THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and preserved Word of God, given by the Holy Ghost through holy men of old. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” — 2 Peter 1:21 (KJV)

We believe the Scriptures are without error, for God cannot lie, and His words are pure and perfect. (Titus 1:2; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 19:7) “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” — Psalm 12:6 (KJV)

We believe God has preserved His Word for every generation, and that it stands settled and unbroken forever. (Psalm 12:7; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35; John 10:35) “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” — Psalm 12:7 (KJV) We therefore hold the King James Bible to be our final authority in all matters of faith and life, above every creed, council, and opinion of man. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25)

THE ONE TRUE GOD — THE TRINITY

We believe there is one true and living God, and there is none else beside Him. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” — Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV) We believe God is eternal, without beginning and without end, the Creator of heaven and earth. (Psalm 90:2; Genesis 1:1) “even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” — Psalm 90:2 (KJV)

We believe in the Trinity: this one God eternally exists in three Persons — the Father, the Word (the Son), and the Holy Ghost — and these three are one. (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” — 1 John 5:7 (KJV) We believe the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God — yet there are not three Gods, but one God: the three Persons co-equal, co-eternal, and of one substance, for God spake of Himself in the plural at man's creation, and Christ commanded baptism in the one name of all three. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” — Genesis 1:26 (KJV) “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” — Matthew 28:19 (KJV) “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” — 2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)

We believe God is gracious and merciful, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 145:8) “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” — Exodus 34:6-7 (KJV) “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” — Psalm 145:8 (KJV)

We believe His mercies never fail and are new every morning, and that He is rich in mercy toward sinners, for His great love wherewith He loved us. (Lamentations 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:4) “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” — Ephesians 2:4 (KJV)

We believe God is love, and His love was manifested in sending His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him — commending His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (1 John 4:8-9; Romans 5:8) “God is love.” — 1 John 4:8 (KJV) “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” — 1 John 4:9 (KJV) We believe the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, and that we are saved and sustained by that grace alone. (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:8)

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, the eternal Word made flesh, who dwelt among us full of grace and truth. (1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1; John 1:14) “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” — 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

We believe He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost, and is Emmanuel — God with us. (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35) We believe He lived a sinless life, tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, and did no sin. (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22)

We believe He died on the cross for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again bodily the third day, showing His disciples His hands and His feet. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 5:8; Luke 24:39) We believe He ascended into heaven and is Lord of all. (Acts 1:9-11; Acts 10:36)

THE FALL OF MAN AND HIS LOST CONDITION

We believe man was created in the image of God, upright and without sin, and that God gave him one plain command, of which he warned him: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” — Genesis 2:17 (KJV) We believe Adam broke that command and fell: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” — Genesis 3:6 (KJV) By that one act sin entered into the world, and death by sin. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12) “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” — Romans 5:12 (KJV)

We believe every child of Adam is BORN INTO A STATE OF DEGENERACY — born in sin, with a corrupt nature inherited from our first father. David confessed it of himself: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” — Psalm 51:5 (KJV) “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” — Romans 5:19 (KJV) “For as in Adam all die” — 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV) No man teaches a child to lie, to covet, or to rage; the seed of every sin is in the heart from birth, and it springs up of itself.

We believe the apostle Paul states our natural condition in its foundation text, Ephesians 2:1–3, and we take our doctrine of man’s lost estate from his words: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” — Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” — Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” — Ephesians 2:3 (KJV) Dead — not sick, not wounded, but dead in trespasses and sins; walking the world’s course after the prince of the power of the air; fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and BY NATURE the children of wrath, even as others.

We believe the heart of fallen man is corrupt through and through: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” — Romans 3:10–12 (KJV) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” — Romans 3:23 (KJV) There is none righteous — not the moralist, not the religious, not the respectable — for all have sinned, and the whole world is become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)

We believe this corrupt nature shows itself in plain, everyday sin that every reader knows: “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:” — Romans 1:29–31 (KJV) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” — Galatians 5:19–21 (KJV) Envy at a neighbour’s blessing, whispering and backbiting that tear down a name, covetous eyes, a quick temper, drunkenness, lust dressed up as entertainment, hatred nursed in the heart, lies told without blushing — these are not accidents of upbringing but the fruit of the nature we are born with, the works of the flesh in ordinary dress.

