Section I: The Godhead
We believe there is only one living and true God: perfect, infinite, and eternal (Mt 5:48; I Kings 8: 27; Ps 19:9; Ex 34:6; Jn 3:16), that He is Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe (Gen 1:1; Heb 11:3; Neh 9:6; Heb 1:2,3; Ps 103:19; Eph 1:11), that He exists in three persons–namely Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are equal in their divine perfection and harmonious in the execution of their distinct offices (Mt 28: 19; Jn 14:16,17, 15:26; Eph 2:18).
Section II: Jesus Christ
We believe the personality and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, truly man (Jn 1:1-3,14,18; Phil 2:5-11; Col 2:9, Mt 1:16-25; Lk 1:31,2:7, 11; Gal 4:4; Heb 2: 14, 1:8; Titus 2: 13; Jn 10:30,38, 5: 17-23; Rev 1:8, 22: 12, 13; Heb 1:1-3; Jn 17:5; I Tim 3:16; Col 1 :9). We believe in the physical bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor 3-6; Luke 24:36-39; John 20:19-20,26-27).
Section III: Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, the infallible interpreter of the infallible Word (Jn 15:26; Rom 8:26-27; Eph 4:30; Acts 13:2; Jn 16:13-15; I Cor 12:13, 6:19, 3:16, 2:14; Rom 8:9; I Jn2:27; Acts 5:3; Eph 1:13-14; II Cor 5:5). He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn 16:8-11). He is the supernatural agent in regeneration (Jn 3:6) at which time He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (I Cor 12:13), indwelling and sealing him unto the day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14). All believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5: 18). The evidence of a Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians (Gal 5:22-23).
Section IV: Bible
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is the inerrant Word of God (II Tim 3:16; II Pet 1:21; I Thess 2: 13); that it is a revelation of Himself; that it reveals man’s state by nature and presents the only means of his salvation, (Rom 3:10-12; Acts 4:12); that it constitutes the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice; (II Tim 3:16-17; II Pet 1:19; Acts 17:11; Isa 8:20;) and that it sets forth the principles by which all men will be judged (Rom 2:1-16).
Section V: Man
We believe that man was created in holiness under the law of his maker (Gen 1:27; Ecc 7:29; Acts 17 26-29; Gen 2:16-17), but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state (Gen 3:6-24; Rom 5:12) in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners (Rom 5:19; In 3:6; Ps 51:5; Rom 5:15-19, 8:7), not by constraint, but choice (Is 53:6; Gen 6:12; Rom 3:9-18), being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, totally depraved and therefore under condemnation to eternal ruin (Eph 2:13; Rom 1:18, 32; 2: 16; Gal 3:10; Mat 20:15) without defense or excuse (Ezek 18:19-20; Rom 1:20,3:19; Gal 3:22).
Section VI: Man’s Redemption
We believe that God has provided redemption for all men through the mediatorial work of Christ, who voluntarily offered Himself on Calvary as a perfect sacrifice for sin, the just suffering for the unjust, bearing sin’s curse, and tasting death for every man (Mt 20:28; Heb 9:11-12:1; I Pet 3:18; Gal 3:13; Heb 2:9; I Tim 2:5-6).
Section VII: Salvation and Justification
We believe men are justified on the simple and single ground of the shed blood of Christ, (Rom 5: 9) and upon the simple and single condition of faith in Him who shed the blood, (Rom 5:1-2, 3:24-26) and are born again by the quickening, renewing, cleansing work of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God (Titus 3:5; I Pet 1:23), therefore are eternally saved (Phil 1:6).
Section VIII: Resurrection and Immortality
We believe that at the return of the Lord, the bodies of the righteous will be raised and the living believers will be changed so that both will have literal, spiritual, and immortal bodies like unto Christ’s own glorious body (Rom 8:33; I Cor 1:5; I Thes 4:16-17; Phil 3:20-21; Lk 24:36-43; Acts 1:3;).
Section IX: Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts and that the gifts of evangelism, pastoral ministry, teaching, and other gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8 and Ephesians 4:7-12 are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. The earlier gifts of speaking in tongues and working of sign miracles were given to the Apostles as signs of the ushering in of the dispensation of grace (II Cor 12:12). As the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established these earlier signs gradually ceased (I Cor 13:8-10). We believe that God is still all powerful and still performs physical miracles such as bodily healing, but He does so through the prayer of the saints rather that through those who claim to have the gift of healing (James 5:14-15).
