A

STATEMENT
OF
FAITH
1. The Holy Scriptures. I
believe in the verbal1 and plenary2 inspiration
(God-breathement) of the original autographs of Holy Scripture (the 39
Old Testament and 27 New Testaments Canonical books), the only written
Word of God, inerrant, infallible, eternal, objective, unique, sufficient,
irreplaceable, inexhaustible, and absolutely authoritative for faith and
life.3 I believe every page of Scripture attests to the glory of God in the
Person and work of Jesus Christ.4 I maintain the distinction between
Scripture and revelation—particularly special revelation,5 but believe that
all that is in the Scriptures was intended by God to be there and that all
God intended to be there is there. I maintain the distinction between the
Scriptures’ inspiration6 and preservation.7 I believe God has preserved His
inspired Word, and that translations and copies of Holy Scripture are God’s
Word insofar as they accurately represent the original manuscripts. I
believe the Bible is truth; it is God’s truth about truth and about Himself
Who is truth;8 it is God’s interpretation of all He has chosen to reveal; it is
His written, unique, objective9 (meaning, whether it is received as such or
not), personal (meaning, knowledge about God), propositional (meaning,
knowledge of God), progressive10 (meaning, from lesser to fuller), self-
revelation. I believe by God alone can God be known,11 and that Scripture
is rational, conveyed in intelligible ideas and meaningful words. I believe
in the dual-sided authorship of the Scriptures—that “holy men of God
spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit,”12 and that the words
of the human authors13 are, by Divine design, simultaneously, entirely,
and completely the Word of God. I believe the authorial (both human and
Divine) intent is the one, true interpretation of any given text of Scripture,
but that there may be more than one legitimate applications. I believe
the correct interpretation of a given text must be discovered before
seeking any application, and that only the Spirit of God can apply the

1
Mt. 5:18
2
Jn. 10:35
3
Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Ps. 12:6–7; 19:7–10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140, 160;
138:2; Pro. 30:6; Is. 8:20; 40:8; 55:11; Jer. 15:16; 36:1–32; Mt. 4:4, 7, 10; 5:18; 22:29–31,
43; 24:35; 26:54; Lk. 16:29–31; 21:33; 24:44–46; Jn. 5:39, 46; 10:35; 12:48; 16:13–15;
17:17; Acts 2:16ff; 15:15; 17:11; 28:25; Rom. 15:4; 16:25–26; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:6, 11; 2
Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Tim. 5:18 cf. w/Lk. 10:7; 2 Tim. 3:15–
17; Heb. 1:1–2; 4:12; Jam. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3; 19–21; 3:16; Rev. 22:18–19
4
Jn. 5:39, 46
5
Jn. 21:25
6
2 Tim. 3:16
7
Ps. 12:7
8
Dan. 10:21; Ps. 119:142, 160; Pro. 22:21; Jn. 17:17; 2 Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13; Col 1:5; 3:16
cf. w/Jn. 14:6; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15; Jam. 1:18
9
Jn. 1:11
10
Jn. 16:12-13; Heb. 1:1-3
11
Mt. 16:17; Eph. 1:9-10
12
2 Pet. 1:21
13
Acts 4:25

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 Word of God to the heart of the hearer. I believe the Scriptures are to be
interpreted normally,14 under the grammatico-historical-contextual
hermeneutic and the Holy Spirit’s illumination,15 that the Scriptures
interpret themselves,16 and that the truth of Scripture stands in judgment
of men; never do men stand in judgment of it.17 I believe “arguments
from silence” should not be used to teach doctrine but to illustrate
doctrine. I believe all Biblical doctrine has practical relevance. I believe
all Holy Scripture, whether produced in red, black, or other hues, is
equally inspired (i.e., what God superintended the Prophets and Apostles
to write is of equal inspiration with what Jesus Himself said), and that
elements later introduced into Bibles such as the Canonical arrangement,
verse divisions, headers, cross references and other study aids—helpful as
these may be—are not Divinely inspired. I believe there are no
substitutes for God’s Word. I are comfortable referring to God as the God
of the Bible. I believe that to obey God’s Word is to obey God, and to
disobey God’s Word is to disobey God and sin. I endeavor in all that I
think and do to be Biblical, and while the Bible is not a fourth member of
the Trinity, I endeavor to embrace God’s own estimation of His Word,18
and thereby worship Him according to truth.19 I believe the Scriptures
speak for themselves, defend themselves, and when they speak, God
speaks. I believe that God speaks through His Word, that Jesus Christ is
the incarnate Word of God, that Holy Scripture is the written Word of God,
and that since the completion of the Canon coupled with the completion
of the plan of redemption, special and normative revelation has been
confined to the written Word.20 I believe that while all men are without
excuse,21 there is no salvation apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 22 I
believe that while academic knowledge of God’s written Word does not
regenerate a lost soul,23 God’s Word will not return to Him void, but will
accomplish whatever He pleases,24 and is inextricably involved with
evangelism,25 faith,26 preaching,27 salvation,28 sanctification,29

14
Pro. 8:8–9; Mt. 16:5–12; Jn. 2:18–21; Eph. 3:4
15
Is. 59:21; Jn. 6:45; 16:13–15; 1 Cor. 2:10–12, 15–16; 1 Jn. 2:20–21, 27
16
Is. 28:10; 1 Cor. 2:13
17
Jn. 12:48
18
Ps. 138:2
19
Jn. 4:24; Rom. 10:2
20
Deut. 4:2; Pro. 30:6; 1 Cor. 13:8; Heb. 1:1–2; Rev. 22:18–19
21
Ps. 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19-20, 32; 2:1, 14-15
22
Mt. 28:19; Jn. 3:36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2:14; 15:1-5; 1 Jn. 5:11-12
23
Jn. 5:39
24
Is. 55:11
25
Jn. 20:31
26
Rom. 10:17
27
Ezek. 3:16-21; Rom. 10:15; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Tim. 4:2
28
Ps. 119:50; Jn. 6:63, 68; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:2; Jam. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23
29
1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Eph. 5:26; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:17

Page 3 of 26
 assurance,30 doctrine,31 enlightenment,32 and judgment.33 I believe God’s
Word is to be read,34 studied,35 heard,36 memorized,37 meditated upon,38
prayed,39 shared,40 preached,41 taught,42 applied and obeyed,43 and
loved.44

2. The Godhead. I
believe in the one true and living Triune God,45 Creator,
Preserver and Ruler of all things, eternally existing in three Persons—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal in Being, co-identical in Nature,
co-equal in power and glory and having precisely the same attributes and
perfections of God-hood.46 He is holy, absolute, almighty, sovereign,47
supreme, perfect, eternal, immortal, infinite, independent, self-existent,
self-sufficient, transcendent, immense, incomprehensible, omnipotent,
omnipresent, omniscient, all-wise, immutable, incomparable, beautiful,
excellent, truth, zealous, incorporeal, Spirit, indivisible, active, just,
righteous, wrathful, majestic, good, merciful, benevolent, long-suffering,
gracious, love, compassionate, faithful, consistent, free, personal,
knowable, to be loved,48 feared,49 obeyed,50 and worshipped.51 God is,
always has been, and always will be totally and absolutely free and
unrestricted by anything outside Himself. God is absolutely sovereign and
all He does or allows will, by design, ultimately bring Him glory and
pleasure.52