We believe fallen man is lost and cannot save himself, yet we do not hold that God has shut any man out: the Holy Spirit convicts the whole world of sin (John 16:8), Christ died for all (1 Timothy 2:4–6; 1 John 2:2), and His grace appears to all men (Titus 2:11) — a grace men may resist, as Israel resisted: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” — Acts 7:51 (KJV) Man’s lost condition is his guilt, not God’s unwillingness; whosoever will may come, and whosoever cometh to Christ, He will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37; Revelation 22:17)

SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE — JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

We believe man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin through Adam, and that death passed upon all men, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” — Romans 3:23 (KJV) We believe sin separates man from God, and that the wages of sin is death. (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)

We believe salvation is by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His finished work — the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) We believe Christ finished the work of redemption once for all upon the cross, and sat down on the right hand of God. (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:12) “It is finished” — John 19:30 (KJV)

We believe God now commands all men everywhere to repent, and that except a man repent and be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3; John 3:3) “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3 (KJV) We believe whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved and have everlasting life. (Acts 16:31; John 3:16)

We believe justification is God's act of declaring the believing sinner righteous, freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24; Romans 3:26) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” — Romans 3:24 (KJV)

We believe a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” — Romans 3:28 (KJV)

We believe God justifieth the ungodly who believe on Him, and imputes righteousness without works, for Christ was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (Romans 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21) “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” — Romans 4:5 (KJV) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

We believe the justified therefore have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” — Romans 5:1 (KJV)

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

We believe redemption and the forgiveness of sins are through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” — Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

We believe the blood of Christ was shed for many for the remission of sins, and that without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22) “without shedding of blood is no remission.” — Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) We believe we were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

We believe His blood cleanseth us from all sin, has washed us from our sins, purges the conscience from dead works, and has made peace between God and man. (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 9:14; Colossians 1:20) “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” — 1 John 1:7 (KJV) “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” — Revelation 1:5 (KJV)

PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION

We believe every believer is sanctified — set apart unto God — at the moment of salvation, washed and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God, perfected forever by Christ's one offering. (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:14) “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” — Hebrews 10:14 (KJV)

We believe sanctification is also progressive: throughout this life the believer is being changed into the image of Christ from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:6) “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)

We believe this growth in holiness is God's will for every believer, wrought by the truth of His Word, by the renewing of the mind, and by God working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. (1 Thessalonians 4:3; John 17:17; Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:13) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” — John 17:17 (KJV) “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (KJV)

We believe the God who began this good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, and we are called to be holy in all manner of life, for He who called us is holy. (Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

THE HOLY SPIRIT — HIS PERSON AND WORK

We believe the Holy Spirit is God, a divine Person, for to lie to the Holy Ghost is to lie unto God. (Acts 5:3-4; 1 John 5:7) We believe He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and that He regenerates the sinner, for except a man be born of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 16:8; John 3:5; Titus 3:5) “he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” — John 16:8 (KJV)

We believe He indwells every believer — the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost — and seals the believer from the moment of faith. (1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13) We believe the Spirit leads the children of God day by day, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14) “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” — Romans 8:14 (KJV)

We believe He guides the believer into all truth and teaches him all things, for He is the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13; John 14:26) “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” — John 16:13 (KJV) We believe He empowers God's people to be witnesses unto Christ, and makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26-27) “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” — Romans 8:26 (KJV)

We believe He is the Spirit of regeneration, by whom a man is born again: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” — Titus 3:5 (KJV) We believe He baptiseth every believer into the body of Christ at the moment of faith (1 Corinthians 12:13), seals him unto the day of redemption, and is the earnest of our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30) “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” — Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)

We believe He beareth fruit in the yielded believer: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV) and distributeth gifts to every man severally as He will, for the profit of the whole body. (1 Corinthians 12:7–11) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” — 1 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head, and every true believer a member in particular. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:27) “he is the head of the body, the church” — Colossians 1:18 (KJV) We believe Christ Himself builds His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18 (KJV)

We believe the Church is called to teach all nations, make disciples, and continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42) We believe the Church observes the two ordinances Christ gave it — water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper — as set forth in the articles that follow. (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

We believe the visible church on earth is the local congregation of baptized believers, covenanted together in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, and that each such congregation is governed under Christ by its own members — no council, synod, or hierarchy rules it from without. Christ gave the church the keys of discipline: “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” — Matthew 18:17 (KJV)

We believe the church’s officers are pastors (also called bishops and elders) and deacons, whose qualifications are written plainly in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9), and that the pastor’s charge is to feed the flock of God. (1 Peter 5:2) The church is “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” — 1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV) We believe Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and will present it to Himself a glorious church. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION

We believe water baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord Jesus, to be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19) We believe baptism is for believers only, after salvation, for in Scripture they that gladly received the word were baptized, and the eunuch was baptized upon his confession of faith in Christ. (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 8:12) “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” — Acts 8:37 (KJV)

We believe baptism is by immersion only, for we are buried with Christ by baptism into death, and Christ Himself, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 3:16) “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4 (KJV)

We believe baptism is an act of obedience and a public confession of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; it does not save, for salvation is by grace through faith alone. (Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-9)

THE LORD'S SUPPER

We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance instituted by the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed. (1 Corinthians 11:23; Luke 22:19-20) “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” — Luke 22:19 (KJV) We believe the bread declares His body given for us and the cup is the new testament in His blood, which is shed for us. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

We believe that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we shew the Lord's death till He come. (1 Corinthians 11:26) “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” — 1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV)

