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STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE SCRIPTURES:
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God
and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving
knowledge, faith and obedience. II Timothy 3:14-17,
GOD:
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in
and of Himself all perfection and being infinite in them all; and to Him all
creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. THE TRINITY (GODHEAD): God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence or being. (John 14:20) The office and the works of the Holy Spirit are the same yesterday, today and forever as recorded in the book of Acts. Mark 16:16-20, I Corinthians 14:7-11 JESUS, THE CHRIST
(MESSIAH): Jesus was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of a virgin, lived without sin, was filled with the Holy Spirit,
died on a cross for the sins of the world, rose from the dead on the third day
(First fruits of the Resurrection), ascended into heaven and will come again for
His own. Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, PROVIDENCE: God, from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet, He is in no way or at any time the author or approver of sin, nor does He destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. Matthew 6:25-34, Hebrews 1 ELECTION: Election is God's eternal choice of mankind unto everlasting life -- not because of foreseen merit in mankind, but because of His mere mercy in Christ -- in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified. I Peter 1:2, Colossians 3:12, I Timothy 2:3-4 THE FALL OF MAN: God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation by Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original state of holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law and are under condemnation. As soon as they are capable of moral action, they become actual transgressors. Genesis 3 THE MEDIATOR: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human form, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the Law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church and Sovereign of the Universe. John 14:6 REGENERATION: Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit who quickens those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually to understand the Word of God. He renews their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone. John 3:1-8 REPENTANCE: Repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensitive to the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself because of it, with Godly sorrow, detesting it and feeling a sense of self-abhorrence with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God in order to please Him in all things. John 6:44, Acts 2:38-39 FAITH: Saving faith is the belief on God's authority of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and leads to a life of holiness. Mark 11:23-25 JUSTIFICATION: Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal from all sin, of sinners who believe in Christ, through satisfaction that Christ has made, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ. They are receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith. Romans 8:28-31 SANCTIFICATION:
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and the Holy
Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply
of Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly
life in cordial obedience to all of Christ's commands. I Corinthians 1:30, THE CHURCH: The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church which is composed of all His true disciples (those who are now in Heaven, those who are now living on earth and those in the future who will become His true disciples) and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into churches ( a body of local believers) and to cooperate with other churches in order to promote the gospel of administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are as listed in I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11 and Acts 6:1-4. RLJC officers shall be selected in accordance with I Timothy 3:1-16. BAPTISM: Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ, obligatory upon every believer wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life. Matthew 28:18-20 The act of baptism does not save a person, but is rather an outward expression of the salvation that a Christian has already received; we are baptized in water because we are a Christian, not to become one. THE LORD'S SUPPER:
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ to be administered with the
elements of unleavened bread and juice from the fruit of the vine to be observed
by His church until the end of the age. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is
designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of
Christians and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their co-union with Him and
of their church fellowship. THE LORD'S DAY: The Lord's Day is a Christian day instituted to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employment, with only works of necessity and mercy being acceptable. Exodus 20:8-11 LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE:
God alone is Lord of the conscience and He has left it free from doctrines and
commandments of men which are in any way contrary to His Word or not contained
in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things
commanded by them should be obeyed by us in the Lord (as long as these civil
laws are in harmony with the Bible), not only for wrath, but also for conscience
sake. THE RESURRECTION: The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God -- the righteous to rest with Him, the wicked to be reserved under punishment unto the Judgment. In God's appointed time, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust will be raised. Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:19-31, Hebrews 9:27; 10:26-31, Revelation 20:10-15 THE JUDGMENTS: God has appointed a certain day wherein He will judge all the disciples of Jesus Christ, when every disciple shall receive according to his deeds. This is the judgment of all believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God has also appointed a certain day (the Great White Throne Judgment) wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, and whosoever is not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Before being cast into the Lake of Fire, they will be judged according to their works; the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, the righteous into everlasting life. II Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:10-15 HEALING: Healing
of our physical bodies is available to believers in Christ. Isaiah 53:5-7, I
Peter 2:24, Back to Welcome |