30
Rom. 15:4; 1 Jn. 5:13
31
Lk. 1:1-4; 2 Tim. 3:16
32
Ps. 119:130
33
Jn. 12:48
34
Neh. 8:8, 18; 9:3
35
Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15
36
Neh. 8:18; 9:3
37
Ps. 119:11
38
Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; Col. 3:16
39
Ezra 9:11–12; Neh. 1:5, 8–9; Mt. 6:9–15
40
Deut. 6:6–9; Mt. 5:19; Acts 8:26ff; Rom. 10:14–15
41
Jonah 3:2; 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 20:9, 27; Rom. 10:15
42
Mt. 28:20; Rom. 12:7; Gal. 6:6; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 4:11; 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:16; 4:2
43
Ezra 7:10; 1 Thess. 2:13; Mt. 5:19; 7:24; Jn. 13:17; Jam. 1:22–25; Rev. 22:14
44
Ps. 1:2a; 119:97, 113, 119, 127, 159, 163, 165, 167
45
Deut. 6:4; Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
46
Gen. 1:1; Ps. 18:30–31; 147:5; Mt. 28:19; Mk. 12:29; Lk. 3:22; Jn. 4:24; 5:23; 10:30; 14:9;
Acts 5:3–4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1–3
47
Num. 23:19; Job 9:12; 11:10; 12:14; 23:13; 34:29; 42;2; Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Pro. 19:21;
Ecc. 3:14; Is. 14:24, 27; 45:7; 46:10; Dan. 4:35; Rom. 9:19; 11:36; 1 Cor. 15:28; Eph. 1:9,
11
48
Mk. 12:30
49
1 Pet. 2:17
50
Josh. 1:8; Jer. 11:7; Acts 5:29
51
Rev. 19:10
52
1 Chron. 29:11–12; Ps. 24:1; Is. 46:10; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11

Page 4 of 26
 2.1. The Person and Work of Christ.

2.1.1 I believe it is impossible to fully separate the Person and

work of Jesus Christ.53

2.1.2 I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternally begotten
Son of God and God the Son, took on flesh54 and became a
Man,55 without ever ceasing to be God, having been conceived
by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might
reveal God, destroy the works of the devil, and redeem sinful
men, and forever continues to be fully God and fully Man, and
the central focus of the Christian faith.56 He is the promised
Messiah,57 the Prophet,58 Priest,59 and King.60

2.1.3 I believe in the impeccability of Christ: that because Jesus

Christ is God manifested in the flesh,61 Jesus could not and
cannot ever sin just as the Father and Spirit could not and
cannot ever sin. He knew no sin,62 was without sin,63
committed no sin,64 and there is no sin found in Him.65

2.1.4 I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly and completely
fulfilled God’s Law,66 Whose obedience is, by means of faith
alone in Christ alone, legally, graciously, and instantaneously
imputed by God as positional righteousness to every Believer
at the moment of regeneration in the stead of their sin, and
therewith the Believer is fully and forever justified (declared
righteous on the basis of Christ’s work) before God, and that
such justification (as distinct from sanctification) can never be
increased or diminished.67
53
Acts 1:9–11; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1–2
54
Jn. 1:14; 6:51, 54, 56; Acts 2:31; Rom. 1:3; 9:5; Eph. 2:15; Col. 1:22; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb.
2:14; 10:20; 1 Pet. 3:18; 4:1; 1 Jn. 4:2–3; 2 Jn. 1:7
55
Rom. 5:15, 17, 19; 1 Cor. 15:21, 47; Phil. 2:7–8; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:12
56
Mt. 1:21; 18:11; 20:28; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:12, 14; 3:17; Phil. 2:5–11; 1 Tim. 1:15;
2:5; 3:16; 1 Jn. 3:8
57
Gen. 3:15; Is. 7:14, 9:6–7; Mt. 1:18–25; Mk. 14:61–62; Jn. 1:1–3, 14, 29; 5:18; 8:58;
10:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:2–9; 2:14–15; 1 Jn. 5:20
58
Lk. 24:19
59
Heb. 2:17
60
Rev. 19:16
61
1 Tim. 3:16
62
2 Cor. 5:21
63
Heb. 4:15
64
1 Pet. 2:22
65
1 Jn. 3:5
66
Is. 42:21; Mt. 5:17; Jn. 4:34; 14:31; Rom. 3:21–22; 10:3–4; Gal. 4:4–5; Phil. 2:8
67
Rom. 3:24, 26; 4:2–5; 8:33

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 2.1.5 I believe that Jesus Christ, as the immaculate Lamb of God, 68
suffered,69 shed His precious70 blood,71 became separated
from His Father for a time due to our sins,72 and died
voluntarily and efficaciously on the cross at Calvary as our
vicarious (substitutionary) Sacrifice73 (Christ died for us), and
Representative (we died with Christ),74 all in fulfillment of
God’s eternal redemptive plan. As the perfectly suitable God-
Man, Jesus Christ, in the atonement,75 1) propitiated76 the
Father on behalf of all His chosen ones,77 (that is, Jesus met
the demands of the righteousness of God against sin by both
satisfying the requirements of God’s justice in receiving His
wrath as well as canceling out/expiating the guilt of certain
specified sinners); 2) reconciled these sinful men to God,78
(that is, all the enmity79 between God and His people was
removed); and 3) redeemed these sinful men80 (that is, we
were bought out of sin’s slavery market by the ransom
payment of God’s dear Son). Christ’s death for us was not in
order for God to love us,81 but a demonstration of God’s love
for us.82 I believe Christ’s atonement is both complete and
actual (not merely potential),83 thereby securing everything
necessary for our salvation,84 including our total forgiveness,85
justification,86 eternal life,87 and even faith which the Spirit
imparts to all those for whom Christ died.

68
Jn. 1:29, 36; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 22:3
69
Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:21
70
1 Pet. 1:19
71
Mt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 2:13; Col. 1:14, 20; Heb. 9:14, 22; 10:19; 1 Jn. 1:7;
Rev. 1:5; 5:9; 7:14
72
Ps. 22:1; Mt. 27:46
73
Gen. 22:8, 13–14
74
Rom. 6–7
75
Rom. 5:11
76
Rom. 3:25; Col. 2:14; 1 Jn. 4:10
77
Eph. 1:4
78
Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18–19; Col. 1:20–22
79
Eph. 2:15–16
80
Ps. 107:2; Mt. 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:30; 6:19–20; Gal. 3:13; Col. 1:4; 1 Tim 2:6; Tit. 2:14; Heb.
9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18–19; 2:24
81
Jer. 31:3
82
Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4–5
83
Heb. 10:10–12, 18; Jn. 19:30
84
Rom. 3:24–25; 4:24–25; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Eph. 1:7; 2:14; Heb. 7:27; 9:12; 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:3–
5; 2:24
85
Ps. 32:1; 103:12; Mic. 7:19; Lk. 23:34; Rom. 4:8; 2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 1:7; 4:32; Col. 1:14;
2:13; 3:13; Heb. 9:22; 10:17; 1 Jn. 2:12
86
Rom. 3:24, 26, 28; 4:5, 25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18; 8:30, 33; 1 Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16; Tit. 3:7
87
Jn. 1:12; 19:13; Eph. 1:7; 2:1–10; 2 Tim. 2:8; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18–19

Page 6 of 26
 2.1.6 I believe that Jesus Christ was buried and on the third day
(Sunday) victoriously arose bodily88 from the dead according
to the Scriptures, conquering once and for all89 the power of
sin and death and vindicating the saving work of His life and
death.

