Statement of Faith
Together with the Church in All Ages,
We believe in one God the Father Almighty, the good and sovereign Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not created, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were created; who, for us humans and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in one Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke through the prophets.
And we believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and we look to the bodily resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
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Furthermore,
Concerning the Scriptures
We believe that the Bible, specifically the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the written Word of God; that it is written by men who were divinely inspired, and that it is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction and historical documentation, standing above all other works of literature; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, Christ as its focus, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the character of God, the purpose of man, the story of redemption, and the principles by which God will judge all of creation; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
Josh. 1:8; Ps. 19:7-11, 119:11, 105; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 20:32; Rom. 2:12; Eph. 5:25-26; Prov. 30:5-6; Prov. 18:30; John 17:17; Heb. 4:12
Concerning the Triune God
We believe that there is One, and only One, living, holy, and true God, a personal and intelligent Spirit, whose name is Yahweh, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, infinite in all perfections, and worthy of all possible honor, glory, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal in every divine perfection and without any division of nature, essence, or being; yet each having distinct personal attributes and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. In the great work of redemption, our Triune God works in unison to plan and accomplish salvation through the orchestration of the Father from eternity past, the accomplishment of the Son through His atoning death and resurrection, and the Spirit’s application of atonement through sanctification as sent by the Father and the Son.
Gen. 1:26, 3:22, 18:1-5; Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 16:16, 28:19-20; John 1:1-5, 1:9-18, 5:17-29, 6:45-48, 8:24-30, 8:48-59, 10:28-30, 14:26, 16:4-11, 17:1-5; Acts 2:1-36, 5:3-4; Rom 9:5; Phil. 2:5-12; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:1-13; Col. 1:15-19, 2:9-10; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 John 4:9-14, Rev. 1:8
Concerning God the Father
God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise. God is Father to those who become His children through faith in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. He, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor does He destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
Gen. 1-2; Ex. 3:14, 6:2-4, 15:11, 20:1ff; Deut. 6:4, 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10-11; Ps. 19:1-3, 37:23-24; Prov. 16:4, 9, 33; Isaiah 43:15, 46:9-11; Jer. 10:10, 17:13; Matt. 6:9-13, 7:11, 23:9, 28:19, Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24, 5:26, 14:6-13, 17:1-8; Acts 1:7-8; Rom. 9:14-18; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 1:17; James 1:12-15; Heb. 12:9; 1 Peter. 1:17
Concerning God, the Son
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Godhead. In His incarnation, Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and completely fulfilled the will of God, emptying Himself and taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind, yet remaining without sin. He became a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things pertaining to God so as to make propitiation for the sins of the beloved. He honored the divine law by His personal, full obedience to the whole law and all of its demands. In His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and revealed Himself to His disciples as the Person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is accomplished the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission with His bride, the Church. All believers are now unified together with Him and He, along with the Father, has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those whom He has redeemed.
Gen. 18:1ff.; Ps. 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Is. 7:14; 9:6-7; 53; Dan. 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 7:21-23; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-10, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 2:10-11; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 8:24, 58-59; 10:30-38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15- 16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9-11; 2:14-36; 4:11-12; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4-13; 16:31; ; 1 Cor. 1:30; 8:6; 11:23-26; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 8:9; Gal. 1:3-5; 2:20-21; 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 2:6, 13-18; 3:11;4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9-15; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 3:11-13; 4:14-18;5:9-11; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:8-10; Titus 2:10-14; 3:5-6; Heb. 1; 4:14-15; 7:14-28;9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:2-3; 2:21-25; 3:22; 5:10-11; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9-12; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:5-8, 13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16, 22:12-13, 16.
Concerning God, the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has always been at work in the universe, sharing in the work of creation and awakening faith in God’s people. He is the Spirit of God, the great Comforter, fully divine, sent from God the Father, and God the Son. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration, He baptizes every believer into the body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen. 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Ps. 51:11; 139:7-12.; Is. 11:1-2; 61:1-3; Ez. 37; 39:29; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 6:3; 7:55; 8:15-19, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6-7; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Phil. 1:19; 1 Thes. 5:19; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16-17; Heb. 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Jude 20-21; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.
Concerning the Will and Fall of Humanity
We believe that God created Man in His own image, originally naive and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, Man voluntarily transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness, righteousness, innocence, and fellowship with God; and thus declared his independence from, distrust for, and disobedience toward his all-good and gracious Creator, in consequence of which all mankind are now conceived in sin, having inherited a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His Law, and are wholly responsible for their own guilt before God.
Gen. 2:16-17, 3:1-6, 3:22-24; Ps. 14:1-3, 51:5; Ecc. 7:29; Jer. 17:9; Ez. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:18-3:23, 5:12-21, 6:23; 1 Cor. 2:14, 15:21-22; Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:11-14, 1 Tim. 2:13-14.
Concerning Humanity
We believe that God made man in His own image with the purpose of reflecting His divine character and dominion to all of creation; that every human being is intrinsically endowed by God with honor, dignity, and beauty regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, skin color, religious affiliation, education, socio-economic status, or political affiliation; that the uniqueness of each person displays the beauty and grandeur of humanity as the crown-jewel of God's creation; that the stamp of God's image on humans distinguishes them from all other creation and endows them with God's communicable attributes that they may both cultivate and have dominion over His creation; that God made one race, the human race; that God designed humanity to function exclusively, equally, and unchangeably within the bounds of two biologically and ontologically male and female genders; that God blessed males and females with unique and complementary roles within the family and the church; that distinction in roles do not indicate a differentiation in value; that Scripture's account of creation outlines the template God designed with the intent for marriages and families to prosper; and that, as a result of the Imago Dei, all human life is sacred and, therefore, to be justly protected, defended, and preserved from the moment of conception to the end of life; and that the gospel is God's means for racial, sexual, marital, and reproductive reconciliation in this broken world.
Gen. 1:26-31, 2:7, 2:15, 2:18-25, 3:1-24, 9:6-7, 19:4-11; Ex. 1:15-22, 20:1-21; Lev. 18, 20:13-16; Num. 5:25-29; Deut. 5:1-21, 22:5; 2 Sam. 11:1-12:15, Judges 19:22-26; Job 31:1, Ps. 51, 100:3; Prov. 5:1-23, 6:20-35, 7:1-27, Is. 43:7, 59:1-8; Mal 2:13-14; Matt. 5:27-32, 19:4-12; Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29; Rom 1:18-32, 12:1-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-7; Gal. 5:19-24; Eph. 4:7-12, 4:20-24, 5:1-6, 5:22-31; Col. 3:5-11; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; 1 Tim. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:22; Titus 2:11-12; Heb. 13:4; James 1:14-15, 3:9; 1 Peter 2:11, 4:8; 2 Peter 2:4-10; Jude 7; Rev. 2:13-17, 21:8, 22:15
Concerning Election
We believe that election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but because of His rich mercy in Christ, in consequence of which they are called, justified, and glorified; that being perfectly consistent with the free will of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to determine our own election requires and deserves the utmost diligence.
Ex. 33:19; Deut. 7:6-11; Matt. 11:25-27; Luke 10:22, 18:7; John 1:13, 5:21, 6:44, 8:36, 15:16; Acts. 13:48; Rom 8:28-30, 9:11-18, 11:5-10; 1 Cor. 1:26-31; Gal. 1:15; Eph. 1:1-6, 2:1-10; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:3-10; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:8-9, 2:10, 25; Titus 1:1; Heb. 4:3; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 1:15, 2:9; Rev. 13:8
Concerning the Freeness of Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man. It is offered freely to everyone but is applied only to those whose faith is placed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer in His atoning death on the cross. In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from the grace of God which equips the elect with repentance from sin and from self-righteousness and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gen 3:15; Is. 55:1-5; Joel 2:32; Matt. 11:28; John 3:15-18, 36, 4:14, 6:37, 7:37; Acts 2:21, 13:48, 16:31, 17:30; Rom. 1:16-3:24, 5:15-17, 6:23, 10:13; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 5:9-14, 22:17
Concerning Justification
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who are justified by grace through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus, and are sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all who continue in unrepentance and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the His wrath; that the great gospel blessing which the Lord Jesus Christ secures for those who believe in Him is justification; that justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners wherein He removes our guilt and reconciles us to Himself, declaring us to be righteous; that justification is bestowed through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, not in consideration of anything wrought in us or done by us, but solely on account of His substitutionary, atoning death on the cross, and on the basis of His perfect righteousness, which is freely imputed to us; that faith which alone receives the gift of justification, and that justification does not exist alone in the saved person but produces the fruits of righteousness by the Holy Spirit that are visible indications of justification; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and it secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity; and that through the justification imputed by the blood of Jesus, our Advocate, Propitiation, Mediator, Brother, and Great High Priest, each individual has high priestly access into the throne of Grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Gen. 15:6; John 1:12, 3:16-18, 20:31; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 4:12; Rom 1:15-17, 3:24-26, 4:1-5, 4:20-25, 5:1-12, 21, 6:20-23, 8:28-30, 9:30-33, 10:9-13, 11:5-6; 1 Cor. 6:11, 15:2-5; Gal. 2:16, 3:6, 24, 5:4 Eph 1:7, 13, 2:1-22, 4:11-16, ; Phil. 3:8-9; Col. 1:9-22; Titus 3:5-8; Heb. 2:1-13, 4:14-16, 5:5-10, 9:11-14, 10:19-25; James 2:23-24; 1 Peter 1:3-6, 20-21; 1 John 2:1-2; Rev. 1:4-6
Concerning the Christian Life
We believe that sanctification is the God-willed process through which we are actively being transformed into the image of Christ, being built into a holy temple of the Lord along with other believers; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on for the duration of life in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter; that the Holy Spirit uses the faithful exercise of the spiritual disciplines, especially the study of and submission to the Scriptures, gathering together with the saints, self-examination, self-denial, repentance from sin, watchfulness, giving, fasting, prayer, caring for neighbors, evangelism, and corporate discipleship to bring about more practical holiness in the life of the believer; and that it culminates in eternal glorification with God in Heaven.
Acts 20:32; John 13:35; Rom. 6:11-13, 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:2, 30, 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:11-22, 4:1-10; Col. 3:14; Phil 3:12; 1 Thess. 4:3-5, 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:21; Heb 2:11, 3:1, 10:10, 14, 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:3-11; James 1:2-5; 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1; Rev. 21:1-22:5
Concerning the Preservation of the Saints
We believe that those whom God has declared righteous in Christ and sanctified by His Holy Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but instead shall certainly persevere in the faith and be preserved in the faith to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark that distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring a reproach on the church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be relentlessly pursued by the loving hand of care and discipline from the Father, shall be renewed again to repentance, and shall be preserved by the power of God through faith to eternal salvation.
John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:30-39, 9:11-18; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Heb 2:10; 4:3, 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-10, 1 John 2:19; Jude 24; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 5:5; 17:14; 21:7
Concerning the Church and Its Leadership
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, bound together by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, and exercising the various gifts given them by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the church; that its primary duties are the reading and preaching of God’s Word, the proper administration of Christ’s ordinances, and the faithful exercise of discipline over its members; that Jesus is the true Head and Shepherd of His church; that Christ has given His church two offices, the first reserved exclusively for men appointed to serve as elder/pastor/overseer with the purpose of shepherding, leading, praying, teaching and preaching God’s Word, and the second as deacon/deaconess for men and women appointed to serve in addressing the various needs and tasks that arise in the life of the church, whose qualifications and duties are defined and outlined in the book of Acts and the Epistles to Timothy and Titus; that each local church functions autonomously; that its members serve as the key-holders of the Kingdom of God to exercise His authority on this earth; and that it receives its authority directly from God.
Matt. 16:13-20, 18:15-18, 28:19-20; John 14:15, 15:12; Acts 2:41-42, 47, 6:1-6, 8:1, 11:21-23, 14:23,15:22-23; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 1:1-3, 4:17, 5:6, 12-13, 11:1-2, 22-23, 14:12, 23; 2 Cor 2:17; Gal 6:2;Eph. 4:1-14; Phil. 1:1; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Tim. 3, 4:6-16; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Titus 1:5-9, 2:1, 15; Heb. 13:7-10, 17; James 5:13-18; 1 Peter 5:1-5; 2 John 6
Concerning Water Baptism
We believe that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ and that it is necessary for every believer to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that baptism is to be done by immersion to show in a solemn and beautiful symbol the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and their death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that only those who profess repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus should be baptized; that it is the first fruit of salvation; that it is not a special means of grace for the believer and does not in itself produce regeneration; and that, like the practice of circumcision of the Old Covenant, it is a prerequisite to both the privileges of church membership in the New Covenant and to the communion of the Lord's Supper.
