What We Believe
***
The absolute
and
perfect inspiration
of the Bible
We
believe in the absolute and perfect inspiration of the Bible, that holy men
wrote as they were borne along by the Spirit of God. The Word, therefore, Is
the Word of the living God.
Having in it the perfect
revelation of the mind of God, we refuse all human Creeds, as both being
unnecessary and a slur upon His Word. 2 Peter 1:20,21.
The fall
and
the
absolute ruin of man
We, however, have no uncertainty in the soul as regards the fall and the absolute ruin of man;: his guilty and totally lost condition; the utter worthlessness of his carnal reasonings, of his good works, of keeping of the Law of Moses, of reformation, et., as the ground of salvation. The natural man understands nothing of the amazing love of God in providing a Saviour, the blessed Son of the living God, nor His absolute perfection, both in His divine Nature and His true humanity, nor the shedding of His precious blood on the Cross of Calvary. His resurrection is the very proof of God’s acceptance of the atoning work. 1 Corinthians 2:14,15,16.
The
absolute need
of new
birth
Also we see in the Holy Scriptures
the absolute need of new birth, wrought by the Holy Spirit through the precious
Word of God and that justification is absolutely by faith without the works of
the law. John 3:3, Romans 3:24, Romans
5:1.
of
SALVATION
Thus the believer is assured of
SALVATION, not by feelings or reasonings, but by the Word of God. We understand
that a soul is saved, not by works of his own righteousness (for he has none),
but by faith, because of the work of Another- CHRIST and His finished work on
the Cross of Calvary. Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:4-9.
The proper hope
of the Lord’s people
We are assured that the proper
hope of the Lord’s people is not through any improvement on their part, but by
the coming of Christ for His Own. We
are not told exactly when, but we are assured that He is soon coming to call
His blood-bought people Home. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, John 14:1-3, Acts
1:9-11.
Regarding CHURCH GOVERNMENT, we
reject all DENOMINATIONAL names as they are simply human, and not Divine; the
Church (composed of souls saved by the grace of God) is the Body of
Christ. There is one Body. Therefore we must reject, as unscriptural,
any Denominational name. Matthew 18:20,
Ephesians 1:22, 23.
A
Scriptural order
of meeting
But, we find that there is a
Scriptural order of meeting, worship, and discipline clearly given in the Word
of God, and this we seek by His grace to follow. We refuse to recognize
ordination as merely human, but we
sincerely recognize all the various gifts which are given clearly by Christ,
and are for all who belong to Him by faith in the precious blood of Christ. 1
Corinthians 12:12.
No sanction
in the Word of God
for a leader or leaders
When a company of Christians are
gathered together for worship, there is no sanction in the Word of God for a
leader or leaders, but all should be left to the Spirit of God to use whom He
would choose in prayer, praise, or exhortation. 1 Corinthians 14.
We refuse all thought of any
stipulated salary for the preaching of the Word of God. We hold ourselves responsible to minister to
them who serve in all things and to minister in temporal things to those who
dedicate their lives to the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God.
We take no collections at Public
Meetings and refuse all help from the world.
We seek to meet generally in halls or in buildings more in accord with
the spirit of Christianity. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
Regarding
ordinances, we believe in Baptism, and take the Lord’s Supper the first day of
every week in accordance with the Word of God. Acts 20:7.
What We
Believe
–
as
Christians
gathered
to the
Name
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
Eric F. Smith