Justification
We believe that justification is
that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer
righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness
of Christ; that it is bestowed, not in consideration
of any works of righteousness which we have done, but
solely through faith in the Redeemer’s shed blood
(Rom. 3:24; 4:5; 5:1, 9; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9).
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is
the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished
in a threefold manner: first, an eternal act of God,
based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer
in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the
Savior; second, a continuing process in the saint as
the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life;
third, the final accomplishment of this process at the
Lord’s return (Heb. 10:10-14; 3:1; John 17:17;
II Cor. 2:18; I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 5:25- 27; I Thess. 4:3-4;
I John 3:2; Jude 24-25).
The Security
of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept
by God the Father for Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6; John
10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39, Jude 1).
The Church
We believe that a local church is
an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated
by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing
the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and
exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested
in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and
deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are
clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true
mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of
Christ to all men according to the Spirit’s leading.
We hold that the local church has the absolute right
of self-government free from the interference of any
hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that
the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the
Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches
to cooperate with each other in defending the faith
and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local
church is the sole judge of the measure and method of
its cooperation, and that on all matters of membership,
of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence,
the will of the local church is final (I Cor. 11:2;
Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 2:41-42).
We believe in the unity of all New Testament believers
in the Church which is the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:12-13;
Eph. 1:22-23; 3:1-6; 4:11; 5:23; Col. 1:18; Acts 15:13-18).
Continued
on next page
