We do not regard any creedal or faith statement as being equal to the clear statements of the Bible itself. In respect to the Bible, we regard the New Testament especially as being our rule of faith, doctrine, and practice. The purpose of this doctrinal summary is to explain to other Christians and to our society what we believe and practice. The following items give a guideline for our preaching, teaching, relationships to one another, and for counsel.

The Scriptures: We believe the Scriptures were God breathed in the original documents, and as a result, are fully and completely verbally inspired by God, and inerrant.(1 Chronicles 28:12,19; Psalms 12:6; Psalms 19:7-11; Psalms 119:128; Daniel 10:21; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Timothy 3:16,17). The Scriptures should be widely preached and defended. (Matthew 10:27; Jude 3: 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:2).

The Church:

A church is the local gathering of believers in a community and is a representation of the universal church: (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 12:23)

The local church consists of individual Christians who have joined together to proclaim the Gospel, to serve and minister to the spiritual and physical needs of our society, to mutually encourage and be grown spiritually through preaching, discipleship, worship, and fellowship. We are self-governed, emphasizing the responsibility of each person to serve in and through the church. (Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:41-42; Luke 24:45-58; Acts 13; 1-3; Acts 14; 26-28) The church is referred to as the ˜called out one” (from the Greek language ˜Ecclesia“; “Ek” meaning “out from among”, and ˜kaleo” meaning ˜to call”) referring to God calling the church out of the world. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:24-27; Acts 15:14)

Doctrine:

The Trinity: We believe in the Trinity; One God in three co-equal, distinct persons. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 18:1-10; Matthew 3:16,17; John 1:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

God the Father: He is the one and only God, perfect in all His attributes. He rules over all creation; He gave us the plan of salvation through His Son, and He is the Father of all those who receive Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior. (Matthew 5:16; Matthew 6:9; Over 70 references in the book of John to God the Father; 1 John 4:9-10; John 3:16; John 1:12; Acts 16:31)

Jesus Christ the Son: He existed eternally, became man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of a virgin, Mary. He was fully God, and fully man, making this known by living a sinless life, performing miracles, and through His teaching. Salvation is offered to all through His death, burial, and resurrection, by which He made atonement for our sin, and redeemed us. He has both ascended into heaven where He intercedes for believers, and lives in them as their Lord by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:14, 34; Matthew 1:18; John 14:9; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:23-25; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 8:34; John 14:23)

The Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity, existed eternally, and fills the universe and the earth. When regenerated and converted, a believer is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit, who then lives within, becomes their eternal guarantee, and gives gifts for ministry in the church. He enables, teaches, guides, fills, sanctifies, and produces fruit through the believer who is yielded to Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts the world of sin, righteousness, the judgment to come, and inspired men to write the Scriptures. (Jeremiah 23:24;John 14:16-18; John 14:26; John 16:7; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13,14; Romans 12:5-8; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6; 2 Peter 1:21)

Note: Creation (Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Job 26:13; Job 33:4; John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:15-17), and Salvation/regeneration (Titus 1:3,4; Titus 2:10,13; Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11) are ascribed to all three. 

The Gospel: We believe that The Gospel is the good news of the redemption by Jesus Christ of the whole person from sin and death, which is called salvation, or being “saved”. It is a free gift offered to all, but must be personally received through repentance from sin, and by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. The Holy Spirit regenerates the individual, making them a new spiritual creation. That person is made a child of God, at peace with Him and freed from the penalty and condemnation of sin. We will strive to preach and teach this gospel throughout our community and in our world, recognizing that its message is the difference between life and death, heaven and hell. (John 3:16; Romans 1:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:11; Romans 5:1)

Sanctification: We believe that we have been sanctified (made perfect) in Christ Jesus in our eternal standing before God. When we were born again, we were given a new nature, made a new creation spiritually, which is perfect, and cannot ever be taken from us. We are also being sanctified while we remain in our earthly bodies, and though we will never reach sinless perfection while on earth, we strive for it in Christ’s strength, knowing this to be the will of God for our lives. (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Separation: We believe we are to glorify God in our daily living, which means, at times, that we live separated and distinct from the society in which we live. While living in obedience to the laws of our society that do not conflict with the Scriptures, we may, as we conduct ourselves as the Scriptures indicate we should, appear distinct in our conduct from what society would consider the norm. We will not in any way join with any other organization, individual, or endeavor that does not agree with, or does not in practice adhere to, this Statement of Faith and/or the clear teaching of the Scriptures.  We are in the world, not of it, and so we will strive in the strength of Christ to obey the commands of scripture regardless of the opinion of society or other religious organizations. (Ezra 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1)

Prophecy: We believe that God will do away with the present world and universe, and will establish a new universe and earth. As He promised, Jesus Christ will personally return to earth suddenly and in a way that will be evident to all. The resurrection of the dead will occur, at which time Jesus Christ will judge in righteousness each person who has ever lived. Those who are unrighteous, whose name does not appear in the Lambs Book of Life, will be consigned to an eternal punishment which has been prepared for the Devil and his demons. The righteous, in their newly resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and live forever with their Lord.  (2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 21:1; Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; John 5:28-29; John 12:1-4; Acts 1:11; Acts 3:19-20; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8)

Angels: We believe that God created these spiritual beings, designing them to serve Him. These are obedient spirits who minister to believers and glorify God. A third of these angels, led by Satan, rebelled against God, causing their removal from heaven by God. They are now destined for an eternity in the lake of fire, made certain by Jesus’ victory over sin and death. These fallen angels now tempt individuals to rebel against God. (Psalms 148:1-5; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:6-7; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation 12:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10)

Creation, purpose, and eternal nature of man: We believe that God created man in His image. We are designed to have fellowship with God, and to be wise stewards of His Creation. Each person has been created unique, is to be treated with respect, and will have an eternal existence. Adam, the first human created by God, brought sin and death to all of humanity, and corruption to all of creation by rebelling against God in the garden of Eden. Every person since then has been born with a sin nature, and is, as a result, under God’s condemnation. Every person will spend an eternity without God in torment if not reconciled to Him. Through salvation man is no longer condemned, and is guaranteed an eternal existence with God in heaven. Satan tempts all of mankind, even believers; however, this does not constitute an excuse for anyone. Individuals need to respond to the message of salvation for themselves, and then are given the right to approach God as His own children. (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalms 139:13-17; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 8:22; Romans 3:9-18; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Matthew 16:23; Romans 14:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 3:1)

Religious liberty: We believe this is the right of every person. This belief is anchored in the scriptures, and is intended to allow the free exercise of conscience, yet recognizing the responsibility each individual has to God. God has allowed both the church and government to exist, with specific and separate roles and responsibilities, and they are not to seek to control the other. We are to pray for our government, and be obedient to its governing in all areas that do not contradict the scriptures. (Genesis 1:27; John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:21; Acts 5:29; Matthew 22:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 1:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Christian conduct in society: We believe that every Christian should be salt and light in the world in which they live. This means that they are to seek the best for society, be upstanding citizens of their communities, displaying the character of Jesus Christ in all they do. They are to be careful to respect every person, regardless of race or social standing, and are to serve the needy whenever possible. (Matthew 5:13-16; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Peter 2:12; Colossians 3:17; James 1:27, 2:4)

Family & Sexuality: We believe the family unit of father, mother, child(ren) is God’s basic design and the foundation of a stable society. We must, therefore, support and strengthen it at every opportunity. (Genesis 2:21-21; Psalms 127; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-20)

We affirm the Nashville Statement on gender and sexuality, available as a pdf and online at: https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement