1. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20, 21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32
2. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons; that these Persons are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct, but harmonious, offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Gen 1:1, 26; John 1:1-3; Matt 28:19; John 4:24; Rom 1:19-20; Eph 4:5-6
3. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Luke 10:21-22; Matt 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Rom 1:7; 1 Tim 1:1,2; 2:5,6; 1 Pet 1:3; Rev 1:6
4. JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Rom 9:5; 8:46; 2Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:21-23; John 20:30-31; Matt 20:28; Eph 1:4; Acts 1:11; Rom 5:6-8; 6:9-10; Heb 7:25; 9:28; 1 Tim 3:16
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:9-14; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; Gal 5:22-26
6. REGENERATION
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death—which is separation from God. As a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, and receive eternal life.
Gen 1:26; 2:17; 3:19; 5:2; Eccl. 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; John 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Rom 9:22; 2 Thess 1:9; Rev 19:3, 20; 20:10; 14-15; 21:18; Psa 51:7; Jer 17:9; James 1:14; Rom 3:19; 5:19; Prov 28:13; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:1; 1 John 1:9
7. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized, with a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
Eph 2:19-22; 5:19-21; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Heb 10:23-25
8. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the flourishing of his neighbor; that Christian conduct should be blameless before the world; that Christians should be a faithful steward of their possessions; and that Christians should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
1 Cor 10:31; Rom 12:1-3; Heb 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23-24; 2 Cor 9:6-9; 1 Cor 4:2; Col. 1:9-10; 1 John 2:3-6
9. THE SACRAMENTS
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two sacraments to the local church, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is with water and into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two sacraments should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matt 28:18-20; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-26
10. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
1 Tim 2:5; Rom 14:7-12
11. CHURCH COOPERATION
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.
Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelations 1:4,10,11.
*This church is affiliated with the South Carolina Southern Baptist Convention and the Greenville Baptist Association, and may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary, independent basis.
12. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the eternal suffering of the wicked.
Matt 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 4:15; 2 Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 4:5; 15; 2 Thess 1:7-10; Rev 20:4-6, 11-15