2.1.7 I believe that Christ’s resurrection: demonstrates the

veracity of God’s Word;90 declares Jesus to be the Son of
God;91 validates the Father’s acceptance of Christ’s atonement
as the ground for our justification;92 is the power applied to
the Spirit-controlled Believer as the means for living a
victorious, sanctified life;93 was necessary for Christ to be our
Intercessor;94 guarantees our future resurrection;95 and,
assures everyone of coming judgment.96

2.1.8 I believe that after the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ
showed Himself to over five hundred eye-witnesses over a
period of forty days,97 He ascended to heaven, and is now
exalted and seated98 at the right hand of God where He, as
our High Priest and on the basis of His all-sufficient sacrifice
for sin, fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and
Advocate; is the One Mediator between God and man 99; is the
reigning Lord of glory and Bridegroom of His church;100 and, is
our soon-coming King.101

2.1.9 I believe in the uniqueness of Christ: that because Jesus

Christ is the unique Son of God,102 it is vain and utter folly to
attempt in any way to duplicate, replicate, or make
resemblances of Him.103

88
Jn. 20:17; Acts 1:11
89
Heb. 7:27; 9:28; 10:10–14, 18; 1 Pet. 3:18
90
Lk. 24:6–7; Jn. 10:18; Acts 1:3; Rom. 6:4; 8:11; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:18
91
Rom. 1:4
92
Rom. 4:24–25
93
Jn. 8:36; Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 1:19–20; Heb. 13:20
94
Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25
95
Jn. 11:25; 14:3, 19; 1 Cor. 15:20, 22; 1 Thess. 4:14
96
Acts 10:42–43; 17:31; Heb. 9:27
97
Acts 1:3
98
Heb. 1:3
99
1 Tim. 2:5
100
Rev. 19:9
101
Acts 1:9–10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1–2
102
Jn. 3:16
103
Ex. 20:4–5; Jn. 4:24; 16:10; 2 Cor. 5:16

Page 7 of 26
 2.2. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.

2.2.1 I believe that the Holy Spirit of God, Whom the Son of God
sent,104 is a Person Who convicts the world of sin,
righteousness and judgment;105 that He is the Supernatural
Agent of calling and regenerating sinners;106 that He baptizes
all Believers107 into the body of Christ once and as an
instantaneous act at the moment of regeneration;108 and that
He permanently indwells,109 sanctifies, equips, teaches, and
seals all Believers unto the day of redemption.110

2.2.2 I believe that God the Spirit is the Divine Teacher Who guides
Believers into all truth;111 that He does not draw attention to
Himself but to the Lord Jesus Christ;112 and, that it is the
privilege and duty of all the saved to be continually filled with
the Spirit of God,113 the evidence of which is the manifestation
of the fruit of the Spirit as demonstrated in the life of Christ.114

2.2.3 The baptism of the Spirit is a positional reality, occurring

once and for all in the life of every Believer at the moment of
regeneration, whereby the Spirit places us into the body of
Christ.115

3. The Total Pervasiveness of Man’s Sin. I

believe that man was
created in the image and likeness of God, 116
but that in Adam’s sin the
entire race fell, 117
inherited a sinful nature, became alienated from God
and, man, not born in a state of innocence118 but totally impacted in every
part of his being by sin, is spiritually dead119 and therefore, of himself,
utterly and forever unable to remedy his lost condition by any means
whatsoever. Each person’s depravity, while owing to God’s restriction

104
Jn. 16:7
105
Jn. 16:8
106
Jn. 1:13; 3:3–8; Tit. 3:5
107
Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 13:5
108
1 Cor. 12:13
109
Jn. 14:16–17
110
Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:12–14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13–14; 4:30
111
Jn. 16:13; 1 Jn. 2:20, 27
112
Jn. 16:13–14
113
Eph. 5:18
114
2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:22–23; Eph. 5:19–21
115
1 Cor. 12:13
116
Gen. 1:26–27; 2:7; 5:3; 9:6; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 139:13–16; Jam. 3:9
117
Rom. 5:12–24; 1 Cor. 15:22
118
Gen. 8:21; Ps. 51:5; 58:3
119
Eph. 2:1, 5

Page 8 of 26
 alone for not being full-blown, is nonetheless thorough, all-encompassing,
and fatal both physically and spiritually. Man is a helpless120 sinner by
nature and by choice and, if passed over, will forever be unable and
unwilling to please God.121
4. Salvation.

4.1 I believe that God’s glorious plan of salvation is a means to an end,

and that worthy end is to glorify Himself as a great Savior for great
sinners.122

4.2 I believe that salvation has always been and will always be the free
gift of God brought to man by grace (unmerited favor toward the
wicked123) alone124 and received by a personal and repentant faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ Who made full atonement for sin, was buried,
and rose from the dead. While sinful, hell-deserving men are
unworthy125 of so great a salvation,126 there is no condemnation127
for the redeemed, those who have passed from death to life,128
those who are Jesus’ friends.129 Salvation includes deliverance from
the penalty of sin (justification), the power and pleasure of sin
(sanctification), and in heaven the very presence of sin
(glorification).130

4.3 Eternal Security. I

believe that all God’s sheep will, by God, be
saved, 131
and that once saved, will, by God, be kept, and that they
will surely endure to the end,132 being hidden in Christ,133 and are
therefore as safe as and as loved as Christ is by God forever!134 I
believe life eternal is a present possession of all the saved,135 and
that God’s total wrath and justice against every one of our sins,

120
Eph. 2:12
121
Is. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10–11, 22–23; 5:6, 12; 8:8; Eph. 2:1–5, 12
122
Eph. 1:6, 10, 12, 14; 2:7; Rev. 5
123
Mt. 9:12–13
124
Ex. 33:19; Mt. 18:11; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; 4:2–5; 9:15; 11:16; 1 Cor. 3:5–7; Gal. 2:16,
21; 5:4; Eph. 2:5, 8–9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:5; 1 Jn. 4:10
125
Lk. 3:8; 17:10
126
Heb. 2:3
127
Rom. 8:1
128
Jn. 5:24
129
Jn. 15:15
130
Rom. 8:29–30
131
Mt. 1:21; Jn. 6:39
132
Mt. 10:22; 24:13
133
Rom. 6:23; Eph. 1:1, 3–4, 7, 10–11; 2:6–7, 10, 13; Col. 2:10; 3:3–4
134
Jn. 5:24; 6:37–49; 10:27–30; Rom. 8:1, 38–39; 1 Cor. 1:4–8; Phil. 1:6; 2:12–13; 1 Thess.
5:23; 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 1 Jn. 4:17
135
Jn. 5:24

Page 9 of 26
 past, present, and future,136 was, is, and always will be propitiated
(Divinely satisfied)137 by the finished atonement of Jesus Christ on
behalf of all those for whom it was intended, and therefore they can
never be judicially judged for their sins seeing Jesus was already.138
I believe our security and acceptance in Christ today are just as
fixed as they will be in eternal glory. I reject any view of salvation
which teaches man must contribute at any time to the atonement to
make it effectual. We’ll have no fewer days to sing God’s praise
than when we first begun!

4.4 I believe that it is the privilege of Believers to humbly rejoice in the

assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word,139
which, however, forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion
to the flesh.140

4.5 I believe that the new birth is a one-time event, (no one is born
thrice) and therefore once a son, always a son,141 but that
unconfessed sin in the life of the son is cause for many ailments, 142
most notably the loss of fellowship (not sonship) with his Father.
Accordingly, it behooves the child of God to avail himself of the
throne of grace143 and immediately confess and forsake any known
sin(s) to God144 and any offended party,145 public sins necessitating
public confession, private sins, private confession, respectively.146
While the Cross-work of Christ is the grounds for both his “penal
forgiveness” (the removal of the threat of hell, which was
accomplished over 2,000 years ago147) and his “Parental
forgiveness” (the removal of his Heavenly Father’s displeasure that
disobedience kindles), the Believer, secure in the reality of the
former, must still agree with God about his (the Believer’s) sin and,
as often as needed, seek the latter,148 whereby he may grow in
grace149 and experience a restored fellowship with his Heavenly
Father.
136
Rom. 4:6–8
137
Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 4:10
138
Rom. 8:1
139
Lk. 10:20
140
Rom. 13:13–14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11–15; Jude 1:4
141
Heb. 13:5
142
Num. 32:23; Ps. 66:18; Pro. 28:13; Is. 59:2; 1 Cor. 11:30; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Pet. 3:7; 2 Pet.
1:9
143
Heb. 4:16
144
Ps. 19:13–14; 51; 139:23–24; Rom. 14:23; Jam. 4:17
145
Mt. 6:12, 14–15; 1 Jn. 1:9
146
Mt. 5:22–25; 18:15–17; Lk. 17:3; Jam. 5:16
147
Heb. 9:12
148
1 Jn. 1:9
149
2 Pet. 3:18

