Outline

Scriptures
– Authorship
– Jurisdiction
– Primacy

– God
– The Trinity
– The Father
– The Son (Including the offices of Christ)
– The Holy Spirit

– Mankind
– Origin
– Purpose
– Pre & Post Fallen Condition
– Gender
– Marriage
– Family

– The Fall
– Extent
– Result
– Sin

– Providence
– God’s Sovereign Will
– Election
– Reprobation
– Salvation

– Salvation
– Grace
– Regeneration
– Justification
– Repentance
– Faith
– Priesthood of the Believer

– Sanctification
– Perseverance of the Saints
– Individual Soul Liberty

– The Church
– Identity (Saved Church Membership)
– Authority
– Autonomy
– Offices (Elder & Deacon)
– Purposes
– Ordinances: Baptism & The Lord’s Supper
– Membership
– Discipline

– Civil Government
– Separation of Church and State
– Submission
– Jurisdiction

– Eschatology
– Christ’s Second Coming
– Rapture
– Resurrection
– Judgment

– Angelology & Demonology

Article 1 – The Scriptures –

Statement on the Scriptures

Section 1 – Introduction:

We believe that the 66 books, commonly referred to as the Christian Bible, in their original manuscripts are the inerrant, infallible, and inspired testimony of God Himself to His people. Although we do not obtain these original manuscripts we affirm with the scholars that the copies of those original manuscripts we do posses have been proven to be more than 99% accurate to their original sources.

The books we believe ought to be considered holy and sacred texts are as follows;

The Old Testament
– Genesis
– Exodus
– Leviticus
– Numbers
– Deuteronomy
– Joshua
– Judges
– Ruth
– 1 Samuel
– 2 Samuel
– 1 Kings
– 2 Kings
– 1 Chronicles
– 2 Chronicles
– Ezra
– Nehemiah
– Esther
– Job
– Psalms
– Proverbs
– Ecclesiastes
– Song of Solomon
– Isaiah
– Jeremiah
– Lamentations
– Ezekiel
– Daniel
– Hosea
– Joel
– Amos
– Obadiah
– Jonah
– Micah
– Nahum
– Habakkuk
– Zephaniah
– Haggai
– Zechariah
– Malachi

New Testament:
– Matthew
– Mark
– Luke
– John
– Acts (of the Apostles)
– Romans
– 1 Corinthians
– 2 Corinthians
– Galatians
– Ephesians
– Philippians
– Colossians
– 1 Thessalonians
– 2 Thessalonians
– 1 Timothy
– 2 Timothy
– Titus
– Philemon
– Hebrews
– James
– 1 Peter
– 2 Peter
– 1 John
– 2 John
– 3 John
– Jude

– Revelation

Section 2 – Authorship:

Each of the 66 books that make up the cannon of Scripture have been authored by the Holy Spirit of God through the agency of men. “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21 ESV) As such, both the inerrancy of God’s Word is maintained while still capturing the human author’s perspective and experience. It’s Divine authorship attests to it’s validity and it’s primacy. It’s Human authorship attests to it’s knowability and relevancy.

Section 3 – Jurisdiction:

The Bible is the highest standard of truth. When the Bible speaks on a subject it is to be understood as absolute truth and nothing less. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 ESV) When the Scriptures do not directly speak to an issue the principles set forth in the Bible are to be used in the interaction with general revelation so as to determine what is true and right. All claims of truth that come from logic, perception, or experience must be weighed against the Bible, and only those things that are supported by a simple and clear reading of the text are to be held as truth. “By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ‘That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.’” (Romans 3:4 ESV) This is to say that the Bible is the highest “court” of truth and all claims of truth are weighed against it and it alone.

Section 4 – Primacy:

The Bible is the very Word of God, in a mysterious way, they and the Lord Jesus Christ, are one. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV) As such, the Word is to be understood as the primary means for a Christian to come to know God and to continue in a meaningful relationship with God. Therefore the Bible, it’s reading, teaching, expositing, and counseling are the primary ministries of the Church and it’s primary means of worship.