Doctrinal Statement
I. The Scriptures: The Holy Bible – The Written Word of God!
A. Written by men Divinely Inspired.
B. Is God's Revelation of Himself to man.
C. It is a Perfect Treasure of Divine Instruction.
D. It has God for its author, Salvation for its end, and Truth (without any mixture of error) for its matter.
E. All Scripture is Totally True and Trustworthy.
F. It reveals the Principles by which God judges us.
G. Therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the True Center of Christian Union.
H. The Supreme Standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
I. All Scripture is a Testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of Divine Revelation.
“Cling you to the living Word, and let the gospel of your fathers, let the gospel of the martyrs, let the gospel of the Reformers, let the gospel of the blood-washed multitude before the throne of God, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, be your gospel, and none but that, and it will save you and make you the means of saving others to the praise of God.” – Charles Spurgeon
Are you standing on the Foundation of God’s Word? The first place the world will attack will be the Inerrancy of God’s Word!
*All Scripture, being inspired of the Spirit, is spoken by the mouth of God.
*We preach Christ crucified, and we speak boldly as we ought to speak, because it is
God’s Word, and not our own.
*This Book is inspired as no other book is inspired.
*I accept the inspiration of the Scriptures as fact. Therein are contained the words of
eternal life.
*The Writers – Men of God (fallible men), Led by God, Inspired to Write the Words of
God (Infallible Words).
*The Bible is not God, but it is God’s voice, and I do not hear it without awe.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (“… do not add to them …”) 17:19 (… follow carefully all the words …”
Joshua 8:34-35 (“… Joshua read all of the words of the law …”)
Psalms 19:7-11 (“…the law of the Lord is perfect …”)
Psalms 119:1-8, 9-16+ (“… by living according to your word …”)
Isaiah 34:16 (“… look in the scroll of the Lord …”)
Isaiah 40:8 (“… the word of our God stands forever.”)
Jeremiah 15:16 (“… your words came, I ate them.”)
Jeremiah 36:1-32 (“ Jeremiah and Baruch and Babylon burns the scroll dictated by the Lord”)
Matthew 5:17-18 (“… not to abolish the law …”)
Matthew 22:29 (“… you are in error because you do not know the scriptures …”)
Luke 21:33 (“… my words will not pass away.”)
Luke 24:44-48 (“… so they could understand the Scriptures …”)
John 5:36-45 (“… you diligently study the Scriptures …”)
John 17:17 (“… your word is truth.”)
Acts 2:16+ (Joel quoted in Acts)
Acts 17:11-12 (“… examined the Scriptures every day …”)
Romans 15:4 (“… written to teach us …”)
Romans 16:25-26 (“… to establish you by my gospel …”)
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (“… you have known the holy Scriptures …”)
Hebrews 1:1-2 (“… God spoke to our forefathers …”)
Hebrews 4:12 (“… the word of God is living and active. Sharper …”)
1 Peter 1:23-2:3 (“… but the word of the Lord stands forever …”)
2 Peter 1:19-21 (“… men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”)
2 Peter 3:15-18 (“… Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him…”)
Revelation 22: 8-10, 16 (“… to give you this testimony for the churches …”)
Revelation 22: 18-19 (“if anyone adds anything … anyone takes words away from this book”)
II. God:
“Let US make man … in OUR image, in OUR likeness … So GOD created man …”
[Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 8:9-11]
There is One and only one living and true God…He is an Intelligent, Spiritual, and Personal Being…He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe…God is Infinite in holiness and all other perfections…God is All Powerful and all Knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures…To Him we owe the highest Love, Reverence, and Obedience…The Eternal Triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
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God is divine and infinite in Being shown through three subsistences:
a) the Father, the Word (or Son), and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and Eternity, each having the whole Divine Essence [I John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14]
b) the Essence undivided, the Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding [Ex 3:14; John 8:58-59; 14:11; I Cor. 8:6]
c) the Son is Eternally begotten of the Father [John 15:26; Galatians 4:6]
d) the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and Being [John 15:26; Galatians 4:6]
*The Doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our relationship with God, and dependence upon Him.