Page 10 of 26
 4.6 I believe that God chastises His children when they fall into sin,
and that such restorative discipline is in fact a mark of sonship and
Fatherly love.150

4.7 I believe that the principal measure of sanctification is two-fold:

an increased awareness of God’s holiness coupled with an increased
awareness of one’s personal sinfulness.151

4.8 I believe that we are saved unto good works;152 that the saved are
to work out the salvation which God has already worked in;153 that
justification necessarily leads to sanctification;154 that our works do
not justify us but that a so-called faith which doesn’t lead to good
fruit155 is not genuine faith;156 that regeneration must precede faith
and repentance;157 that faith and repentance are necessary for
salvation; and that faith158 and repentance159 are a part of God’s gift
of salvation to the sinner.160

4.9 I believe the Scriptures lay out discernible161 evidences of

salvation,162 both internal and external, such as being a new
creation,163 not living a lifestyle of sin,164 living righteously,165
victory over temptation,166 an appetite for the things of God,167
spiritual understanding,168 believing Christian doctrine,169 receiving
the Lord’s discipline,170 answered prayer,171 loving the brethren,172

150
Pro. 3:12; Jn. 5:42; 14:21, 23; Heb. 12:4–11; 1 Jn. 4:19
151
1 Ki. 8:38; Is. 6:1–5; Jer. 17:9; Lk. 5:8; Jn. 3:30
152
Eph. 2:10
153
Phil. 2:12
154
Mt. 7:21–23; 10:22; Lk. 6:46–49; 9:23; 2 Cor. 5:17
155
Mt. 7:16, 20; Mk. 4:8; Lk. 3:9
156
Jam. 2:17
157
Jn. 10:26
158
Jn. 6:29
159
2 Tim. 2:25
160
Mt. 16:17; Jn. 1:13; 6:37, 44, 65; 15:5, 16; Eph. 2:8; Jam. 1:18
161
1 Tim. 5:24–25; 2 Pet. 2:22
162
Heb. 10:14
163
2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15
164
1 Jn. 3:6–10
165
1 Jn. 3:10
166
Rom. 8:2
167
Rom. 8:5
168
1 Cor. 2:14
169
1 Jn. 4:1–6
170
Heb. 12:5–11
171
1 Jn. 5:14–15
172
1 Jn. 3:10

Page 11 of 26
 the witness of God’s Spirit,173 and bearing good fruit.174 However,
we do not, because we cannot,175 pass Divine judgment concerning
the authenticity or lack thereof of any individual’s profession of
faith.176

4.10 Biblical Separation. I

believe that all who know the Lord should
live in such a manner as not to call into question their own
testimony, nor bring reproach to other Christians or the name of
Christ;177 and, that separation from religious apostasy, sinful
pleasure and practices is commanded by God.178

4.11 The Two Natures of the Believer. I

believe that every saved
person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of
the new nature over the old nature through the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the
old nature (sinless perfection) in this life are unscriptural.179

4.12 I believe that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God;”180 that the new birth is not owed “to blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God;”181 that
unless one repents, he shall die;182 that “He who believes in the Son
has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abides on him;”183 that “he who does
not believe is condemned already;”184 that Jesus is “the way, the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through
Him;”185 that “there is no other name under heaven given among
men by which we must be saved;”186 that “whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved;”187 and, that “the Spirit
and the bride say, ‘Come!’”.188
173
Rom. 8:16
174
Mt. 7:20
175
2 Tim. 2:19
176
Mt. 13:24–30; Lk. 13:6–9; 1 Cor. 11:31; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 6:4
177
2 Tim. 2:19
178
Rom. 12:1–2; 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14–7:1; Eph. 5:7–12; 2 Tim 3:1–5; Heb. 11:25–26; 12:14;
Jam. 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:15–16; 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15–17; 2 Jn. 9, 11
179
Rom. 6:13; 8:12; Gal. 5:16–25; Eph. 4:22–24; Col. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14–16; 1 Jn. 1:8, 10; 3:5–
9
180
Jn. 3:3
181
Jn. 1:13
182
Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30
183
Jn. 3:36
184
Jn. 3:18
185
Jn. 14:6
186
Acts 4:12
187
Rom. 10:9–13
188
Jn. 5:24; 17:3; Rev. 22:17

Page 12 of 26
5. The Church.

5.1 I believe the church, which is the body189 and now the espoused
bride of Christ,190 is both a spiritual organism and a visible, local
assembly of born-again persons, all of whom have been baptized by
the Spirit into the body of Christ, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the one and only Head191 of His church.192
5.2 Jesus said “I will” (not “I will continue to”) “build My church,”193 and
I believe that He began194 to do so ten days after His ascension
when He baptized with the Spirit195 beginning on the Day of
Pentecost.196 Because all believers in Christ (Jew and Gentile alike)
are placed into the body of Christ197 through Spirit baptism,198 Spirit
baptism is necessary for the formation of the church. While the
Scriptures never call the people of God in the Old Testament
“Christians,”199 nor “the church of God,”200 they, nonetheless, are in
heaven the same way by which the church saints are in heaven:
the grace of God and the blood of Christ. Although it was in the
mind and purpose201 of God in eternity past, the mystery of the
church,202 “from the beginning of the ages has been hidden” 203 and
remained a mystery and incomprehensible to man204 until it was
revealed by God205 to those for whom it was intended.206 This
mystery contained divine knowledge that believing Gentiles would,
for the first time, be united together with believing Jews as equal
heirs of God’s blessings, equal members of the same body, and
equal partakers of God’s promise in Christ,207 this body being called
the church.208 Such privileges were not enjoyed by Gentiles209
before the death of Christ, and it was not until such a marvelous
189
Eph. 1:22–23
190
Rev. 21:9
191
Col. 1:18
192
Acts 2:42; Eph. 1:19–23; 5:25–27; 1 Cor. 12:12–14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Heb. 10:25
193
Mt. 16:18
194
Acts 11:15
195
Lk. 3:16; Jn. 7:37–39; 14:17; 16:7; Acts 1:4–5
196
Acts 2
197
Col. 1:18, 24
198
1 Cor. 12:13
199
Acts 11:26
200
Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 3:5, 15
201
Eph. 3:11
202
Eph. 3:3
203
Eph. 3:4–5, 9
204
1 Cor. 2:9
205
Rom. 16:25–26; 1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 3:3–5; Col. 1:26–27
206
Col. 1:26
207
Eph. 3:6
208
Col. 1:18, 24–27
209
Eph. 2:11–19

Page 13 of 26
 arrangement (uniting implacable enemies) was formed (the church)
that God would make known such facets of His wisdom to the
angels.210

5.3 I believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches

is taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. Believers
are to be encouraged to unite with a Bible-believing church.211

5.4 I believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external
authority or control.212

5.5 Offices. I
believe that the two Scriptural Offices of a New
Testament church are that of the PEB (pastor-elder-bishop)213 and
Deacon,214 and are for men only who have never been divorced at
any time. I do not believe in or recognize the so-called ordination of
women (Subsection 12.2).

5.6 Ordinances. I
believe that the two ordinances of a New
Testament church are water baptism,215 and the Lord’s Supper
(communion),216 neither of them having any saving merit nor acting
as a means of imparting special grace.217 They are both symbolic,
they are both to be administered by the church until the Lord’s
return, and they are both for Believers only.

