OUR BELIEFS

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed: 2 Timothy 3: 16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21;
2 Corinthians 13:14.

The Godhead

We believe in the Triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections: Deuteronomy 6:14; 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The Person and Work of Christ

a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men: John 1:1,2,15; Luke 1:35.
b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead: Romans 3:24,25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:3-5.
c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate: Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1,2.

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption: John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14
b. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit: John 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27; Ephesians 5:18.

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition: Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1, 3, 12.

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins: Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever: John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5.
b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh: Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15.

The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, the old nature and the new nature, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural: Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9.

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner so as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God: 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:2,12; 14:13; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.

ASHTON