Section X: The Church
We believe that all who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior constitute the true church, the body and bride of Christ, and that the establishment of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external human authority or control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31; I Pet 5:1-4; I Cor 3:9).
Section XI: Christ’s Return
We believe in that blessed hope, the personal imminent, pre-tribulation (I Thess 4:13-18; Rev 3:10; I Cor 15:50-54), and pre-millennial (Rev 20:1-6) coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones, when the bodies of the saved dead will be raised, and together with the saved living, will meet Him in the air to be forever with Him, and in His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom (Zech 14:4-11).
Section XII: Ordinances
Water baptism (Mt 28:19; Acts 10:47-48, 8:36-38) and the Lord’s Supper (I Cor 11:23-32) are the two ordinances of the church and are for all believers.
1. Water Baptism Baptism is an act of obedience, and is not set forth as a condition of salvation. We teach and practice baptism by immersion for believers as an outward expression and testimony of the inward spiritual change which occurs in the believer’s life when he accepts the Savior. We believe that water baptism is symbolic of the fact that we are buried with Christ in death and have risen with Him in newness of life. Water baptism shall not be made a condition of fellowship or membership. (Mt 28:19; Acts 8:36-38, 10:47; Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12).
2. Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ for observance by His children until He returns. It consists in partaking of the emblems which symbolize the death of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. The Lord’s Table should be open to all believers who are in right relationship with God (Lk 22:19; I Cor 10:16, 11:23-24).
Section XIII: Civil Government
We believe that civil government is ordained of God for punishment of evil doers and for the protection of the good (Rom 13:1-7). We therefore consider it our duty to pray for ruler and magistrates (I Tim 2:1-3) and to be submissive and obedient to their authority, except in things opposed to the will of God (Titus 3:1; I Pet 2:13-14; Acts 4:19-5:29; Mt 23:10; Rev 19:16).
Section XIV: Marriage and Sexual Intimacy
We believe that marriage is Biblically defined as being between one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union (Gen. 1:26-31; 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6). The nature of this relationship should reflect God’s intended design of the eternal marriage between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between one man and one woman who are married to each other (Deut. 5:18; 1 Cor. 6:9-20; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thess. 4:3-8).
Section XV: Gender
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female at conception. These two distinct, complementary genders reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27; Matt. 19:4).
Section XVI: Judgments
We believe that the believer’s works will be judged for reward at the judgment seat of Christ at the time of His coming (I Cor 3:8-15, 4:5; II Cor 5:10; II Tim 4:8). We believe that the unsaved will appear before God for judgment at the Great White Throne after the Millennium, and as a result will suffer torment forever and ever together with the Devil and his angels (Ecc 12:14; Mk 9:43-48; Mt 10:28; Rom 2:8-9; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:10-15, 14:10-11).
Section XVII: The Devil
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, “…that old serpent called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world.” (Rev 12:9; Jn 14:30; I Jn 5:19; Lk 13:16; Eph 6:11-12; Rev 20:10; Heb 2:14; Mt 25:41; I Pet 5:8; James 4:7; II Cor 2:11; Eph 2:2) He shall ultimately be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone and shall be tormented day and night forever (Rev 20:1-3, 7-10).
Section XVIII: Covenant
We the members of Melrose Community Church having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, do covenant together, God helping us, that we will endeavor to live a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices, cultivating sensitiveness to the needs and feelings of others and abstaining from such habits and amusements as might cause others to stumble or bring reproach upon the name of Christ; that we will be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us; and as we have opportunity, we will do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith; and further we will remember in prayer and give heed to them who have the rule over us, who minister unto us the Word of God; and will, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, as good stewards, give as God has prospered us, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. (Jn 3:5, 1:12; Rom 10:9-10; II Chron 15:12; I Cor 6:14-18; I Jn 3:15-17; I Thess 5:22; I Pet 2:11; Gal 6:2, 10; Rom 12:10,13, 14:13-15, 21-23; Eph 4:32; I Cor 8:9; Heb 13:7, 17; Rom 15:30; II Cor 9:6-8)
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