5.6.1 Baptism (Subsection 11.1.3) is preceded by a profession of

repentance of sins and faith in Jesus Christ as one’s personal
Lord and Savior. It is the immersion of a Believer in water in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an
act of obedience to be sought right after conversion.218 It is
the New Testament’s way for the candidate to 1) publicly
confess Jesus as Lord; 2) picture219 the death, burial, and
resurrection of the Lord in Whom his/her faith rests and with
Whom he/she is identifying, symbolizing his/her burial of the
old life and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ

210
Eph. 3:8–10
211
Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28–32; 1 Tim. 3:1–13; Tit. 1:5–11
212
Acts 13:1–4; 15:19–31; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4–7; 1 Pet. 5:1–4
213
Acts 20:17-28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-7; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
214
Acts 6:1–6; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-10, 12-13
215
Mt. 3:16; 28:19; Mk. 1:9; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:39; 10:47; Rom. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:21
216
Mt. 26:26–30; 1 Cor. 11:23–30
217
Mt. 28:19–20; Acts 2:38, 41–42; 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23–26
218
Acts 9:18; 16:33; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:14–16
219
Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21

Page 14 of 26
 Jesus; and 3) profess his/her assurance of a future bodily
resurrection.

5.6.2 The Lord’s Supper (Subsection 11.1.4) is to be administered

by and in the context of a local church,220 and is for Believers
who are neither disobedient to the Lord’s command to be
baptized nor are negligent to join a local church.221 Through
partaking of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine,222
Believers remember (not reenact) the past-death of the risen
and exalted Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Communion will continue until Christ returns. It is not a
sacrifice in any way. Christ is not in the actual elements, (for
He hasn’t returned yet), but the elements, while symbolizing
the broken body and shed blood of our Lord, are symbols of
the communion (common experience of fellowship) we
Believers enjoy on a regular basis with the crucified, buried,
risen, glorified, and exalted Christ through His Spirit in us.223
Communion is provided for those who will follow the
command in 1 Corinthians 11:28: “A person must examine
himself and then eat the bread and drink from the cup.”

5.7 Law and Grace. I

believe that God established the Mosaic Law224
as a way of administering His eternal, unchangeable, moral
absolutes through Moses, but that Jesus Christ (when He declared
“It is finished!”225) established grace as the new, superior226 way of
God’s administering His eternal, unchangeable, moral absolutes in
this present age for Believers in Jesus Christ.227 I also believe the
law of God in the Bible is one, indivisible unit, (including what are
commonly called the “moral,” “ceremonial,” and “civil” aspects—
not supposing that the latter two are immoral), and like any law, is
inseparable from its penalties, for a law that cannot be enforced is
not law but mere good advice. So any attempt to divest God’s holy
law of any of its aspects, including its penalties, dishonors both the
law and by extension the Lawgiver, and ends in theological disaster.
Such dismemberment of the Law (which the Bible itself never does)
is, by definition, antinomianism! So the Mosaic Law remains
complete as one law with all of its aspects in force…that is, for
those who would put themselves under any aspect of it (i.e., the
220
1 Cor. 1:2
221
2 Thess. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:17
222
Mt. 26:29
223
1 Cor. 10:16
224
Deut. 4:8–14; 5:1–22; Gal. 3:19, 23–25
225
Jn. 19:30
226
Rom. 8:3; Heb. 8:6
227
Mt. 5:17; Jn. 1:17; Rom. 10:4; Tit. 2:12

Page 15 of 26
 “moral” aspect).228 With all that said, the Believer, then, is not
under any aspect229 of the Law as law,230 but is totally under
grace,231 and he, therefore, is not lawless232 but remains related to
God’s eternal, unchangeable, moral absolutes (via Jesus,233 not
Moses).234 Grace alone has always been and still is the entryway for
salvation,235 but in contrast to being under the grip of the Mosaic
Law and relating to God through it, grace (and not grace plus Law)
functions in the life of the New Testament Believer as his disposition
toward God.236 The rule of life237 for the Christian in the New
Covenant is—not the Mosaic Law, for that is a rule of death, 238 but
rather—the prescribed will of God239 in the context of His grace
given in our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in the entire Word of God
written. Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant, 240 did not come
to strengthen us to keep the Mosaic Law. The New Testament
Believer does not have one foot in the Old Covenant and one foot in
the New Covenant, as if the New helps us to keep the Old. 241 The
New does not abolish the Old but supersedes it in the sense that
through the New all that was anticipated in the covenants made
with Abraham,242 Moses,243 and David244 is fulfilled and its purpose
achieved.245 The Law is holy indeed, but it cannot make sinners
holy;246 it has neither the power to save,247 nor sanctify,248 nor
secure249 (the latter two being aspects of the first). The Christian is
neither in debt to keep the Mosaic Law,250 nor free to do his own
will.251 Rather, he lives wholly in the sphere of grace. 252 And grace

228
Gal. 3:10; 5:3; Jam. 2:10
229
Gal. 3:10; 5:3; Phil. 1:21; Jam. 2:10
230
1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 2:19; 3:19, 23–25; 5:18, 22–23; 8:14
231
Rom. 6:14–15; 7:4, 6; 1 Pet. 1:10
232
Jude 1:4
233
Rom. 7:4
234
Ps. 119:45; Mt. 11:29–30; 22:37–40; Rom. 13:9–10; Gal. 5:13; 6:2; Jam. 2:8, 12; 1 Jn. 5:3
235
Gal 2:16–17; 3:11, 24; 5:4
236
Gal. 2:20; 3:3; 6:15–16; Tit. 2:11–12
237
Gal. 6:15–16
238
Rom. 3:19; 1 Cor. 15:56; 2 Cor. 3:6–7; Gal. 3:10
239
Jn. 7:17; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:17; Phil. 2:13; Col. 1:9
240
Heb. 8:6; 12:24
241
Eph. 2:15–16; Heb. 7:12
242
Gal. 3:29
243
Ex. 19:5–6; 1 Pet. 2:9
244
Acts 2:29–31
245
Jer. 31:31–34; Mt. 5:17; 1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 13:20
246
Acts 15:10; Gal. 3:3; Col. 2:6
247
Rom. 3:20, 28; Gal. 2:16; 3:11; 5:4; Col. 2:14
248
Rom. 6:14; Gal. 3:3; Heb. 10:10, 14
249
Rom. 8:3–4ff
250
Hebrews!
251
Ps. 40:8; 143:10; Mt. 6:10; Jn. 4:34; Rom. 7:22; 1 Cor. 9:20; 2 Cor. 5:15; Heb. 10:7–9
252
1 Cor. 15:10; Gal. 2:20; 5:4; 2 Pet. 3:18

Page 16 of 26
 does not embrace sin; grace renounces sin!253 Christian liberty254 is
not license to sin.255 Furthermore, I do not believe legalism256 is any
better than licentiousness.257 Finally, those who are led by the Spirit
are Christians,258 and those who are led by the Spirit are not under
the Law,259 because those who are led by the Spirit do not practice
the unrighteous works of the flesh,260 which the Law is ordered to
come against,261 but rather he bears righteous fruit,262 rendering
such a Law to come against him pointless.263 Such fruit does not
come because of Mount Sinai,264 but because of Mount Calvary.265
“Run, John, Run! The Law commands, but gives us neither feet nor
hands; far grander news the Gospel brings: it bids us fly and gives
us wings!” (—John Bunyan) With that said, it must be noted that
the entirety of the Scriptures, including the Old Testament and the
Mosaic Law—even the ceremonial and civil elements, must be
heartily embraced and upheld by the Believer as being 1) inspired
and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in
righteousness;266 2) able to make us wise unto salvation; 267 and 3) a
mirror 268in which we see both our sin and our Savior—His Person
and His Work.269

5.8 The Sabbath. S

abbath means rest, and the rest for the people of
God under the Mosaic Law270 was a day of the week, namely, the
last day, or Saturday, because of our Creator’s rest on the seventh
day of creation.271 (There was also a Sabbath year.272) In keeping
with its meaning, this day was designated for national Israel273 (as a

