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Statements of Faith 1. The Bible. - The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are our only infallible and authoritative written rule of faith and practice. (II Tim 3:16)
2. God.
- There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the
Creator, Preserver, and Righteous Governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all creation is supremely to love, adore, and obey. (John 1:1-4, Mat. 28:19) 3. Christ. - The Lord Jesus Christ is Divine, He is the only begotten Son of God, He was born of a Virgin, lived a sinless life, He did Miracles, He vicariously died and provided atoning by His death on the cross, He was bodily resurrected, He ascended to the right hand of the father, he will personally return to this Earth in Power and Glory to rule forever. Jesus, when on earth, was God manifest in the flesh; in His divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. (John 1:1-4, Eph. 2:13-18) 4. Holy Spirit. - The Holy Spirit is Divine. In His relation to man, He convicts of sin, comforts and strengthens the believer, provides for guidance and sanctification of the believer insomuch as the believer follows His leading. He is present on the earth, since the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, and is ever showing the power of God through miracles and gifts for the purpose of evangelization and strengthening of believers. (1 John 5:7, Act 10:44-46, Romans, 6:3-14 8:1-2,11) 5. The Government of God. - God exercises a wise and benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining the constitution and laws of nature. He also performs special acts, not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires.(Acts 17:28, Mat. 10:30, Psa. 104:13-14 28:28 97:2 , Job 14:5 36:5, Eph. 1:1, Isa. 33:22, Ex. 34:6, Deut. 30:19, Romans 2:14-15, Pro. 1:24-28) 6. The Sinfulness of Man. - Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, therefore, inherit a fallen nature of such tendencies. When one comes to an age of recognition of his sin, he is held accountable for sin and becomes guilty before God. 7. The Work of Christ. - The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection, effected for all, a redemption from sin that is full and free, and is the ground of salvation by faith, and by faith in the work of Christ on the Cross, we are forgiven of our sin and are in the perpetual process of sanctification; all of which was purchased by the work of Christ on the Cross. 8. The Church. – The Church is the body of Christ manifest on the earth, and every believer is an integral part of this body. (Ephesians 1:22-23) 9. The Terms of Salvation. - The conditions of salvation are: (1) Repentance or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of it. (2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one's self to Christ as Savior and Lord with purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit, freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. (3) Continuance of faith and obedience unto death. 10. Regeneration. - Regeneration of the believer by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal Salvation. 11. Election. - God determined from the beginning to save all who should comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in Christ men become His elect. 12. Freedom of the Will. – God has given man sovereignty over his own will, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish. Once, by salvation, a man becomes a child of God, he is buffeted by and begins the process of sanctification by, the Holy Spirit in so much as he yields to the influence of the Spirit. 13. Salvation Free. - God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely. 14. Perseverance. - All believers in Christ, who through grace persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation. 15. Gospel Ordinances. - Baptism, or the immersion of believers in water, and the Lord’s Supper, are the ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. Washing of the Saints Feet, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all and by all believers. 16. Tithing. - God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old Testament; Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel (Matt. 23:23), and the apostle Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Cor. 16:2a). 17. The Christian Sabbath. – God’s divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements, for rest, worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal communion with God. 18. Resurrection, Judgment, and Final Retribution. - The Scriptures teach the resurrection of all men at the last day. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and His Shed blood on the cross will come forth to the resurrection of life, and those who have not unto the resurrection of damnation; then the wicked will "go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
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320 Brushy Rd., Batesville, AR 72501
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