BELIEFS
Many of our members come from other denominational backgrounds. We do not demand conformity to every detail of Free Will Baptist interpretation, but we do anticipate basic agreement with the following "Articles of Faith" printed in "A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the Original Free Will Baptists", published by the Executive Office of the National Association of Free Will Baptist.
THE BIBLE
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are our infallible rule of faith and practice.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
GOD
There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and Righteous Governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore and obey.
THE GOVERNMENT
OF GOD
CHRIST
Christ is God manifest in the flesh; in His divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. The mediator between God and man, once crucified, He is now risen and glorified, and is our ever present Savior and Lord.
THE SINFULNESS
OF MAN
The scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God.
God exercises a wide and benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining the constitution and laws of nature. He also performs specials acts, not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires.
THE WORKS OF CHRIST
THE TERMS
OF SALVATION
The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection effected for all a redemption from sin that is full and free, and become guilty before God.
FREEDOM OF THE WILL
The human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish.
GOSPEL ORDINANCES
BAPTISM, or the immersion of believers in water, and the LORD'S SUPPER, are ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. FEET WASHING, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all true believers.
The conditions of salvation are: (1) Repentance of sin or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of it. (2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one's self to Christ as Savior and Lord with the purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit, freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. (3) Continuance in faith and obedience unto death.
SALVATION FREE
God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely.
TITHING
God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old Testament: Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel (Matt. 23:23), and the apostle Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him"
(1 Cor. 16:2a).
Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, therefore, inherits a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to years of accountability, sin and become guilty before God.
ELECTION
God determined from beginning to save all who should comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in Christ men become His elect.
PERSEVERENCE
All believers in Christ, who through grace perseverance in holiness to the end of life, have the promise of eternal salvation.
THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH
The divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements, for rest, worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal communion with God.