253
Jn. 14:21, 23–24; 15:12, 14; Rom. 3:8; 6:1, 14–15; Eph. 4:17–5:21; Tit. 2:11–12; Heb.
12:14; 1 Jn. 1:6; 2:4, 9; 3:23; 4:20–21; 2 Jn. 1:5–6
254
Gal. 5:1
255
Ps. 119:45; Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16
256
Acts 15:10
257
Galatians!
258
Rom. 8:14
259
Gal. 5:18
260
Gal. 5:19–21
261
Gal. 3:19; 1 Tim. 1:8–10
262
Rom. 7:4; Gal. 5:22–23
263
Gal. 5:23
264
Num. 21:8
265
Rom. 7:4, 6; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 5:6; 6:14–16; Col. 3:1–4
266
2 Tim. 3:16–17
267
2 Tim. 3:15
268
Jam. 1:22–25
269
Jn. 5:39; Lk. 24:27, 44; Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:16; 2 Cor. 3:14–15, 18; Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1
Jn. 2:6
270
Ex. 31:13; Deut. 5:3; Neh. 9:13–14
271
Ex. 20:11; Heb. 4:4
272
Lev. 25:4ff; 2 Chron. 36:20–21
273
Ex. 20:2; 31:16

Page 17 of 26
 sign of the covenant274) not as a day for worship per se,275 but for
rest.276 I believe that rest was a shadow of, and fulfilled in Jesus
Christ277 Who, in the New and better Covenant, is Himself the Rest
(the Christian’s Sabbath) for the souls of those who have ceased
from their religious efforts to obtain right standing with God, to rely
on Christ’s finished work in their stead.278 Our Sabbath is not a day
but a Person. With Jesus and not a day as my Sabbath, I do not
“keep” any day of the week,279 but I do faithfully280 assemble with
the local fellowship of Believers on Sundays and other appointed
times,281 not because of the Fourth Commandment, but because of
the example set by the Apostles,282 and because of the significance
of Christ’s resurrection which He chose to execute on the first day of
the week.283 Our Lord declared “Man was not made for the
Sabbath.” 284
To the Christian, there are no special holy days. 285
Resting in God’s provision—not worshipping on Sunday (as good as
that is)—is that eternal, moral, principle foreshadowed in the Fourth
Commandment.
6. Ministry and Spiritual Gifts.

6.1 I believe that God is sovereign and all-wise in the bestowment of

His spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ. God
uniquely uses evangelists and pastor-teachers to equip Believers in
the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry.
Gifts such as serving, administrating, exhorting, giving, and mercy-
showing are also functional in the Church. Authentic sign gifts, such
as speaking in unlearned languages and healing on demand, as
given to the Apostles, were signs to unbelievers286 for the
authentication of the divine origin of the message being delivered
while Scripture was still being written. Seeing the last Apostle has
died and that the completed Canon, now closed, is now the final
authority for testing all things,287 I believe the sign gifts were
temporary for the church’s beginnings, much like scaffolding for the

274
Ex. 31:13–17
275
Ps. 92
276
Ex. 20:8–11
277
Mt. 5:17; Col. 2:14–17
278
Hos. 2:11; Mt. 11:28; Heb. 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3, 5, 8–11
279
Gal. 4:10
280
Lk. 4:16
281
Rom. 14:5–6; Col. 2:16; Heb. 10:25
282
Jn. 20:19, 26; 1 Cor. 16:2
283
Mt. 6:33; 28:1; Mk. 16:2, 9; Jn. 20:1
284
Mk. 2:27
285
Gal. 4:10–11
286
1 Cor. 14:22; Heb. 2:4
287
1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:1

Page 18 of 26
 erection of a building, and have in fact already ceased.288 Though
God chooses to use the prayers of Believers for physical healing and
to work miracles, He, in His absolute freedom, does not obligate
Himself to, nor can He be manipulated by anyone, and ultimate
deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the
consummation of our salvation in the resurrection.

6.2 I believe one of the Christian’s blessed joys is the assurance that
God does hear and answer the prayers made by His people in
accord with His Own will.289

7. Missions. I
believe that it is the privilege and obligation of the saved to
witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to obey our
Lord’s commandment to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. As
ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means in harmony with
Scripture to obediently go wherever God sends us.290
8. The Second Advent of Christ. I believe in the “Blessed Hope,” the
imminent, visible, personal, second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I
believe “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” I believe “the
Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an
archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always
be with the Lord.”291 I believe Jesus will come again and receive us to
Himself; that where He is, there we may be also.292 I do not make one’s
eschatological leanings a test of fellowship with other Believers.
8.1 The Eternal State.

8.1.1 I believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to

eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting
punishment and separation from God.293

8.1.2 I believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death,

absent from the body and immediately present with the Lord,
where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection,

288
Mk. 16:20; Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–11, 27–31; 13:8–10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph.4:7–12;
Heb.2:3–4
289
Lk. 18:1–8; Jn. 15:7; Jam. 5:14–15; 1 Jn. 5:14–15
290
Mt. 28:18–20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:46–48; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; 4:12; Rom. 1:16; 10:14–17; 1
Cor. 1:21; 3:6–7; 9:16; 2 Cor. 5:19–21; 1 Jn. 3:18
291
Zech. 14:4–11; Acts 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13–18; 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:7–10;
Rev. 3:10; 19:11–16; 20:1–6
292
Jn. 14:3
293
Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28–29; 11:25–26; Rom. 2:5–11; Rev. 20:5–6, 12–13

Page 19 of 26
 when the spirit and body are reunited to be glorified forever
with the Lord.294

8.1.3 I believe that the souls of unbelievers live forever also, being
judged at the Great White Throne at the close of the
Millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the
Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and
from the glory of His power.295

9. The Personality of Satan. I

believe that Satan is a person, the author
of sin and the cause of the fall; he deceives and is himself deceived; he is
not sovereign; he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; he
transforms himself into an angel of light;296 and, he, with his demons,
shall be forever punished in the Lake of Fire.297

10. Miracles of Creation and of Providence. I

believe that the Personal
Creator God created out of nothing, by His Word,298 the tri-universe
(space/time/matter continuum) in six literal, 24-hour solar days.299 I
reject evolution, the gap theory, the day-age theory, old-earth theory,
theistic evolution/progressive creationism, and pagan pantheism, as
unscriptural theories of origin. I believe in the literal, global, cataclysmic
Noahic deluge through which a total of eight persons were spared. 300 I
believe the historicity of both the prophet Jonah and his miraculous
experience in the great fish Providentially prepared, being also a
prophetic type of Christ’s own death, burial, and resurrection. 301 I believe
the Israelites crossed on dry ground through the Red Sea by a miracle of
the Lord.302 I believe Jesus walked on water303 and that He fed many
thousands with a few loaves and fishes.304

11. Civil Government. I

believe that God has ordained and created all
authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the
294
Lk. 23:43; Rom. 5:1–9; 1 Cor. 15:16ff; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:20–21; 1 Thess. 4:16–17; 2
Tim. 2:3–13; Rev. 20:4–6
295
Mt. 25:41–46; Mk. 9:43–48; Lk. 16:19–26; Rom. 9:22; 2 Thess. 1: 7–9; Jude 1:6–7; Rev.
20:11–15
296
2 Cor. 11:14
297
Job 1:6,7; Is. 14:12–17; Ezek. 28:12–19; Mt. 4:2–11; Rev. 20:10
298
Jn. 1:1–3; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 1:16–17; Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5
299
Gen. 1–2; Ex. 20:11
300
Gen. 6–9; Mt. 24:38–39; Lk. 17:27; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5; 3:6
301
Jonah; Mt. 12:40–41; Lk. 11:29–30, 32
302
Ex. 15:4, 22; Num. 21:14; Deut. 11:4; Josh. 2:10; 4:23; 24:6; Neh. 9:9; Ps. 106:7, 9–11,
22; 136:13–15
303
Mt. 14:22–33; Mk. 6:45–52; Jn. 6:16–21
304
Mt. 14:13–21; 15:32–39; Mk. 6:30–44; 8:1–10; Lk. 9:10–17; Jn. 6:1–15

