The Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as originally written, were verbally inspired and the product of God through Spirit controlled men, and are therefore wholly without error. The Bible is the supreme revelation of God's will for man and is our only rule of faith and practice. It is the basis by which all men shall be judged.
(John 10:35, II Tim. 2:15, II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:19-21)
2. CONCERNING THE TRUE GOD
God is the creator of all things, manifesting himself in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in power and glory, and executing distinct and harmonious offices in fulfillment of the eternal purpose of God.
(Deut. 6:4, Isaiah 45:22, Matt. 28:18-20, Col. 1:16-18)
A. THE FATHER: God the Father is the architect of all creation; the essence of Holiness, righteousness, justice, truth, knowledge, love, grace and mercy.
(Matt. 6:9, John 15:15, Eph. 1:2)
B. THE SON: Jesus Christ is the "Only begotten son of God", miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He is God manifest in the flesh. He lived a life of absolute sinlessness. In His death, he made a full and vicarious atonement for sinners. After three days in the grave, He arose bodily from the dead and later ascended into Heaven. He now sits at the right hand of the Father as the mediator between God and Man.
(Luke 1:26-38, John 1:1-18, John 3:16, I Cor. 15, I Tim. 2:5, Heb. 4:14-16, Heb. 9:27-28)
C. THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, reproves the world, convicts sinners, comforts and instructs the saints, and empowers the Church.
(John 14:16-18,26, John 16:7-15, Acts 1:8, Rom. 5:5, Eph. 1:13-14)
3. CONCERNING SATAN
Satan is a created being who rebelled against God and became the spiritual adversary of God and man. He seeks continually to frustrate the purpose of God and to ensnare men. His ultimate defeat and everlasting punishment were secured by the death and resurrection of Christ.
(Matt. 4:1-10, John 8:44, II Cor. 4:3-4, I John 3:8, I Pet. 5:8, Rev. 20:10)
4. CONCERNING THE FALL OF MAN
The scriptures teach that man was created by God in innocence, but by transgression fell from his sinless state, in consequence of which all men are now sinners, and therefore are under just condemnation to eternal death.
(Gen. 3, Rom. 3:10-23, Rom. 5:12, Gal. 3:22)
5. CONCERNING SALVATION
The Scriptures teach that Salvation is of grace through the mediatorial work of the Son of God. It is completely apart from works, and is upon the sole condition of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to be saved, the sinner must be born again, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit and becoming the recipient of a new nature. The great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification, which includes pardon of sin and the impartation of divine righteousness solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. Having exercised personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is completely justified, and is in possession of a salvation which is eternally secure.
(John 3:16, John 10:28, Rom. 2:4, Rom. 3: 24-25, Rom. 5, Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9, Col. 3:1-4, Titus 3:5)
6. CONCERNING THE CHURCH
The New Testament Church was organized by Jesus Christ during His personal ministry on the earth. It is a local, visible, autonomous body of baptized believers bound together by covenant and committed to the faith once delivered to the saints, to worship God and carry out the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20 of evangelizing the world, baptizing converts and training disciples. The concept of a universal church, visible or invisible, is contrary to Scriptures. The Church has had a continuous existence since its origin, being identified by faith and practice; and according to Jesus' promises, true churches shall remain on earth until He returns.
(Matt. 16:18, Luke 6:12-13 and I cor. 12:28, Acts 1:13-2:1, Acts 2:41-42, I Tim. 3:15)
7. CONCERNING THE ORDINANCES
Jesus gave His Church two ordinances; baptism and The Lord's Supper. Proper observance of these ordinances encourages the continuing purity of the doctrine.
A. BAPTISM: Baptism is the immersion in water of the believer by the authority of a true Church, and pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. it also signifies the believer's commitment to the will of God and the discipline of that church, and is essential for church membership.
(Matt. 3:13-17, Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 8:36-39, Rom. 6:1-4)
B. THE LORD'S SUPPER: The Lord's Supper is a memorial service commemorating the death of Christ and anticipating his return to earth. Its elements are unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine which represent the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus. It is administered by the authority of the local Church, and is restricted to those who hold membership in that particular body. It should always be preceded by a solemn self-examination.
(Luke 22:17-20, I Cor. 5:7-13, I Cor. 11: 23-34)
8. CONCERNING ASSOCIATION
Churches may voluntarily cooperate with churches of like faith and order as long as the rights of the participating Churches are not infringed upon.
(II Cor. 8:23, Phil. 4:10-17)
9. CONCERNING THE RETURN OF CHRIST
The Scriptures teach the personal, bodily, eminent return of Jesus in the air, at which time, he shall resurrect the dead in Christ and rapture the living believers. He shall return to reclaim the earth and establish his millennial reign at the end of the tribulation period.
(John 14:1-3, Acts 1:9-11, I Thess. 4:13-17, I John 3:2, Rev. 11:15, Rev. 19:11-16, Rev. 20:6)
10. CONCERNING THE JUDGMENTS
(John 14:1-3, Romans 14:10-12, I Cor. 3:11-15, II Cor. 5:10, Rev. 20:11-15)
11. CONCERNING MARRIAGE
Marriage is the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife as defined in Genesis 2:21-25 by the account of Adam and Eve. Marriage is not and is never defined in the Bible as a union of a man with a man nor the union of a woman with a woman Mark 10:6-8.
12. AMENDMENTS
This Doctrinal Statement shall be amended only after following this procedure:
1. Proposed changes shall be presented in writing to the messenger body in annual session. Approval shall require a majority vote.
2. Proposals approved by this body shall be referred in writing to the member churches for approval.
3. Each church shall submit her approval, or disapproval in writing to the next annual session of this Association where the votes shall be counted. The affirmative vote of eighty percent of the member churches shall constitute approval of the amendment.
(Each church shall have one vote).