State Faith Pg 5

We believe the true Church of Jesus Christ had its historical beginning at Pentecost, is composed of all true believers, is the Body (Eph. 1:22,23; Rom. 12:5) and Bride of our Lord (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7), and is distinct from Israel (Acts 2:1, 41-47; 1 Cor. 10:32, 12:12,13; Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1:18).

A local church, in the strictest sense of the term, is characterized by corporate worship and prayer, practice of the two ordinances (Matt. 26:26-28, 1 Cor. 10:16,17), and exercise of Spirit-bestowed gifts (as defined in the Scriptures). Essential church officers are the elder(s) [pastor, assistant pastor, etc.] and deacons, whose qualifications are listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.

The elder’s duties are pastoral, administrative (1 Timothy 5:17) and educational (1 Timothy 3:2) in nature. The deacons’ responsibility is to serve the assembly, especially with regard to the more mundane but important concerns (Acts 6:2-6). The deacons’ may serve as counsel to the pastor. Pre-requisites for membership in a local church are profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and submission to the ordinance of baptism (Acts 2:33-42).

The ordinances of the church are symbolic acts observed in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are two in number: observance of the Lord's Supper and water baptism. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper consists of partaking of bread, symbolic of the Lord’s broken body, and of the cup, symbolic of His shed blood (1 Cor. 11:23-28). Further, an important part of this ordinance is the recognition of the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride (1 Cor. 11:26). This ordinance should always be proceeded by a time of spiritual self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28-30) . Water baptism by immersion is to be performed following an individual’s profession of faith (Acts 10:47; 16:31-33). Baptism symbolizes spiritual cleansing, represents an outward expression of an inward attitude of repentance, the death, burial, and resurrection unto new life (cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Note, Rom. 6:1-4 and Col. 2:12 use the term baptism in a figurative sense to picture union with Christ and its implications. The proper and scriptural mode of baptism is immersion and is supported by the usage of the term immersion in the Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and finally perish, but will endure to the end being "kept by the power of God" unto the day of salvation (John 6:39, 10:27-29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19; Romans 11:29).

The Church consists of all who are redeemed during this present dispensation. Thus, all Jewish and Gentile peoples (Romans 1:16, Ephesians 2:11-22) who receive salvation during this dispensation are part of the Church and should be part of the local church rather than any Messianic Movement groups.

We believe it is the duty of the church to proclaim and maintain the purity of doctrine and practice, and to worship and serve the Lord in "spirit and truth" (Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 2:41-47; 20:17-32; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Eph. 4:11-16) through the local church and missionary outreach.