Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible. And in unity of this God-head there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity – the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Ghost.

Gen. 1:1; 17:1; Exod. 3:13–15; 33:20; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; 104:24; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 10:10; John 1:1, 2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30; 16:13; 17:3; Acts 5:3, 4; Rom. 16:27; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6; 2 Cor.13:14; Eph. 2:18; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:16; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 John 5:7, 20; Rev. 19:13.

The Son of God

The only begotten Son of God was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried – to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men, and to reconcile us to God.

Mark 15; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 17; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:10, 18; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; Gal. 1:4; 2:20; 4:4, 5; Eph. 5:2; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 2:17; 7:27; 9:28; 10:12; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2; 4:14.

The Resurrection of Christ

Christ did truly rise again from the dead, taking His body with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until He returns to judge all men at the last day.

Ps. 16:8–10; Matt. 27:62–66; 28:5–9, 16, 17; Mark 16:6, 7, 12; Luke 24:4–8, 23; John 20:26–29; 21:1–25; Acts 1:2; 2:24–31; 10:40; Rom. 8:34; 14:9, 10; 1 Cor. 15:6, 14; Heb.13:20.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

Job 33:4; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; Acts 5:3, 4; Rom. 8:9; 2; Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6.

The Sufficiency and Full Authority of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation

The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we so understand the books of the Old and New Testaments. These Scriptures we do hold to be the inspired and infallibly written Word of God, fully inerrant in their original manuscript and superior to all human authority. 

The canonical books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The canonical books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude, and Revelation.

Ps. 19:7; Luke 24:27; John 17:17; Acts 17:2, 11; Rom. 1:2;15:4; 16:26; Gal. 1:8; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15–17; Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Pet. 1:19–21; Rev. 22:14, 19.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind through Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth, yet notwithstanding no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.

Matt. 5:17–19; 22:37–40; Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45; 5:46; Rom. 15:8; 2 Cor. 1:20; Eph. 2:15, 16; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:1; 11:39; 1 John 2:3–7.

Relative Duties

Those two great commandments which require us to love the Lord our God with all the heart, and our neighbors as ourselves, contain the sum of the divine law as it is revealed in the Scriptures; they are the measure and perfect rule of human duty, as well as the ordering and directing of families and nations, and all other social bodies, as for individual acts, by which we are required to acknowledge God as our only Supreme Ruler, and all men as created by Him, equal in all natural rights. Wherefore all men are bound so to order all their individual, social, and political acts as to render to God entire and absolute obedience, and to secure to all men the enjoyment of every natural right, as well as to promote the greatest happiness of each in the possession and exercise of such rights.

Lev. 19:18, 34; Deut. 1:15–17; 2 Sam. 23:3; Job 29:16; 31:13, 14; Jer. 21:12; 22:3; Matt. 5:44–47; 7:12; Luke 6:27–29, 35; John 13:34, 35; Acts 10:34, 35; 17:26; Rom. 12:9; 13:1, 7, 8, 10; Gal. 5:14; 6:10; Tit. 3:1; Jas. 2:8; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 John 2:5; 4:12, 13; 2 John 6.

Sin, Original and Personal

Sin came into the world through the disobedience of our first parents, and death by sin. Sin is of two kinds: original sin or depravity, and actual or personal sin. Original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God, is without spiritual life, and inclined to evil, and that continually. Further, original sin continues to exist with the new life of the regenerate, until eradicated from the heart when the heart is fully cleansed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Original sin differs from actual sin in that it constitutes an inherited propensity to actual sin for which no one is accountable until its divinely provided remedy is neglected or rejected. Actual or personal sin is a voluntary violation of a known law of God by a morally responsible person. It is therefore not to be confused with involuntary and inescapable shortcomings,  infirmities, faults, mistakes, failures, or other deviations from a standard of perfect conduct that are the residual effects of the Fall. However, such innocent effects do not include attitudes or responses contrary to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be called sins of the spirit. Personal sin is primarily and essentially a violation of the law of love; and that in relation to Christ, sin may be defined as unbelief.

