What We Believe

I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by divinely inspired men and is God’s revelation of himself to man. It is a perfect treasury of divine instruction. It has God as its author, its purpose is salvation, and its subject is truth, without any admixture of error. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. She reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions must be judged. All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus, who is Himself the center of divine revelation.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17.19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119.11, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah 34:16; 40.8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36.1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22.29; Luke 21:33; 24.44-46; John 5:39; 16.13-15; 17.17; Acts 2.16 and sgts.; 17.11; Romans 15:4; 16.25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4..12; 1 Peter 1:25, 2 Peter 1:19-2

II. Salvation

Salvation implies the total redemption of man, and is freely offered to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who through his own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.

Repentance is a genuine turning from sin to God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and the dedication of the total personality to Him as Lord and Savior.

B. Justification, is the work of God’s grace and the complete absolution based on the principles of his grace towards all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification places the believer in a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. Sanctification is the experience beginning at regeneration, whereby the believer is set apart for God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Growth in grace must continue throughout the life of the regenerate person.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the permanent blessed state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3.15; Exodus 3.14-17; 6.2-8; Matthew 1.21; 4.17; 16.21-26; 27.22-28.6; Luke 1.68-69; 2.28-32; John 1.11-14,29; 3.3-21.36; 5.24; 10.9,28-29; 15.1-16; 17.17; Acts 2.21; 4.12; 11.15; 16.30-31; 17.30-31; 20.32; Romans 1.16-18; 2.4; 3.23-25; 4.3 et seq.; 5.8-10; 6.1-23; 8.1-18,29-39; 10.9-10.13; 13.11-14; 1 Corinthians 1.18, 30; 6.19-20; 10.15; 2 Corinthians 5.17-20; Galatians 2.20; 3.13; 5.22-25; 6.15; Ephesians 1.7; 2.8-22; 4.11-16; Philippians 2.12-13; Colossians 1.9-22; 3.1 et seq.; 1 Thessalonians 15.23-24; 2 Timothy 1.12; Titus 2.11-14; Hebrews 2.1-3; 5.8-9; 9.24-28; 11.1-12.8,14; James 2.14-26; 1 Peter 1.2-23; 1 John 1.6-2.11; Revelation 3.20; 21.1-22.5.