“Let US make man … in OUR image, in OUR likeness … So GOD created man …”
[Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 8:9-11]
A. The Father: God as Father reigns in holiness and in relationship over His universe, His creatures, and with the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is All Powerful, All Knowing, All Loving, and All Wise. God is Father in Truth to those who become children of God through Faith in Jesus Christ. He is Fatherly in His attitude and His love toward all mankind.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11+; 20:1+; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; I Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13.
Matthew 6:9-15; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7 Romans 8:14-15;
I Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
B. The Son: Christ is the Eternal Son of God. (Ps. 2; 110:1; Matt. 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; Mk 1:1;
Lk 4:41; 22:70; Jn 1:1-3, 34; 10:30, 38; 14:6-11; 15:16; 20:28; Acts 9:20; I Cor. 8:6; Eph.1:17; Phil.2:5-11; Col.1:15-20: 2:9; Hebr.1:1-14.)
1. In His Incarnation as Jesus Christ (Immanuel), He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born
of the virgin Mary. (Is. 7:14; Malachi 3:1-4; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:35; Jn 1:14; Titus 2:11; II Jn 7-9.)
2. Jesus perfectly revealed & did the will of God by taking upon Himself human nature & becoming
the Living Word, with its demands and necessities & identifying Himself completely with
mankind, yet without sin. (Matt. 11:27; Jn 1:6-13, 18; 16:25-31; I Tim. 3:16; I Pet. 2:21-24; Rev. 19:13.)
3. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His Death on the Cross as a substitution for mankind, He made provision for the Redemption of men from sin. (Is. 53; Jn 1:4-5, 17, 29; 17:1-26; Rom 3:21-27; 5:5-8, 12-21; I Cor. 1:30-31; 2:2; Col.1:13-14, 21-23; I Tim. 2:3-4; Titus 3:4-7; Hebr. 9:25-28.)
4. In His Resurrection, He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. (Matt. 28:5-7; Lk 24:46; Jn 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 20:1-20; Acts 1:3-5, 9; 2:22-36; 10:9-10, 13; I Cor. 15:12-22; Rev. 1:17-18; 2:8.)
5. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the Reconciliation between God and man. (Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 7:55-56; Rom 1:3-7; 5:9-11; 6:23; II Cor. 5:19-21; Eph.1:18-23; 3:11-12;
I Tim. 2:5; Rev. 5:9.)
6. He will Return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. (Jn 5:22, 27; Acts 1:10-11; I Cor. 16:42-58; Thess. 4:13-18; I Jn 2:28-3:2; Rev. 12:10-12; 13:8.)
7. He now Dwells in All Believers as the Living and ever Present Lord and Master. (Jn 3:16, 18; 5:24; Romans 8:1-4, 28-39; Gal 4:4-7; Eph.4:6; Hebr.7:25; I Pet. 2:25; I Jn 1:7-9; 4:14-16; 5:10-12.)
C. The Holy Spirit : The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine.
(Genesis 1:2; 6:3; Judges 14:6; Matt. 3:16;Mk 1:10, 12; Lk 1:35; Eph 2:18; I Tim 3:16.)
He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand
truth. (Lk 12:12; II Tim 3:16-17; I Pet 1:21.) He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. (Is 61:1-2; 63:7-11; Joel 2:28-32;
Lk 4:1, 18-19; Jn 14:16-17, 23; Acts 1:8; 19:1-7; Rom 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; Gal 4:6.) At the moment of
regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. (Ps 51:10-12; Lk 3:16; 11:13; Acts
8:14-17; 10:44-48.) He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts
by which they serve God through His church. (John 14:26; I Cor 12:3-13; I Thess 5:19; Revelation 22:17.)
