Scripturally, we believe...
Biblical
Authority - The Bible is the Final
Authority for the faith and practice of the church.
2 Timothy
3:16-17
"All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works."
Autonomy of the Local
Church - Each church is
sovereign and cannot be controlled by a board, hierarchical system
of another church.
Acts
6:1-7
And in those days, when the number of the
disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Gre'-cians
against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the
daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of
the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should
leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren,
look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But
we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and
Philip, and Proch'o-rus, and Ni-ca'-nor, and Ti'-mon, and Par'-me-nas,
and Nic'-o-las a proselyte of An'-ti-och: Whom they set before
the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them. And the word of God
increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and
a great company of the priests were obedient to the
faith.
Priesthood of
Believers - Every
believer can go directly to God without human
intervention.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession. For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
grace to help in time of need.
Believer's Baptism - A person is baptized by immersion
after he places his faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:35-39
Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto
him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded
the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they
were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away
Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way
rejoicing.
The Lord's
Supper - A symbol of
Christ's broken body and His shed blood.
1 Corinthians
11:23-24
For I have received of the Lord that
which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night
in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given
thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this
is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of
me.
Individual Soul
Liberty
- Every individual has the right to interpret
Scripture for himself and believe that
interpretation.
Romans 14:5-12
One man esteemeth one day above another: another
esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his
own mind. He that regardeth the
day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day,
to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the
Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord
he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to
himself. For whether we live, we
live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ both died, and
rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and
living. But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every
knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God.
Saved Church
Membership
- Only saved individuals can join the local
church.
1
Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which
is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called
to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of
Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Two Officers of the
Local Church
- Pastor and
Deacons.
1 Timothy 3:1-12
This is a true saying, If a man desire the
office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality,
apt to teach; Not given
to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous; One that
ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with
all gravity; (For if a
man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of
the church of God?) Not a
novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. Moreover
he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must
the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not
greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the
mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use
the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers,
sober, faithful in all things. Let
the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well.
Separation of Church and the
State
-
There should not be any organic union of the church with the state.
There should not be a state church or a church
state.
Matthew 22:15-22
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they
might entangle him in his talk. And
they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying,
Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in
truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the
person of men. Tell us therefore,
What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or
not? But Jesus perceived their
wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye
hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.
And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them,
Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are
God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and
left him, and went their
way.
Romans
13:1-7
Let every soul be
subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of
God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and
they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For
rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt
thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the
minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is
evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth
evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath,
but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye
tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually
upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues:
tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour.
* All references taken from the King James
Version.
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