ORIGINAL SIN: Gen. 3:1–24; 6:5; 8:21; Job 15:14; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 17:9, 10; Mark 7:21–23; Rom. 1:18–25; 3:1–12; 5:12–14, 18, 19; 7:1–8:9; 1 Cor. 3:1–4; Gal. 5:16–25; Eph. 2:1–3; 1 John 1:7, 8.
PERSONAL SIN: Matt. 22:36–40 (with 1 John 3:4); John 8:34–36; 16:8, 9; Rom. 3:23; 6:15–23; 8:18–24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9–2:4; 3:7–10.

Atonement

Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of His own blood, and by His meritorious death on the cross, made a full atonement for all human sin. This atonement is the only ground of salvation, and is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. The atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible and for the children in innocency but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe.

Isa. 53:5, 6, 11; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:46–48; John 1:29; 3:14–17; Acts 4:10–12; Rom. 3:21–26; 4:17–25; 5:6–21; 1 Cor. 6:20; 2 Cor. 5:14–21; Gal. 1:3, 4; 3:13, 14; Col. 1:19–23; 1 Tim. 2:3–6; Tit. 2:11–14; Heb. 2:9; 9:11–14; 13:12; 1 Pet. 1:18–21; 2:19– 25; 1 John 2:1, 2.

The One Oblation of Christ Finished upon the Cross

The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption and propitiation for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore, to expect salvation on the ground of our own works, or by suffering the pains our sins deserve, either in the present or future state, is derogatory to Christ’s offering for us, and a dangerous deceit.

Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:8; 8:34; Gal. 2:16; 3:2, 3, 11; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Heb. 7:23–27; 9:11–15, 24–28; 10:14.

Free Will

The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and work, in faith and call upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and accept-able to God, without the grace of God by Christ working in us, that we may have a good will, working with us when we have that good will.

Prov. 16:1; 20:24; Jer. 10:23; Matt. 16:17; John 6:44, 65; 15:5; Rom. 5:6–8; Eph. 2:5–9; Phil. 2:13; 4:13.

Free Agency and Prevenient Grace

The human race’s creation in godlikeness included ability to choose between right and wrong, and that thus human beings were made morally responsible; that through the fall of Adam they became depraved so that they cannot now turn and prepare themselves by their own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God. Further, the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all people, enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight.

All persons, though in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless they repent of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost.

GODLIKENESS AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY: Gen. 1:26, 27; 2:16, 17; Deut. 28:1, 2; 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Ps. 8:3–5; Isa. 1:8–10; Jer. 31:29, 30; Ezek. 18:1–4; Mic. 6:8; Rom. 1:19, 20; 2:1–16; 14:7–12; Gal. 6:7, 8.

NATURAL INABILITY: Job 14:4; 15:14; Ps. 14:1–4; 51:5; John 3:6; Rom. 3:10–12; 5:12–14, 20; 7:14–25.

FREE GRACE AND WORKS OF FAITH: Ezek. 18:21–29; John 1:12, 13; 3:6; Acts 5:31; Rom. 5:6–8, 18; 6:15, 16, 23; 10:6–8; 11:22; 1 Cor. 2:9–14; 10:1–12; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; Gal. 5:6; Eph. 2:8–10; Phil. 2:12, 13; Col. 1:21–23; 2 Tim. 4:10; Tit. 2:11–14; Heb. 2:1–3; 3:12–15; 6:4–6; 10:26–31; Jas. 2:18–22; 2 Pet. 1:10, 11; 2:20–22.

Repentance

Repentance, which is a sincere and thorough change of the mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from sin, is demanded of all who have by act or purpose become sinners against God. The Spirit of God gives to all who will repent the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy, that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual life.

2 Chr. 7:14; Ps. 32:5, 6; 51:1–17; Isa. 55:6, 7; Jer. 3:12–14; Ezek. 18:30–32; 33:14–16; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 3:1–14; 13:1–5; 18:9–14; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30, 31; 26:16–18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:8–11; 1 Thes. 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:9.

Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption

Justification is the gracious and judicial act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual life, capable of faith, love, and obedience.
Adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God.
Justification, regeneration, and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by repentance; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

Luke 18:14; John 1:12, 13; 3:3–8; 5:24; Acts 13:38, 39; 15:11; 16:31; Rom. 1:17; 3:21–26, 28; 4:2–9, 17–25; 5:1, 2, 5, 9, 16–19; 6:4; 7:6; 8:1, 15–17; 1 Cor. 1:30; 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17–21; Gal. 2:16–21; 3:1–14, 26; 4:4–7; Eph. 1:5–7; 2:1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 19; 4:24; Phil. 3:3–9; Col. 2:13; 3:10; Tit. 3:4–7; Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:3, 4, 23; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 1:9; 3:1, 2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9–13, 18.

Sin after Justification

Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, repentance is not denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and, by the grace of God rise again to amend our lives. And therefore, they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

Ps. 32:5; 95:7, 11; Eccl. 7:20; Jer. 3:13–15; Matt. 24:12; John 5:14; Gal. 5:4, 7; Eph. 5:14; Heb. 3:7–13, 15; Jas. 3:2, 8; 1 John 1:8, 9; 2:12; Rev. 2:5.

Initial Sanctification

Initial sanctification occurs instantly at the moment of salvation when one is delivered from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Christ. This gracious act of God begins the process of sanctification that is fully accomplished when God entirely sanctifies the sincere believer by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Just as God took six days to finish His work of creation, so in the heart of the new believer God has provided a two-step process to finish His new creation. God’s work on each day of creation was perfect, but the Creator was not finished. Similarly, when God initially sanctifies a person, that is a perfect work of grace, but God is not finished. Thus, as the believer prays, “Finish now Thy new creation,” and as he continues to walk in the light and live free from personal sin, he is qualified for that “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Rom. 6; Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:14; 1 John 3:9.

Entire Sanctification

Entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect. It is wrought when sin is eradicated from the heart by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service.
Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration when the believer presents himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, and is thus enabled through grace to love God with all the heart and to walk in His holy commandments blameless; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness. 
This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with the Holy Spirit,” “the full-ness of the blessing,” and “Christian holiness.” There is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth in grace.
The grace of entire sanctification includes the impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention must be given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor, one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost.

Gen. 17:1; Deut. 30:6; Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:25–27; Mal. 3:2, 3; Matt. 3:11, 12; 5:48; Luke 1:74, 75; 3:16, 17; John 7:37–39; 14:15–23; 17:2–23; Acts 1:5; 2:1–4; 15:8, 9; Rom. 6:11–13, 19; 8:1–4, 8–14; 11:26; 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6:11; 14:20; 2 Cor. 6:14–7:1; Gal. 2:20; 5:16–25; Eph. 3:14–21; 4:13, 24; 5:25–27; Phil. 2:5, 7; 3:10–15; Col. 3:1–17; 4:12; 1 Thes. 3:10; 4:3, 4; 5:23, 24; 2 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:17; Tit. 2:12,14; Heb. 4:9–11; 9:13, 14; 10:10–22; 12:1, 2; 13:12; Jas. 1:27; 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:10; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:8, 9; 4:17, 18; Jude 24.

“CHRISTIAN PERFECTION” AND “PERFECT LOVE”: Deut. 30:6; Matt. 5:43–48; 22:37–40; Rom. 12:9–21; 13:8–10; 1 Cor. 13; Phil. 3:10–15; Heb. 6:1; 1 John 4:17, 18.

“HEART PURITY”: Mal. 3:2, 3; Matt. 5:8; Acts 15:8, 9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:3.

“BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”: Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:25–27; Matt. 3:11, 12; Luke 3:16, 17; Acts 1:5; 2:1–4; 15:8, 9.

“FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING”: Rom. 15:29. “CHRISTIAN HOLINESS”: Matt. 5:1–7:29; John 15:1–11; Rom. 12:1–15:3; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:17–5:20; Phil. 1:9–11; 3:12–15; Col. 2:20–3:17; 1 Thes. 3:13; 4:7, 8; 5:23; 2 Tim. 2:19–22; Heb. 10:19–25; 12:14; 13:20, 21; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; 2 Pet. 1:1–11; 3:18; Jude 20, 21.

