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We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men controlled by the Holy Spirit (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21); that it has truth without any mixture of error (Psa. 119:160; John 17:17); and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried (Psa. 119:89; I Pet. 1:23; Psa. 19:7-11).

By “the Holy Bible,” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not merely contain and convey the word of God, but is the very Word of God.

By “Inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth (Exod. 20:2-3; I Cor. 8:6); inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Exod. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; Mark 12:30); that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (John 15:26; I John 5:7).

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14).

That the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father (Acts 5:3-4) and God the Son (2 Cor. 13:14) and of the same nature (Heb. 9:14; John 14:26); that He was active in the creation (Gen. 1:1-3); that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled (II Thess. 2:7); that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness (John 16:8-11); that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony (John 15:26-27); that He is the agent in the New Birth (John 3:5-6); that He seals, baptizes, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer (Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Rom. 8:14,16,26-27; I Pet. 1:2).

That the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance) is the evidence of His indwelling rather than speaking in tongues and other spectacular demonstrations (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:18-21).

We believe the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally (Gen. 1:1; Exod. 20:11; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3); that man was created in God’s own image and after His own likeness (Gen. 1:26-27); that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species (Gen. 2:7; Gen. 2:21-23); that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind” (Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:24).

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins (John 3:16; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14- 17; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3-4; II Cor. 5:21); that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree (John 10:18; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa. 53:10-11; Heb 12:2); that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Savior (I Cor. 15:20; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2).

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of immersed believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:2); governed by His laws (Eph. 1:22-23); and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word (Rom 12:3-8); that its scripturally designated officers are pastors (elders) and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9); we believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: First, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize them; third, to teach and instruct, as He has command- ed. We do not believe in the reversal of this order (Matt. 28:19-20); we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32; I Cor. 16:2). On all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Matt 18:15-17;I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13).

We believe that Christian Baptism is the believer’s immersion in water (Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16); in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19); to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12); that in scriptural order it (baptism) precedes the privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20); the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine remind us of the love of God in Christ Jesus, “Who spared not his own Son but delivered Him up for us all,” that this ordinance is preceded always by solemn self-examination (I Cor. 11:23-28).

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