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God has Called us to:
Forever-Fellowship
All-Week-Long Worship
Day-by-Day Discipleship
Moment-by-Moment Mission
Located across the
street from Sweetwaters
in Downtown Milford, MI. -
Statement of Faith
Section 2 – Doctrinal Statement
2.1 The Bible
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any mixture of error for its matter; 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.
The Holy Bible: That collection of sixty-six Books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not convey the Word of God, but is the very WORD OF GOD.
Inspiration: The Books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no writings have been or ever will be inspired. (Psalms 117:2 and 119:60; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Romans 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19.)
2.2 The True God
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the make and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressively glorious in holiness, and worthy of all polssible honor, confidence and love. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Psalm 147:5; Mark 12:29; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5.) One God in Three persons: Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 John 5:7.
2.3 The Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the anti-christ, and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to the judgment of the eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-3; 25:41; Revelation 20:10.)
2.4 Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of the creation, and that it is be to accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made direct, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth after their own kind. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7, 21-23.)
Creation by God – Genesis 1:1
Creation by the Son – John 1:3
Creation by the Holy Spirit – Job 33:4
2.5 The Fall and Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not be constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10,19,23; 5:12; Galatians 3:22.)
2.6 The Virgin Birth
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 woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:1-2, 16-25; Luke 1:28-35; Galatians 4:4.)
2.7 The Blood Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by 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; that His atonement consisted not in settin 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; 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 in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Saviour. (John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:8; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:12-15; 1 John 2:2.)
2.8 The New Birth or New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, but by culture, not by the will of man, nor by character, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that is proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17.)
We then have two natures: Romans 6:6-13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 1 Peter 1:4-16; 1 John 3:5-9.
2.9 The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that is it the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; 6:37.)
2.10 Justification
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such that believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. (Acts 13:3-39; Romans 5:1; Titus 3:2-7.)
2.11 Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Romans 10:9-11.)
2.12 The Church
We believe that a local Church of Christ is a congregation of immersed, baptized believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers or ordination are Pastors, the Deacons, whose qualification, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13.) We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: FIRST, to make individual disciples; SECOND, to build up the church; THIRD, to teach and instruct, as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We believe in the Security of the Believer (John 10:27-30; 3:16; Phillippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25; Jude 24.)
We believe 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; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its dooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will the local church is final. (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:21-23.)
- Giving – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
- Missions – Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
- Christ the Head – Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18
- Separation – James 4:4; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 6:1-5; 2 John 1
- Church attendance – Hebrews 10:25
- “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart and soul to God, through Christ, with the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.” - John Bunyan
