The doctrine we believe, the message we preach, and that to which we are committed are summarized in these words: "The ministry which (we) have received of the Lord Jesus (is) to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
OUR DOCTRINE IS THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD! We believe and preach the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. We do not believe in the free-will of the sinner, but the free-will of God. We do not believe in salvation by works, but salvation by grace. We do not believe in salvation by man, but the salvation of man by Christ alone (Jon. 2:9; II Tim. 1:9). Our doctrine is setforth in these nine statements of faith.
1. The Bible alone is our inspired, authoritative rule of
faith and practice (II Tim. 3:16-17).
2. Almighty God is totally sovereign in all things (Psa.
135:6).
3. All men and women by nature are totally depraved and
helplessly lost under the wrath of God (Rom. 3:9-19).
4. There is a people in this world, chosen by God in
eternal, unconditional election, who must be saved (II
Thess. 2:13-14).
5. The Lord Jesus Christ died for and effectually
redeemed God's elect (Isa. 53:8; Heb. 9:12).
6. God the Holy Spirit effectually calls every elect
sinner, those redeemed by Christ, to life and faith in
Christ by His almighty, irresistible grace (Psa. 65:4;
John 6:63).
7. The means of regeneration, faith and conversion is the
preaching of the gospel (I Cor. 1:21; I Pet. 1:23-25).
8. God's saints in Christ are free from the law (Rom.
7:1-4; 10:1-4).
9. And every sinner who trusts Christ is born of God and
shall persevere to the end by God's infallible grace
(John 10:27-30).
Here we stand! From the beginning of our ministry together to this date our doctrine has not changed, even slightly. If God is pleased to give us another ten years of ministry on this earth, or fifty, our doctrine will be the same then. With us, these points of doctrine are more than theological positions we have come to accept. They are matters of heart conviction. Before permitting us to compromise upon any of these nine points of faith, I pray that God will both destroy this building and scatter this congregation to the winds.