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ABOUT GODScripture teaches that there is one and only one true and living God, who is self-existent, and the eternal "I AM," the creator of heaven and earth, and the redeemer of mankind. That He has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. The mode of His existence, however, is a subject far above the understanding of man. He is the fountain of all perfection and happiness. He is glorified by the whole of creation and is worthy to be loved and served by all intelligence. He, therefore, is the only proper object of worship. ABOUT JESUS CHRISTWe believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man, was born miraculously of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and came into the world to save men from the guilt and condemnation of sin. He offered His blood as atonement and makes it available to all who exercise faith in Him. We also believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God, and His divinity is proved from His titles, His attributes, and His works. He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His redeemed. We also acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over all things in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITThe Scriptures ascribe to the Holy Spirit, the acts and attributes of an intelligent being. He guides knows, moves, gives information, commands, forbids, sends forth, and reproves, as the instrumental segment of the God Head in the liberal dispersion of spiritual gifts, and can be sinned against. The works of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit, creation, inspiration, giving of life, and sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which, according to the Will of God, we become partakers of His holiness; that it is begun at regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. ABOUT CREATIONGod spoke into existence the world and all things that it contains, for His own pleasure, and the enjoyment of His creatures. God created man in His image according to Genesis 1:26 as a triune being consisting of spirit, soul (which is made up of the mind, will and emotions), and a body. ABOUT THE BIBLEWe believe that the Holy Scriptures, both Old, and New Testaments were written by holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit and are God's revealed word to man. They are the sufficient, infallible rule and guide to salvation, and all Christian worship and service. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, equally in all parts and in the whole is totally inerrant in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme revelation of God and of God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to them; and it is, therefore, our infallible rule in all manners. All the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ, and hence, that no portion is properly read nor understood until it leads to Him. ABOUT PRIMITIVE MAN AND HIS FALLOur first parents, in their original state, were upright. They naturally preferred and desired to obey their creator, and had no preference or desire to transgress His will until they were influenced and inclined by Satan to disobey God's commands. Previous to this, the only tendency of their nature was to do righteousness. In consequence of their first transgression, the state under which posterity of Adam came into the world is so different from that of Adam that they have not that righteousness and purity which Adam had before the fall. They are not willing to obey God but are inclined to do evil. Hence, none by virtue of any natural goodness and mere work of their own can become the children of God. ABOUT SALVATIONMan's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. The inward evidence of salvation is a direct witness of the Spirit and the outward evidence to all men of a life of righteousness and true holiness. Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without human works. The spirit of the believer who dies in Christ immediately goes to be with the Lord. ABOUT ETERNITYPeople were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
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