CONFESSION OF FAITH and PRACTICE

March 3, 2007

1. THE WORD OF GOD: We believe and confess that the Bible is the
verbally inspired Word of God. It is the only rule for faith and
practice. The Word of God, is the standard by which the Christian orders his life. II Peter 1:20; II, Tim. 3:16.

2. THE DEITY OF CHRIST: We believe and confess that Jesus Christ
is God incarnate, God in the flesh. He was conceived by the Holy
Ghost in the virgin womb of Mary. “The Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Christ hung on the cross for
our sins. If Christ be not God, then we are yet in our sins and
without hope. John 1:1; Matt. 1:23.

3. FALLEN MAN: We believe and confess that man is a fallen
creature. Created in the image and likeness of God, man fell to a
condition of spiritual death. This death passed upon all men. Man
is a helpless creature set only on wickedness continually. He
needs salvation. Gen.3; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1.

4. HEAVEN OR HELL: We believe and confess that heaven and hell are
real places. People who die without Christ will live eternally in
a burning lake of fire, being tormented in the flames. People who
die in the Lord will live eternally in heaven with Christ,
experiencing blessings which no man can utter. Matt. 13:50; Matt.
3:12; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 14:11; John 14:1-3; Matt. 5:12; Rev. 22.

5. SALVATION: We believe and confess that all who believe in
Christ shall be saved. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and
rose again on the third day. He is the sacrifice, the payment for
the sins of fallen man. Man must respond with repentance (a change
of heart) toward God and with faith (a heart attitude of belief)
in our Lord Jesus Christ. Believing is a present, continuous act
of the will. I Cor. 15:1-3; John 3:16; Romans 10:13; Acts 20:21; I
Peter 1:5.

6. We believe and confess that God is revealed as God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. II Cor. 13:14; Matt.
28:20; Matt. 3:16, 17; Gen. 1:26.

7. SATAN: We believe and confess that Satan is a real person, a
fallen angelic being, who through rebellion lost his position in
heaven. We recognize this foe and his kingdom of darkness; we are
in a spiritual battle which demands our continual standing in
Christ, our power. I Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:10-18; II Cor. 10:3-5; Ezek.
28:13-17.

8. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: We believe and confess in a
physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth. He shall come in
like manner as He left. We should look to, hope for, and expect at
any time the coming of the Lord. This hope will cause God’s people
to purify themselves. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; I John 3:3.

9. THE KINGDOM OF GOD: We believe and confess that the kingdom of
God, or Christ, is a spiritual kingdom of the world. In the Sermon
on the Mount, Christ presented a higher standard of holiness for
His kingdom.

10. DISCIPLESHIP: We believe and confess that discipleship is a
clear characteristic of all true Christians. A disciple willingly
bears the cross and denies himself, forsaking all things that
hinder his fellowship with God. This crucifixion of the flesh is
the operation of God by faith, a moment-by-moment surrender of the
will to God. Luke 14:33; Luke 14:26, 27; Rom. 6:11-16; Gal. 2:20,
21; Col. 2:10-12; Gal. 5:24.

11. EVANGELISM: We believe and confess that the Great Commission
given by Christ to His Disciples (Matt. 28:19,20) was a commission
to all Christians to go and tell the good news of salvation to a
lost and dying world. Brothers and sisters alike are responsible
to share Christ as opportunity arises in daily living. Psa. 126:6;
Mark 16:15; Acts 8:4; Acts 5:42.

12. CHRISTIAN APPEARANCE: We believe and confess that God’s people
should regulate their appearance by clear scriptural principles.

Clothing and personal appearance shall maintain distinction
between the sexes. Mark 10:6; I Cor. 6:9; I Cor. 11:4, 5, 14, 15.
Brethren and sisters wear modest apparel which covers and conceals
the body. (I Tim. 2:8, 9.) Notice how God clothes the body. Mark
16:5; Rev. 1:13.

13. THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE: We believe and confess that the
height of Christian experience is attained, maintained, and
expressed in a life of devotion to God, which is a continual
pressing of the heart in love and fellowship with God. Prayer, a
study of the Word, meditations, fastings, and the singing from the
heart are expressions of devotion to God. We believe then that
this heart that is lifted up to God will gradually and
consistently bring forth the holy actions commanded in the
Scriptures. John 4:23, 24; I Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22, 23; Rom. 8:4.

14. THE CHRISTIAN HOME: We believe and confess the importance of
the godly home in the promotion of moral purity and faith . It is
a haven of mutual love and godliness, a shelter from the
corruption of the society. The home should be ordered according to
the dictates of Eph. 5 and Col. 3. We believe that godly parents
who see their responsibility will rear faithful children not
accused of riot or unruliness. Titus 1:6; II Tim. 3:14, 15.
Fathers must assume final responsibility for the direction of
worship, for decisions, and the discipline of the children. I Cor.
11:3; I Tim. 3:4; Eph. 6:4.
Wives are submissive and subordinate, demonstrating their chaste
conversation (behavior) of godliness. Eph. 5:22; I Tim. 5:13, 14;
I Peter 3:1-6.
Children are to be in subjection and obedient to their parents
with all gravity. Eph. 6:1; I Tim. 3:4, 5.

15. THE CHURCH: We believe and confess that the church is the Body
of Christ, both local and worldwide. I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1;22, 23.
The church consists of those persons from all nations who are
redeemed by the blood of Christ and who have responded to the call
of salvation with the obedience of faith. John 3:16; Acts 10:34,
35; Rom. 10:13; Rev. 5:9; Acts 20:28. We also recognize a great
apostasy in these last days. Not all who name the name of Jesus
are true Christians, but only those who manifest true scriptural
fruit. (See I John). We stand in opposition to the liberal
theology that leads to worldliness and the traditional theology
that leads to formalism and deadness. I Tim. 3:1-5.

16. MARRIAGE: We believe and confess that marriage is an
institution ordained of God. It was set apart, or sanctified, in
the creation. It was set forth by God for the propagation of the
human race, for the purity of the human family, and for the
bringing up of godly children. Gen. 1:14; Gen. 2:24; Heb. 13:4.

17. THE BROTHERHOOD: We believe and confess that the church is a
brotherhood, submitting one to another in the fear of God. Each
individual is set for the edification of the whole.

Brethren address each other privately concerning inconsistencies
or error that they may observe in one another. Heb. 3:13; II Tim.
3:16; I Peter 2:17; I Peter 5:5; John 13.
Church discipline must be exercised, and the Bible gives specific
guidelines for different types of discipline. The motivation for
such discipline is love, restoration, and purification of the
church. Matt. 18:15-20; James 5:19, 20; Gal. 6:1.