God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. (Jn 16: 7-15; I Cor 3:16; Eph 1:13-14;
4:30; II Tim 1:14; Hebrews 9:14; I John 4:13-16.) He enlightens and empowers the believer and the
church in worship, evangelism, and service. (Matt. 12:28-32;28:19; Jn 4:24; 15:26-27; Acts 2:1-4, 38;
4:31; 7:55; 13:2; 16:6; I Corinthians 2:10-16.)
III. Man:
A. Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. God created them male and female as the
crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender (as man and woman) is thus part of the goodness of
God’s creation.
B. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was given by his Creator with freedom of choice. By man’s
free choice he sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan
man disobeyed (transgressed) the command of God, and fell from his “original innocence” whereby
man’s being inherits a nature and an environment inclined toward sin (“sin nature”). Therefore, as soon as
man is capable of moral action, he becomes a transgressor and is under condemnation due to his sin.
C. Only the Grace of God can bring man back into God’s Holy Relationship (Fellowship) and enable man to
fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that “God created man
in His own image, and in that Christ died for man.” Therefore, every person of every race possesses full
dignity, and opportunity to know God personally, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7,18-25; 3:1-13, 17-24; Psalms 1:6; 8:3-6; 32:1-5, 10; 51:2-5, 9-14; Isaiah 6:5-7; Jeremiah 17:5, 7; Mark 15:7, 10 … John 3:15-18, 36; 5:24 … Acts 17:24-31 … Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-26; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19-22 … Ephesians 2:1-22 … Colossians 1:21-23; 3:1-4.
and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender (as man and woman) is thus part
of the goodness of God’s creation.” - Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-25. Psalms 8:3-6.
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-24 ; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-26; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18.
Numbers 32:23 ; Deuteronomy 24:16 ; I Kings 8:46.
*Sins of “Commission” -vs- Sins of “Omission” … What does this mean?
John 3:15-18, 36; 5:24; Psalms 32:1-5, 10; 51:2-5, 9-14; Isaiah 6:5-7 ; Jeremiah 17:5,7;
Ephesians 2:1-22; Acts 17:24-31; I Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19-22; Colossians 1:21-23; 3:1-4.
IV. Salvation: Regeneration, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification.
There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
(Acts 4:12; Rom.1:16-17; 3:21-24; Rev. 3:20; 21:27)
A. Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man.
(Exodus 6:2-8; Psalm 62:2; Isaiah 45:17; Jonah 2:9; Matthew 1:21)
B. Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained Eternal Redemption for the believer.
(Luke 1:68-69; John 1:11-14; I Cor. 1:23, 2:2, 12; Rom.8:37-39)
C. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
1. 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 brought 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. (Rom.5:15; 10: 9-10, 13; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 1:6-8)
a) Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. (Matt.4:17; I John 1:9; II Cor. 7:10; Rom.5:8)
b) Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. (II Cor. 5:7; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom.3:23-26; Eph. 3:12)
2. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. (II Cor. 5:18-6:2;
Rom. 5:15; 6:22-23; 8:1-2; Gal. 2:16, 20; 3:3, 11)
3. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
(II Cor. 5:5; I Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 8:9-11, 28; Eph.1:13-14)
4. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. (Rom.2:7; 6:5;
D. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. (Rom.1:16-17; 3:21-24)
John 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1+; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 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.
V. God's Purpose of Grace:
-Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-49; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:20-23; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-14; 2:1-10; 3:1-12; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5, 8; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
VI. The Church:
A “New Testament Church” (singular) of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel who observe two ordinances of Christ (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper), governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each church group operates under the Lordship of Christ through a democratic process of government. In such a congregation each baptized believer is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors, elders, and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, as the office of pastor directs men and women to serve as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the Church (plural) as the “Body of Christ” (the bride) which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers who have received Christ personally as their Lord and Savior, from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper:
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.
