We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a prefect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinions should be tried.
There is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections, to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
Man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis. (Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:7).
He was created in a state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but, through the temptation of Satan, he fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, and in his incarnation of Jesus Christ who by the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary and took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law of his personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by his death. Being risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in Heaven, and, uniting in his person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all sufficient savior.
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ. It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other needed blessing.
The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except this own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as teacher, Savior, and Lord.
Regeneration of the new birth is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby we become partakers of the divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of God’s free grace conditioned upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God.
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced 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 Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ regnant in his own life and in human society; to oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice; to provide for the orphaned. the aged, the helpless, and the sick; to seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth and brotherly love to promote these ends Christians would be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ ;and his truth. All means and methods used in social service for the amelioration of society and the establishment of righteousness among men must finally depend on the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Scripture reference: Exodus 20:16; 22:9-15; Leviticus 6:1-5; Deuteronomy 4:41-42; Deuteronomy 15:1-2; 27:17; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Zechariah 1:16-17; Luke 10:25-37; 6:27-36; Romans 12:14-21; Colossians 3:12-17; James 2:8.
Christ’s people should, as occasion requires organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over each other or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people. in the most effective manner. Individual members of New Testament churches should cooperate with each other, · and the churches themselves should cooperate with each other in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent program for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and his Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Scripture reference: Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4:4-6; 8:1-4; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; Acts 1:13-14; 1:21-26; 2:1; 41-47; I Corinthians 1:10; 3:1-15; I Corinthians 11:12; 16:2; II Corinthians 9; Ephesians 4:1-16; ill John 1:5-8.
It is the duty of every Christian man and woman, and the duty of every church of Christ to seek to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life. It is also expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ, by personal effort ;and by all other methods sanctioned by the gospel of Christ.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:5-15; 13:1-23; 22:8-10;28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; 16:19-20; Luke 24:46; 53; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 21; 39; 8:1-40; 10:42-48; 13:1-3; 30-33; II Corinthians 5:19-21; I Thessalonians 1:1-8.
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to him. We have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardshi8p in our possessions. We are therefore under obligation to serve him with our time, talents and· material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to us to use for the glory of god and helping others. Christians should cheerfully, regularly, systematically, · proportionately, and liberally contribute of their means to advancing the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
Scripture reference: Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:41-48; Acts 2:44-47; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 8:1-1
The Kingdom of God is the reign of God in the heart and life of the individual in every human relationship, and in every form and institution of organized human society. The chief means for promoting the Kingdom of God on earth are preaching the gospel of Christ and teaching the principles of righteousness contained therein. The Kingdom of God will be complete; when every thought and will of man shall be brought into captivity to the will of Christ. And it is the duty of all Christ’s people to pray and labor continually that his Kingdom may come, and his will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
Scripture reference: Daniel 2:37-44; 7:18; Matthew 4:23; 6:10 8:12; 13-25; Mark 11:10; Luke 12:32; 22:29; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; I Corinthians 15-24; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28.