The Sacraments

Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only tokens of Christian profession, but they are certain signs of grace and God’s goodwill toward us, by which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him. There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel: that is to say, baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

Matt. 26:26–28; 28:19; Mark 14:22–24; Rom. 2:28, 29; 4:11; 1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23–26; Gal. 3:27.

Baptism

Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others who are not baptized, it is also a sign of regeneration or new birth.

Num. 8:7; Isa. 52:15; Ezek. 36:25; Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:10; 16:16; John 3:22, 26; 4:1, 2; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12–17; 9:18; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27–29; Col. 2:11, 12; Tit. 3:5.

The Lord’s Supper

The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but it is also a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death; insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, it is made a medium through which God doth communicate grace to the heart.

Luke 22:19, 20; John 6:53, 56; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8; 10:3, 4, 16, 11:28.

The Second Coming of Christ

The doctrine of the second coming of Christ is a very precious truth, and this good hope is a powerful inspiration to holy living and godly effort for the evangelization of the world. We believe the Scriptures teach the coming of Christ to be a bodily return to the earth and that He will cause the fulfillment of all prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph over all evil. Faith in the imminence of Christ’s return is a rational and inspiring hope to the people of God.

Job 19:25–27; Ps. 17:15; Isa. 11:1–12; Dan. 12:1–4; Zech. 14:1–11; Matt. 24:1–51; 26:64; Mark 13:27–37; Luke 17:26–37; 21:24–36; John 14:1–3; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Cor. 1:7, 8; 1 Thes. 4:13–18; Tit. 2:11–14; Heb. 9:27, 28; Jas. 5:7, 8; 2 Pet. 3:1–14; 1 John 3:2, 3; Jude 14; Rev. 1:7; 19:11–16; 22:6, 7, 12, 20.

The Judgment of Mankind

The Scriptures reveal God as the Judge of all mankind and the acts of His judgment to be based on His omniscience and eternal justice. His administration of judgment will culminate in the final meeting of mankind before His throne of great majesty and power, where records will be examined and final rewards and punishments will be administered.

Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 10:15; 25:31–46; Luke 11:31, 32; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 14:10, 11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 9:27; 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 20:11–13.

Hell

The Scriptures reveal hell, the final doom of ungodly unbelievers, as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, unquenchable fire, outer darkness, everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, and torments in the lake of fire.

Matt. 3:12; 8:12; 25:41, 46; Luke 16:23; Rev. 20:15.

The Resurrection of the Dead

We hold the scriptural statements concerning the resurrection of the dead to be true and worthy of universal acceptance. We believe the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ was a fact of history and a miracle of supreme importance. We understand the manner of the resurrection of mankind to be the resurrection of the righteous dead, at Christ’s second coming, and the resurrection of the wicked at a later time, as stated in Revelation 20:4-6. Resurrection will be the reuniting of soul and body preparatory to final reward or punishment.

Job 19:25–27; Ps. 17:15; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 22:30–32; 28:1–20; Luke 14:14; John 5:28, 29; Acts 23:6–8; Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:1–58; 2 Cor. 4:14; 5:1–11; 1 Thes. 4:14–17; Rev. 20:4–6.

Heaven

The Scriptures reveal heaven, the final home of every righteous believer. Jesus said it was His Father’s house where He went to pre-pare a place for us with no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither any more pain, with no more curse and no night there; the Lamb is the light thereof and His servants shall serve Him.

John 14:2; Rev. 21:4, 23; 22:3, 5.

Separation

Christians should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. They should continue to evidence their desire of salvation by avoiding evil of every kind. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, the wearing of jewelry, piercings, and bodily markings.

Rom. 12:1-2; Rom. 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; Rom. 16:15-16; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14; Lev. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:8-10; 1 Peter 3:1-4.

They should also refrain from membership in secret societies. This rule does not prevent affiliating with unions organized for the purpose of protecting their industrial interests where Christian principles are not violated.

John 18:20; Matt. 24:26; Jas. 5:12; Lev. 5:4, 5; Isa. 29:15; Matt. 5:34–36; John 3:19, 20; 2 Cor. 4:1, 2; 6:14–18; Eph. 5:11, 12; 1 John 4:2, 3.

