SHORT STATEMENT

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth: inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinctly harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2,3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5, 83:18, 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30, 17:5; Acts 5:3,4; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11; Philippians 2:5, 6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

That the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16,17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 2:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-11, 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13,14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13, 14:26; Romans 8:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26,27) 　

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels, that he is the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness--destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9,10, 13:13,14, 19:11, 16, 20, 12:7-9, 20:1-3,10; Jude 6:11; 2 Peter 2:4,5:8; Ephesians 2:2; John. 14:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Matthew 4:1-3,13:25; 37:39; 25:41; Zechariah 1:3; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Luke 22:3,4; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13: 21, 22) 　

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was they should bring forth only "after their kind." (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 1:11 ,24; 2:23 ) 　

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntarily transgressing, fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12,19, 3:10-19, 1:18 ,20, 28,32; Ephesians 2:1; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Galatians 3:22) 　

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both Son of God, and God the Son. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 11:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians. 4:4; 1 John 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:47) 　

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in this wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior. (Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25; John 3:16,10:18; Matthew. 18:11; Philippians 1:7; Hebrews 2:14, 12:2, 7:25; Isaiah 53:4-7,11; 1 John 4:10, 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18) 　

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3,6,7, 1:12 -13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; Acts 2:41; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1, 5:9; Colossians 2:13; Galatians 5:22) 　

We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and not prevent the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30, 10:13; Matthew 11:28; lsaiah 55:1,5,7; Revelation 22:17; John 6:23, 27, 3:15, 16, 18, 36, 5:40; Ephesians 2:1, 4, 5; Acts 2:38; 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Corinthians 15:10)

We believe the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gifts of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. (Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 3:11, 4:1-8, 5:1,9, 1:17; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 2:4, 10:38; Galatians 3:11) 　

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus and openly confessing Him as our only and all sufficient Savior. (Acts 2:37-38, 20:21; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8, 18:18; Romans 10:9-11,13; Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7) 　

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors (elders and bishops) whose qualifications, claims, and duties, are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the Church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the right to self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only 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 2:41-42, 6:5-6, 14:23, 15:23, 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, 6:1-3, 11:2, 12:4,8-11, 16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11; 1 Timothy. 3:1-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 8:23-24; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32) 　

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination. (Matthew 3:6,16, 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28) 　

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. (Matthew 6:2, 13:19 -21; John 8:31-32, 10:23 -29, 16:8; Romans 8:23, 35-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 2:19; Colossians 1:2-23; Psalm 121:3; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 1:5) 　

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, 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 felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. ( Genesis 18:23 Proverbs 11:31, 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14, 25:34-41; Luke 9:26, 16:25; John 8:21, 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17, 6:16-18,23, 7:6; Galatians 3:10; I Peter 4:18; I Corinthians 15:22; I John 2:29, 3:7, 5:19) 　

We believe that 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 only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of earth. (Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Psalm 72:11; Matthew 10:28, 22:21, 23:10; Acts 4:19-20, 23:5; Romans 13:7; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13-14,17; Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 10:6.) 　

We believe in and accept the sacred scripture upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ arose bodily "the third day according to the Scriptures;" That He ascended "to the right hand of the throne of God;" "that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" -- bodily, personally, visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall rise first;" that the living saints "shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;" "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David;" and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet. (Isaiah 2:29-30, 11:4-5, 23:1; Psalm 72:8; Matthew 24:27,42, 28:6-7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32, 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3, 20:27; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 3:30-31; I Corinthians 15:4, 25, 42-44, 51-53; Hebrews 2:17,5:9-10, 8:1,6, 9:28, Hebrews 12:2; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; I Thessalonians. 4:16,17; Revelation 3:21, 20:1-4, 6.) 　

The command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the churches.

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of faith. "Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith in utterance, in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also." 2 Corinthians 8:7 We are commanded to bring our gifts into the store house (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.