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 church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but
all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and
governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical
responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the
understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other,
but the Christian, as the salt and light of the world, most certainly must
seek to influence others with the truths of God’s Word.305 Furthermore,
while the home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in
their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God,
the laws of heaven always supersede the laws of the land, and therefore
the Christian has an unconditional obligation to obey God instead of man
when obeying man would cause him to sin.306

12. Lawsuits Between Believers. I

believe that Christians are prohibited
from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to
resolve personal disputes. I believe the church possesses all the
resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. I
do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries
from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is
pursued without malice or slander.307

13. Charity. Ibelieve that we should demonstrate Biblical charity for

others, 308
not only toward fellow Believers, but also toward those who are
not Believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful
actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently,
patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of
revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving
personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands
us to abhor sinful actions, we are to Biblically love and pray for any
person who engages in such sinful actions.309
14.The Home.

14.1 Divine Order. I

believe that God has ordained the family as the
foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love
his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to
the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to
the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord.
Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and
moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle
305
Mt. 5:12–13; 2 Cor. 5:11
306
Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:1–7; Eph. 5:22–24; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13–14
307
1 Cor. 6:1–8; Eph. 4:31–32
308
Rom. 13:10
309
Lev. 19:18; Mt. 5:44–48; Lk. 6:31; Jn. 13:34–35; Rom. 12:9–10; 17–21; 13:8–10; Phil. 2:2–
4; 2 Tim. 2:24–26; Tit. 3:2; 1 Jn. 3:17–18; Jude 1:23; Rev. 2:6, 15; 3:19

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 example, lots of love, an environment of trust, and appropriate
discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction.310

14.2 Masculinity and Femininity. I

believe that men and women are
spiritually equal in position before God311 and yet from the
beginning of Creation God has ordained distinct and separate
functions for men and women. The husband is to be the leader of
the home, and men are to be the leaders of the church.312
Accordingly, only men may be eligible for licensure and ordination
by the church.313

14.3 Human Sexuality. I

believe that God has commanded that no
intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a Scriptural
marriage between one man and one woman. I believe that any
form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest,
fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions and/or
inversions of God’s beautiful gift of marital relations. I believe that
God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by
surgery or appearance.314

14.4 Marriage and the Family. I

believe that Scriptural marriage is a
binding covenant relationship of one man and one woman, to the
exclusion of all others, in which they must give their voluntary
consent to marry this man/woman, they must promise that the
relationship will be permanent, they must do so in the presence of
witnesses, and they must consummate (or intend to consummate)
their marriage in sexual union. Accordingly, I believe a family is all
the persons who are joined to a common, Scriptural marriage.315

14.5 Divorce and Remarriage. I

believe that God hates divorce and
made marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. I believe that,
in the clear light of the entire counsel of God, initiating a divorce,
regardless of the reason(s), is a departure from God’s ideal316 and is,
therefore, necessarily, always and without exception, inherently a
sin of some kind or another (usually classified as a violation of the

310
Gen. 1:26–28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4–9; 1 Sam. 3;13; Ps. 127:3–5; Pro. 3:12; 5:12, 23;
10:13; 13:24; 15:10; 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13–14; 26:3; 29:15, 17; Mk. 10:6–12; 1 Cor. 7:1–
16; Eph. 5:21–33; 6:1–4; Col. 3:18–21; Heb. 13:4; 12:6–11; 1 Pet. 3:1–7
311
Gal. 3:28
312
1 Tim. 3:5
313
Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8–15; 3:4–5, 12
314
Gen. 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8–9; Lev. 18:1–30; Rom. 1: 26–29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1–8;
Heb. 13:4
315
Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22–23
316
Rom. 3:23

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 heart of the Seventh Commandment), though not always classified
as the adulterous kind, according to Matthew 19:9. That is, there
are no more Biblical grounds for initiating a divorce than there are
for committing any other sin.317 Divorce is not a fruit of the Spirit
but a work of the flesh.318 Because only death, not divorce, truly
dissolves a marriage, this makes marriage to a divorcée (or divorcé)
whose former spouse is still living adulterous, and therefore only
widows (and widowers) may be eligible for remarriage.319 I reject as
being unscriptural the zealous but misled teaching which insists that
persons who were remarried unscripturally must now get
divorced.320 While the consequences of our sins may not be
immediately removed, I oppose, as denying the beauty of the
Atonement, the stigmatization of anyone whose sins have been
confessed and forsaken,321 forgiven and covered.322 I further
denounce domestic violence as much as divorce.323 Although
repentant divorced persons and/or persons who have remarried
while their former spouse was still living may hold positions of
service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian
service, they may not—for reasons of disqualification, not
punishment or unforgiveness—be considered for the Offices of PEB
or Deacon.324
15. The Sanctity of Human Life.

15.1 Abortion. I
believe that human life begins at fertilization and that
the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the
unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is
murder. I reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to
rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population
317
Gen. 1:27; 2:24; 50:20; Ex. 20:12–17; Num. 32:23; Deut. 6:7; 17:17; 22:13–19; 22:28–29;
24:1–4; Job 31:1; Ps. 15:4; 103:10; Pro. 5; 6:16–19; 7; 10:12; 11:14; 15:22; 20:22; 22:6;
31; Ecc. 5:4–5; Song.; Is. 6:1–7; Jer. 3:1, 14; Hosea; Mic. 6:8; Mal. 2:15–16; Mt. 5; 6:12,
14–15; 10:38–39; 16:23–25; 18:21–35; 19:6, 8; Mk. 8:34–37; 10:9; 11:25–26; Lk. 6:42,
46; 7:47; 9:23; 14:26–27; 15; 16:18; 17:3–4; 18:13; Jn. 3:30; 4:16–18; 8:1–11; 12:25;
13:15; Rom. 1:31; 3:23; 5:3–5, 8; 7:1–3; 8:13, 18, 28; 12:3, 10, 18–19, 21; 13:14; 14:23;
1 Cor. 6:1–8; 7:5, 10–13, 39; 10:13, 31; 13; 15:31; 16:22; 2 Cor. 4:17; 5:7, 13–26; 10:5;
Gal. 2:20; 6:1–2; Eph. 4:2, 26–27, 32; 5:1, 21–23, 25–29, 32; 6:1–4; Phil. 1:21; 2:1–5, 14–
15; 3:10; 4:6–8, 11, 13, 19; Col. 1:18; 2:8; 3:2, 12–13, 17–19, 21, 23; 4:5; 1 Thess. 1:6;
3:12; 5:15; 1 Tim. 3:2; 4:12; 5:8–9; 6:6, 8; Tit. 1:6; 2:7–8, 12; Heb. 11; 12:15; 13:4–5, 7,
17; Jam. 1:3–4, 12, 19–20; 3:17; 4:1, 17; 1 Pet. 1:15–16; 22; 2:12, 21; 3:1–16; 4:8; 5:10;
2 Pet. 3:11; 1 Jn. 1:5; 2:6, 9–11; 3:17; 4:20–21; Rev. 19:7–8
318
Gal. 5:19–23
319
Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:2–3; 1 Cor. 7:39
320
Deut. 24:1–4; 1 Cor. 7:20
321
Pro. 28:13
322
Ps. 32:1; 1 Jn. 1:9
323
1 Tim. 5:8; Eph. 5:22–32
324
Mal. 2:14–17; Mt. 19:3–12; Mk. 10:1–9; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:1–3; 1 Cor. 7; Eph. 5:22–32; 1
Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:6; Heb. 13:4

