|
BYLAW II Section 2. Doctrine
A. The Scriptures – We believe that
the Bible is God's Word, that it was written by men divinely and
uniquely inspired, that it is absolutely trustworthy and has
supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Psalm
119:105; II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:20, 21.
B. God the Father – We believe in God
the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness,
infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He
concerns Himself in the affairs of men, that He hears and
answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who
come to Him through Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah
40:18-31; John 4:24; Ephesians 3:20-21.
C. God the Son – We believe in Jesus
Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement
for the sins of the world by His death on the cross. We believe
in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high
priestly intercession for His people, and His personal, visible
return to the world according to His promise. Psalm 2:7; Isaiah
9:6-7; John 3:14-18; Hebrews 1:1-3.
D. God the Holy Spirit – We believe
in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convict the world
of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate,
sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. Psalm
51:12, 13; John
14:16, 17, 16:7 – 14; Romans
8:1, 2, 14 - 16 , 26 .
E. Sin and Salvation – We believe
that all men by nature and by choice are sinners, but that “God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” We believe, therefore, that those who accept
Christ as their Lord and Saviour will rejoice forever in God's
presence and those who refuse to accept Christ as Lord and
Saviour will be forever separated from God. Ecclesiastes 7:20;
Isaiah 1:18; Romans
3:23; 6:23; I Timothy 1:15.
F. The Church -- We believe in the
Church, a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and
of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a
visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried
with Him in baptism and associated for worship, work and
fellowship. We believe that to these visible churches were
committed, for observance "tiII He come”, the ordinances of
baptism and the Lord's Supper; and that God has laid upon these
churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus
Christ as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We
believe that human betterment and social improvement are
essential products of the Gospel . Matthew 28:19, 20; I
Corinthians 11: 24-26; Ephesians l:19-23; I Timothy 3:15.
G. Human Responsibility -- We believe
that every human being is responsible to God alone in all
matters of faith. Psalm 5I:4; Acts 4:I9, 20; Romans
14:10-12; Galatians 6:5.
H. Church and State -- We believe
that each church is independent and autonomous, and must be free
from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority;
that, therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as
having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from
the dictation or patronage of the other. Matthew 16:18, 19; Luke
20:25; Romans 13: 1-7; I Corinthians 6: 1-6. |