Good Works

Although good works, which are the fruit of faith and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of God’s judgment, yet they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.

Matt. 5:16; 7:16–20; John 15:8; Rom. 3:20; 4:2, 4, 6; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 1:11; Tit. 3:5; Jas. 2:18, 22; 1 Pet. 2:9, 10.

Christian Conduct

We believe Christians continue to evidence their desire of salvation by doing good; by being, in every kind, merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:
To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison.To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any interaction with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine that “we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it.”
By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping each other in business; and so much the more because the world will love its own and them only.
By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed. By running with patience, the race which is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the world, and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely for the Lord’s sake.

Civil Lawsuits

We believe that Christians are prohibited from fighting, quarreling, brawling, bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or Christian organizations to resolve personal disputes, returning evil for evil, or railing for railing. We believe the Christian community possesses all the re-sources necessary to resolve personal disputes between parties. We do believe, however, that a Christian is permitted to seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32.

The Church

We believe that the true church of Jesus Christ is composed of all who are united to Him in saving faith, being made members of the body of Christ of which He is the head. Thus, as members of this body, all Christians should live in fellowship with the church, uniting in its worship of the Triune God, supporting its great task of world evangelism, and loving one another with pure and fervent hearts.

Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:23, 30; Rom. 12:3-5; 1 Cor. 6:15; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Col. 2:18-19; Heb. 10:25; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Pet. 1:22.

The Lord’s Day

We believe that the Lord’s Day, celebrated on Sunday, the first day of the week, throughout the Christian church, is the Christian sabbath, which we reverently observe as a day of rest and worship and as the continuing memorial of our Savior’s resurrection.
For this reason, we abstain from profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein or by buying or selling, except that required by mercy or necessity.

Rev. 1:10; 1 Cor. 16:2; Acts 20:7; John 20:1ff; Gen. 2:2; Matt. 12:5; Matt. 10-13; Mark 2:23-28; Isa. 58:13-14; Neh. 13:15-22.

Human Life

As creatures made in the image of God, the sanctity and dignity of human life demands respect for all human life, especially in its most vulnerable stages and conditions.
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes murder, the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. We reject any teaching that rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable reasons for abortion. 
We further believe that the killing of the weak, the physically challenged, the mentally ill, or the aged, whether by a deliberate act or by coercing or assisting a person to commit suicide, is immoral.

Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; Ps. 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; Isa. 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; Jer. 20:15-18; Luke 1:44

Substance Abuse

We believe that manufacturing, buying, selling, or using alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics, and other harmful drugs, unless for mechanical, chemical, or medicinal purposes, or in any way intentionally and knowingly aiding others so to do, is contrary to God’s requirement that we regard our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.We believe total abstinence form all intoxicating liquors as a beverage to be the duty of all Christians. We also believe the use of tobacco is a great evil, unbecoming a Christian, a waste of the Lord’s money, and a defilement of the body, which should be the temple of the Holy Ghost. We refrain from its cultivation, manufacture, and sale, and abstain from its use in all forms, for Jesus’ sake. 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Tim. 5:23

Family Relationships

We believe that God has instituted the family as the foundational unit of human society and it begins with the legitimate marriage of one man and one woman. Within its structure, He ordained that parents are responsible to instruct their children in Christian faith and conduct, to set before them godly and consistent examples, and in every way to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Scripture also gives the ordering of family life: “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord… husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”

Eph. 5:21-33; Eph. 6:1; Eph. 6:4; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 12; Gen. 1:26-28; Exod. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; Prov. 22:15; Prov. 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-1; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7

Marriage and Divorce

We observe the teaching of Scripture regarding marriage and divorce. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22, 23). We deplore the evils of divorce and remarriage. We regard adultery as the only scripturally justifiable grounds for divorce. In the case of divorce for other cause, neither party shall be permitted to marry again during the lifetime of the other (Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:11, 12).

Sexual Conduct

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in out-side of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbian-ism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.

Gen. 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8–10; Lev. 18:1–30; Rom. 1:26–29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thes. 4:1–8; Heb. 13:4