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 control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are
acceptable. I try to save life, not kill it.325

15.2 Euthanasia. I
believe that the direct taking of an innocent human
life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God
and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus I
believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention,
causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder
contrary to the will of God. That being said, discontinuing medical
procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the
expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous
treatment.326

15.3 Contraception. A
s God is the Creator, Author, and Giver of live,
His archenemy, Satan, only hates life and seeks to destroy it,
however possible.327 Thus, I believe each child is viewed by Satan
as a potential recipient of the grace of God and thereby another
potential enemy of Satan. Therefore, the worldly spirit of “antilife”
and “antichildren” is originally demonic,328 as it only furthers
Satan’s ploys.329 I believe the Apostle’s words to “marry, bear
children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to
speak reproachfully” are still applicable.330 I believe that God’s
normal role for women is “in childbearing if they continue in faith,
love, and holiness, with self–control.”331 Jesus welcomed children
into His life and urged His followers to do the same.332 Abimelech’s
wife,333 Leah,334 Hannah,335 Sarai,336 Job,337 David,338 Isaiah,339

325
Gen. 1:26–27; 2:7; 4:1; 5:2; 9:6; Ex. 20:13; 21:22–25; 23:7; Deut. 30:19; 2 Sam. 11–12; 2
Chron. 28:3; Job 3:3, 16; 10:8–12; 31:15; 33:4; Ps. 22:9–10; 51:5; 100:3; 106:37–38;
127:3; 139:13–16; Pro. 6:16–17; 4:11–13; 24:11–12; 31:8–9, 18; Ecc. 11:5; Is. 44:24;
49:1, 5; 64:8; Jer. 1:5; 20:15–18; 49:1b; Ezek. 3:18; 16:4–6; Mt. 1:18; 18:14; 19:4; 25:45;
Mk. 10:6; Lk. 1:41–44 cf. w/2:16; 17:2; Acts 17:25; Gal. 1:15; 1 Thess. 5:22
326
Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Ecc. 3:2; Mt. 5:21; Acts 17:28
327
Gen. 3:1–4; 4:8; Mt. 2:16; Jn. 10:10; Rev. 12:9; 20:2
328
1 Tim. 4:1
329
Ps. 127:3–5
330
1 Tim. 5:14
331
1 Tim. 2:15
332
Mt. 19:13–15
333
Gen. 20:17–18
334
Gen. 29:31
335
1 Sam. 1:5–6
336
Gen. 17:19
337
Job 3:11; 31:15
338
2 Sam. 12:14; Ps. 71:6; 139:13
339
Is. 44:2, 24; 46:3; 49:1, 5

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 Jeremiah,340 Mary of Nazareth,341 Elizabeth,342 and Paul,343 very
clearly teach in unison God’s sovereignty over the womb in all
circumstances. In this light, and before God, and with an open
Bible,344 (considering such Biblical principles as Christian liberty and
wisdom345), each husband and wife must evaluate both the
intended method and the motive for their use or lack thereof of
contraception, with a clear conscience346 and in faith.347 When this
is done, no other individual has the right to judge their decision.348

15.4 Nondiscrimination. Ibelieve that all humans are related in that

all humans have one common set of parents: Adam and Eve.349
Therefore I do not think of people in terms of the amount of melanin
or lack thereof in their skin, but as members of one race: the human
race.350
16. Financial Stewardship.

16.1 I believe that giving starts with giving ourselves to the

Lord,351 and that every Christian, as a steward of that portion
of God’s wealth entrusted to him, should be willing as God
enables to financially support his local church. I further
believe that any giving: should be done with a knowledge of
what the needs are;352 should be whatever one purposes in
his/her heart;353 should be done with the realization that the
rewards will be proportionate to the gifts;354 must not be done
grudgingly or out of compulsion;355 should be delightful to the
giver;356 reflects one’s spiritual condition;357 should not make
anyone neglect providing for their own;358 should reflect the

340
Jer. 1:5
341
Lk. 1:34
342
Lk. 1:15, 36
343
Gal. 1:15
344
1 Cor. 7:5
345
Jam. 1:5
346
Rom. 14:5
347
Rom. 14:23
348
Rom. 14:12
349
Rom. 5:12
350
Rom. 5:12
351
2 Cor. 8:5
352
1 Cor. 16:2
353
2 Cor. 9:7
354
2 Cor. 9:6
355
2 Cor. 9:7
356
2 Cor. 9:7
357
Lk. 16:10–13
358
1 Tim. 5:8

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 generosity, selflessness, and sacrifice of Jesus’ gift of
Himself;359 should be in accord with one’s means;360 should
invest in those ministries which spiritually feed us;361 means
being neighborly and good-willed;362 when directed towards
charities or other humanitarian efforts, must be done in Jesus’
name;363 should provide extra maintenance to those in the
church who lead spiritually in a godly and fruitful way,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine;364 must
be done in light of the fact that God owns all;365 and, that
there mustn’t be any deception about one’s giving.366 I do
believe Christians have the liberty to disagree on this matter,
but because of the New Testament’s teaching regarding
giving, I do not hold the tithe as obligatory in any way upon
Christians. Moreover, I do not despise those who, in good
conscience, are persuaded to tithe, but encourage them to
prayerfully follow the Lord’s direction as revealed in His Word.
I believe that any giver relinquishes all rights to direct the use
of his/her gift once the gift has been made.367

16.2 I reject as unwise stewardship of God’s resources 368 (and

therefore as sinful) any activity in which a person risks
something of value to forces of chance completely beyond
his/her control or any rational expectation, including but not
limited to gambling, the lottery, and raffling.369

359
2 Cor. 8:9; 9:15
360
2 Cor. 8:12
361
Gal. 6:6
362
Lk. 10:29–37
363
Mk. 9:41
364
Lk. 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:11–14 ; Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:17–18
365
Ps. 24:1; 50:10
366
Acts 5:8
367
Gen. 14:20; Pro. 3:9–10; Acts 4:34–37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6–7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1
Tim. 5:17–18; 1 Jn. 3:17
368
Ps. 24:1; 50:10–12
369
Gen. 2:15; Ex. 20:9, 15, 17; Ps. 5:6; 26:4; 37:3–4, 16, 25; 55:23; 84:11; 101:7; Pro. 3:9–
10, 13–18; 6:6–11; 8:18–19, 21; 10:4–5, 26; 11:4, 6, 16–18, 24–25, 28; 12:11–12, 14, 20,
24, 27; 13:3–4, 11, 22, 25; 14:4, 8, 21, 23, 31, 34; 15:6, 16, 19, 27; 16:8, 26, 33; 17:2, 8;
18:9; 19:15, 17, 24; 20:4, 13, 21; 21:5–8, 14, 17, 20, 25–26; 22:4, 13, 16, 29; 23:4–5;
24:27–28, 30–34; 25:13; 26:13–16; 27:20, 23–27; 28:6, 8, 19–20, 25, 27; 30:8–9, 15–16,
24–28; Ecc. 5:10; Is. 3:14–15; Amos 5:11–12; Zech. 7:10; Mt. 6:24, 32–33; 7:20; 8:20;
19:23–24; 25:14–30; Lk. 12:15, 32, 42; Jn. 8:44; 19:24; Rom. 1:29; 14:12, 21; 1 Cor. 4:2;
6:12; 8:13; 10:23, 31; 15:33; 2 Cor. 4:18; 5:10; 6:10; 12:14; Eph. 4:28; 5:3; Phil. 1:21;
2:4; 3:8; 4:11–12, 19; Col. 3:1–2, 5, 17, 23–24; 1 Thess. 5:22; 2 Thess. 3:10–12; 1 Tim.
5:8; 6:6–10; 2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 13:5; Jam. 2:15–16; 5:1–6; 1 Jn. 3:17

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