Gen. 17:9-14; Ex. 4:21-26; Lev. 12:3; Deut. 10:14-16, 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Matt. 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11, 16:15-16; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:24-34; Acts 2:37-42, 8:12; 8:35-39, 10:48; 16:30-33; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:11-12; Gal. 3:27, 5:1-6
Concerning the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ that signifies the institution of the New Covenant in Christ's blood and that it should be observed by His gathered church until the end of the world; that it is to be observed by eating bread and drinking of the fruit of the vine; and that the Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice or means of obtaining grace, but was instituted by the Lord to commemorate, solemnly celebrate, and proclaim His death and resurrection until He returns, to set the hope of believers on the marriage supper of the Lamb in the eternal Kingdom, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
Ex. 12; Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16-21, 11:23-29; Col. 2:8-12
Concerning the Lord's Day
We believe that Jesus established a new sabbath rest in Himself when He rose from the dead on the first day of the week; that Christians have traditionally celebrated this new sabbath rest through corporate gatherings on the first day of the week.
Gen 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Lev. 19:30; Deut. 5:12-15; Is. 56:1-6, 58:13-24; Matt. 12:1-12, 28:1-20; Mark 2:27-28, 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 20:1, 19-28; Acts 13:44, 17:2-3, 20:7; Rom. 14:5-10; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16-17, 3: Heb. 4:3-11, 10:24-25
Concerning the Resurrection and the World to Come
We believe that when Christians die they are made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, and are taken consciously into the presence of Christ, which is more glorious and more satisfying than any experience on earth; that at the end of the age Jesus, the great King who is presently reigning from His throne above, will return to this earth personally, visibly, physically, and suddenly in power and great glory to rescue His bride, the Church, and to whisk her away to the celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb; and that He will gather His elect, raise the dead, judge the nations, and fully and finally establish His kingdom forever; that at the throne of God a solemn separation of the righteous and the wicked will then take place which will fix forever the final state of men in the literal locations of heaven or hell; that the righteous will enter into the everlasting joy of their Master, and those who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness will be consigned to suffer everlasting conscious torment in hell under God's righteous wrath along with their father Satanand all his demons; that the end of all things in this age will be the beginning of a never-ending, ever-increasing happiness in the realm of the redeemed, as God displays more and more of His infinite and inexhaustible greatness and glory for the enjoyment of His people, in the new heavens and the new earth, the new Eden and new Temple of God.
Gen 3:1-20; Ps. 16:11; Dan. 2:12, 7:13-14, 7:22-27, 12:2; Matt. 3:12, 10:28, 12:32, 18:8, 19:29, 24:31, 25:23, 25:41-46, 26:24; Mark 3:29, 9:43-48, 14:61-62; Luke 16:26, 21:27, 22:14-23, 22:28-30, 23:34, 24:39-33; John 3:16, 8:44, 14:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 1:18-3:23, 6:23; 1 Cor. 2:9, 13:12, 15:22-24; 2 Cor. 5:1-9, 12:2-3; Eph. 2:1-10, 5:25-33; Phil. 1:23, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 5:2-3; 2 Thess. 1:9; 2 Tim. 4:1; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:10-12, 2:8-9, 6:1-2, 12:22-23; 2 Peter. 3:3-13; 1 John 2:28, 4:17; Jude 24-25; Rev. 6:9-11, 14:11, 19:3, 19:6-9, 20:10-12, 21:1-4, 22:12-13.
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Concerning Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left the conscience free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are contrary to His word or not contained in it. Christians should subject themselves to civil government as being ordained by God in all lawful things commanded by them, unless it violates God's character and/or commands.
Deut. 16:18, 2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 2:1-12; Dan 3:15-18, 6:7-10; Matt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7, 14:4; Acts. 5:29; Col. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:13-17
Concerning the Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of Divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that civil authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to God's word and will as revealed in the Holy Scriptures; that God has assigned distinct roles and responsibilities to the state and the church; and that while each entity functions in and around the other, they exist entirely autonomous from the other.
Ex. 18:21-23; Deut. 16:18-20; II Sam. 23:3; Ps.2:1-12, 72:11; Dan. 1:8-16, 3:15-18, 6:7-10; Matt. 15:1-9, 22:15-22, 23:8-12, 28:18-20; Mark 12:13-17; Acts 4:18-22, 5:27-32; Rom. 13:1-7; Col. 2:20-23; I Tim. 2:1-7; Titus 3:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Rev. 19:15-16