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What We Believe (continued) XII. THE LOCAL CHURCH We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated by a 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 as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from interference of any hierarchy or 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 contending for 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; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41-43,
1 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians
4:11-12, XIII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its testimony of our death to sin and resurrection to a new life and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:26-40,
John 3:23, Romans 6:3-5, Matthew 3:16, XIV. SECURITY OF THE SAINTS We believe that all who are truly born again, are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. John 10:28-29, Romans 8:35-39, 1 Peter 1:3-6, Jude 1 XV. THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting happiness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Romans 6:17-18,
1 John 5:19, Romans 6:23, Proverbs 14:32, XVI. CIVIL GOVERNMENT We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored; and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Romans 13:7, 2
Samuel 23:3, Exodus 18:21-22, Acts 23:5, Matthew
22:21, XVII. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST We believe that Jesus Christ arose from the dead physically in a literal body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39-40). A belief in the resurrection of Christ is essential to one's salvation (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:17). After His resurrection, Christ ministered to the disciples for forty days and appeared unto many (1 Corinthians 15:4-8; Acts 1:4). He ascended into heaven and is seated at the Father's right hand (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 10:12, 12:2). XVIII. THE HEAVENLY MINISTRY OF CHRIST We believe that Christ in His heavenly ministry is our High Priest (Hebrews 5:9-10 & 2:17) and helper (Hebrews 4:14). He pleads our case before God (1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:24) and serves as the only mediator between God and man (Hebrews 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). XIX. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH We believe in the return of Christ for His saints before the tribulation, at which time the dead saints shall be raised, and we shall be changed. Following the rapture we will give account of our service and receive our rewards. 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, John 14:3,
Hebrews 9:28, XX. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST We believe Scripture reveals that the Lord will come at the end of the tribulation period, in power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 19:11-14). He shall set up a world-wide rulership of absolute authority and righteousness with saints, and every knee shall bow. Revelation 19:15 and 10:4; Hebrews 10:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Philippians 2:9-11
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