Pet. 1:5; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28;
John 10:29; John 16:8; Rom. 8:35-39.
OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between
the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; 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, in the everlasting
felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the
lost.
Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 4:18; Rom.
1:17; 1 Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; 1 John 3:7; Rom. 6:16;
I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25;
Matt. 25:34, 41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests
and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to
the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience,
and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Rom. 13:7; 11 Sam.
23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1;
I Pet. 2:13, 14; I Pet. 2:17; Acts 5:29; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18;
Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 10:6; Phil. 2:10-11; Psa. 72: 11.
OF THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at
their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ
rose bodily "the third day according to the Scriptures"; that He ascended
"to the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful
and, faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; "that this same
Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner
as ye have seen Him go into heaven"-bodily, personally and visibly;
that the "dead in Christ shall rise first"; that the living saints "shall
all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump"; "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his Father
David"; and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness
until He hath put all enemies under His feet."
Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2,
4-6; Acts 1:9; Acts 1:11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1;
Heb. 12:2; Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:4; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10;
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thes. 4:16; Matt. 24:27; Matt. 25:13; Jas. 5:8;
Matt. 24:42; Heb. 9:28; I Thes. 4:16; I Cor. 15:42-44; I Cor. 15:52;
I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thes. 4:17; Phil. 3:20-21; Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7;
Acts 9:29-30; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:4-5; Psa. 72:8; Rev.
20:1-4; Rev. 20:6.
OF MISSIONS
The command to give 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."
Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature." John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me,
even so send I you." Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth." Rom. 10:13, 14, 15, "For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written. How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and
bring glad tidings of good things!"
OF THE GRACE OF GIVING
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith. II Cor. 8:7,
"Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye
abound in this grace also." We are commanded to bring our gifts into
the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of
the week. I Cor. 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week let every one
of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be
no gatherings when I come." Under grace we give, and do not pay, the
tithe. Hebrews 7:2, 4, "Abraham GAVE a tenth part of all" "Abraham GAVE
the tenth of the spoils" and this was four-hundred years before the
law, and is confirmed in the New Testament; Jesus said concerning the
tithe, "These ye ought to have done"-Matt. 23:23. We are commanded to
bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church. Lev. 27:30,
"The tithe is the Lord's." Mal. 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows
of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it." In the New Testament it was common treasury of
the church. Acts 4:34, 35, 37, "And brought the prices of the things
that were sold and. laid them down at the apostles' feet . . . Having
land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet."
A SHORTER STATEMENT OF THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
- We believe the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, as the verbally inspired and infallible Word of God.
- We believe Jesus Christ was born of Mary the Virgin, and is the Son of God, and God the Son.
- We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.
- We believe that He rose from the grave the third day according to the Scriptures.
- We believe that He, only, is the great High Priest, and we need not the intercession of any man, but that Christ ever liveth to make intercessipn for us.
- We beliWe believe that He, only, is the great High Priest, and we need not the intercession of any man, but that Christ ever liveth to make intercessipn for us.
- We believe that Christ will come again in Person, bodily, visibly, to establish His Kingdom on the earth. declare his faith by the act of baptism (immersion in water) setting forth the Lord's death, burial and resurrection.
- We believe that the church is a body of baptized believers whose only mission is, not to "reform the world," but to preach and teach the Gospel of salvation to the individual soul.