We believe every man must examine himself before he eats of that bread and drinks of that cup, for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, not discerning the Lord's body, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself. (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” — 1 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV)

THE RETURN OF CHRIST, THE RESURRECTION, AND THE JUDGMENT

We believe in the visible, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, for this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as He was seen go into heaven, and every eye shall see Him. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7) “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” — Acts 1:11 (KJV) We believe the Church may face tribulation and persecution in this world, for in the world we shall have tribulation, and His own shall be delivered up to be afflicted and hated of all nations for His name's sake. (John 16:33; Matthew 24:9)

We believe that immediately after the tribulation of those days, the Lord shall descend from heaven, send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and gather together His elect; the dead in Christ shall rise first, and the living saints shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” — Matthew 24:29 (KJV) “he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” — Matthew 24:31 (KJV) “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV)

We believe the rapture of the Church takes place before the outpouring of God's wrath, for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who delivered us from the wrath to come, and has promised to keep His faithful from the hour of temptation that shall try them that dwell upon the earth. (1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 5:9; Revelation 3:10) “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” — 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV) “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” — Revelation 3:10 (KJV) We believe God's wrath falls when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

We believe in the resurrection of the dead — they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation — and in the final judgment of all men, for it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, and we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. (John 5:28-29; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) We believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell: everlasting punishment for the wicked, whose names are not written in the book of life, and life eternal for the righteous with their Lord. (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15) “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” — Matthew 25:46 (KJV)

This article is stated briefly here; the full teaching — His return, the resurrections, the judgments, the millennial kingdom, and the new heavens and the new earth — is set out in order in the teachings that belong to this statement of faith — The Return of Christ and The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust, linked at the foot of this page.

MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

We believe marriage is a covenant ordained by God from creation between one man and one woman, for He which made them at the beginning made them male and female. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4; Genesis 1:27) “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

We believe marriage is honourable, is for life, and is the foundation of the family, for God blessed the first union and said, Be fruitful, and multiply. (Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:6; Genesis 1:28) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” — Matthew 19:6 (KJV) We hold to God's design alone and reject every redefinition of it. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6)

THE SANCTITY OF LIFE

We believe human life is sacred, for man was made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6) “for in the image of God made he man.” — Genesis 9:6 (KJV) We believe life begins at conception, for God covered us in our mother's womb and knew us before He formed us in the belly. (Psalm 139:13; Jeremiah 1:5) “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee” — Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” — Psalm 139:14 (KJV)

We therefore stand against abortion — the shedding of innocent blood, which God hates — and for the protection of every unborn child, for God commanded, Thou shalt not kill. (Proverbs 6:17; Exodus 20:13) “Thou shalt not kill.” — Exodus 20:13 (KJV)

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

We believe the earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof (Psalm 24:1), so that all we have is His, entrusted to us as stewards; and we believe giving is an act of worship, honouring the LORD with the firstfruits of our increase: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” — Proverbs 3:9–10 (KJV)

We believe the tithe is older than the Law: Abram gave tithes of all to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most high God, before Moses was born (Genesis 14:18–20), and Jacob vowed the tenth to God at Bethel. (Genesis 28:22) “And he gave him tithes of all.” — Genesis 14:20 (KJV) Under the Law the tithe was commanded and consecrated: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD.” — Leviticus 27:30 (KJV)

We believe the prophet Malachi speaks to a people who withheld their tithes and offerings, and calls that withholding what it is: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” — Malachi 3:8–10 (KJV) We preach this promise as God gave it — His blessing on obedient giving, in His way and measure. We do NOT preach giving as a bargain, a seed sown to purchase riches, or a debt God owes any giver; the tithe is obedience and worship, and offerings beyond it are the free gift of a grateful heart.

We believe the New Testament pattern is regular, proportional, and cheerful: on the first day of the week each believer lays by him in store, as God hath prospered him (1 Corinthians 16:2), and gives not by compulsion but from the heart. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (KJV) The believers at Jerusalem also sold and shared as any man had need — freely, for no man compelled them. (Acts 2:44–45)

We believe tithes and offerings sustain the preaching of the gospel and the work of the church, for “they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” — 1 Corinthians 9:14 (KJV) At Grace Team University, giving is taught and practised as worship: the tithe as the believer’s obedient portion, offerings as his free and cheerful gift above it, and every gift received with thanksgiving and used for the work of the ministry. (See also the lesson on giving at graceteamuniversity.com/donation.)

THE GREAT COMMISSION

We believe the gospel must be preached openly to every creature — in the streets, in the open air, and to the ends of the earth — for how shall they hear without a preacher? (Mark 16:15; Romans 10:14) “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15 (KJV) “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:14 (KJV)

We believe we are ambassadors for Christ, beseeching sinners in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV) This is the goal of Grace Team University and Grace Team Seattle: to reach the soul. (Mark 16:15; Romans 10:14)