State Faith Pg 6

We believe in the existence of Satan, who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and unlawful ambition rebelled against God (Ezek. 28:13-17, Isa. 14:13-14, 1 Tim. 3:7; 1 John 3:8), thus becoming utterly depraved in character (John 8:44), the great adversary of God and His people (Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:10), leader of all other evil angels and peoples (Matt. 12:24-26, 25:41), the deceiver and god of this present world (Rev. 12:9; 2 Cor. 4:4), that his powers are supernaturally great but strictly limited by the permissive will of God, who overrules all his wicked devices, for good (Job 1:1-22, Luke 22;31,32); that he was defeated and judged at the Cross, and therefore, his final doom is certain (John 12:31,32, 16:11; Rev. 10:10), that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God and by the Blood of the Lamb (Eph. 6:12-18; Rev. 12:11).

One of his most potent tools is to mix error with truth and must be guarded against by all (2 Cor. 11:15). He uses his fallen angels to influence the unfaithful servant to say helpful and even true things and can also themselves energize ones to do the miraculous. Therefore, every experience and teaching must be compared to the Scriptures to determine its true source (Isa. 8:20; 1 John 4:1).

We believe that the terms, Heaven and Hell, refer to literal and distinct places and not to a condition or state. Further, we believe in future life, bodily resurrection, and eternal judgment, that the spirit of the saved at death go immediately to be with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven (Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:8), where they abide in joyful fellowship with Him until His Return, when their bodies shall be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His own glorious body (Phil. 3:20,21; 1 Cor. 15:35-38; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2), at which time their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, a judgment which may issue in the loss of rewards, but not the loss of the soul (1 Cor. 3:8-15); that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Peter 2:9), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, they shall be judged according to their works and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment (Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8; Mark 9:43-48; Jude 13).

We believe that at the point of salvation, all believers are positionally set apart (sanctified) spiritually unto the Lord. There then follows a progressive sanctification in which the believer must learn to discern godly living from ungodly (Heb. 5:14). Part of this discernment is seen in separation from worldly and sinful practices which are diametrically opposed to the Lord’s plan and purposes (Rom. 6:19-20; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 John 2:15-17).

Additionally, the believer must separate from apostasy and unbelief. Therefore, we will not knowingly associate with unbelief in ministry, worship, or by ecumenical activities (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:19-22, 3:1-5; Amos 3:3). Separation from those who are not walking according to truth deters the leavening effect of compromise, and gives faithful warning to erring brothers (Rom. 16:17; Gal. 2:9-11:1; 1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; 2 John 10-11).