Service Times: Worship Service 9:00 AM, Contemporary Service 11:00 AM

 



The Holy Scriptures

We believe in the plenary (complete) verbal inspiration of the Bible and that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” and that it is inerrant (without error) in its original writings, being communicated by the Holy Spirit to men of God.  (II Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21;
Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13)

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection.  We believe that God is sovereign (supreme), but He honors the free will of man as it pertains to man’s salvation. (Gen. 1:1,26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 4:29; John 10:30; II Cor. 13:14)

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem (to regain possession by purchase) sinful men.
(John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as vicarious (substitutionary) sacrifice; we believe that the sufficiency of this atoning sacrifice to accomplish the redemption and justification of all who trust in Jesus is guaranteed by His literal, physical, resurrection from the dead. (Rom.3:24,25; Eph. 1:7; I Tim. 4:10; Heb. 2:9;
I Peter 1:3-5, 2:24)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate.  (Acts 1:9; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2)
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The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and that they must be born again to be accepted of God.  (Rom. 3:10-19; 3:23; 5:12; John 3:1-21)

We believe that, because of Adam’s sin, every person born into the world inherits a fallen sin nature and is thereby totally depraved.  (Rom. 3:10-19, 23; 5:12)

Salvation

We believe that God sent Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind.  Through the offering of Himself on the cross, He reconciled (brought back to harmony) the sinner and became the substitute for every man who by faith accepts Him as his personal Savior.  However, even though God does draw men “unto Himself,” He does not impose His grace upon them in choosing some to be saved and others to be lost.  (John 3:14-16; Heb. 9:14; Rom. 3:24-25; Col. 1:21-22; II Cor. 5:19)

We believe that all who thus receive Him are born again and become members of the family of God, eternally secure because of the promise of the unchangeable Word of God. 

(John 1:11-12; I Peter 1:23; John 5:24; Eph. 3:11; I John 5:11-13; John 10:28,29)

We believe that Scripture clearly forbids the use of either the assurance of our salvation or Christian liberty as an occasion to sin. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13)
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Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who, at the moment of a believer’s salvation, baptizes him into the body of Christ and takes up permanent residence in the believer, sealing him unto the Day of redemption. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13,14; Eph .4:30)

We believe that it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ and not Himself.
(John 16:13,14)

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of all His gifts; we believe that the giving of evangelists, pastors, and teachers is sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; we believe that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. 
(I Cor.12:4-11; 13:8-10; Eph. 4:7-12)

We, therefore, hold that the modern charismatic movement, including speaking in tongues and so called “Divine Healers” should neither be sought nor indulged in by members of this congregation.  Any member embracing these concepts shall be counseled and, upon refusal to reject this teaching, shall be asked in love to withdraw from membership and service in the Church. 

The Blessed Hope

We believe the next great event in God’s program is the Blessed Hope, the pre-tribulation rapture, when the dead in Christ shall be resurrected and the living saints translated and caught up together to meet Him in the air. (Titus 2:13; I Thes. 4:13-17)
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The Reign of Christ

We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, when He will sit upon the throne of His Glory and judge the nations, after which He will reign for one thousand years in righteousness and peace.  (Matt. 24: 29-30; 25:31-33;
Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:11-16)

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life with Christ and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.  (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5, 6,12,13)

We believe that souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.  (Luke 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thes. 4:16,17)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment.  (Luke 16:19-31; Matt. 25:41-46; II Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15)
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The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel and the author of sin; we believe that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

We believe that he is the “prince of the power of the air,” and the “god of this age,” who is now “blinding the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the Gospel of Christ should shine unto them.” (II Cor. 4:3,4; Eph. 2:2)

The Ordinances

We believe in Scriptural baptism by immersion as an ordinance of this Church and that each member of the Body of Christ should be baptized. (Acts 8:38,39; 10:47; 16:33; Rom. 6:3,4)

We believe that the Lord’s Table was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, and that all believers should assemble themselves together to remember Him in His death until He comes again. (Matt. 26:26-28; I Cor. 11: 23-32)

The Church

We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual body made up of all born-again persons of this present age.
(Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2)

We believe that believers should not forsake the assembling of themselves together. 
(Heb. 10:25) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; Acts 20:17; I Tim. 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-11)
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135 Spruce Hollow Road  Northumberland, PA 17857