Modern Statement of Faith
We believe God is the center of the universe,
and that man exists to glorify Him. We believe God sovereignly ordains whatsoever comes to
pass. We are evangelical in the historic sense of the word. We believe God, through
the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, actually saves helpless, hell
deserving sinners; He does not merely assist them in saving themselves. We believe sinners
are saved by the grace of God alone, through the instrument of faith alone, plus nothing.
We believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of
God, internally consistent, and the only infallible rule for belief and
practice. We believe God's law is found in the Bible and is three-fold in purpose: First,
to drive the sinner to trust in Christ alone, the only perfect law-keeper. Second, to
provide a standard of obedience for the Christian, by which he may measure his progress in
sanctification. And third, to maintain order in society, restraining and arresting evil in
the civil realm. Although we have a high regard for God’s law, we do heartily condemn
all forms of legalism -- the binding of men’s consciences by man-made rules which
exceed God’s revealed standard -- as hatred of God’s law.
We believe in the existence of God
because the Bible says so, not because we can "prove" it. We do not try to
convince the unconverted that God is real. Unbelievers know God, but suppress their
knowledge of Him in wickedness. They need repentance, not evidence. Of course we believe
there is evidence for the Faith, in fact, we believe that there is nothing but evidence
for the Faith.
We believe Christ has been given all
authority in heaven and on earth, and has commanded and empowered His church to make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the triune God, and teaching
them to obey all that Christ has commanded. We believe Satan is a defeated foe, and that
Christ will reign till He has put all enemies under His feet, and then comes the end.
We believe the earth and all its fullness is
the Lord's and that every area dominated by sin must be reconstructed in terms of the
Bible. This includes the individual, the family, the church, and society at large,
including the state. We firmly believe in the separation of church and state, but not the
separation of the state or anything else from God. We declare the Lordship of
Christ in every sphere through the preaching of His Word with prayer, expecting eventual
triumph.
We believe truth is absolute
and that doctrine matters. However, our doctrine does not define the boundaries of our
fellowship. Our basis for fellowship is a biblical confession of the lordship of Jesus
Christ, and the absence of a scandalous lifestyle.
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