We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Bible, inerrant in the original writings, both the Old and New Testaments (2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21). We believe the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for the believer, and is inerrant in all that it teaches.
We believe in one living and true God who is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1), who subsists in three (3) co-equal and co-eternal persons (Matthew 28:19): God the Father (John 6:27), God the Son (Hebrews 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4).
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Word who was active in creation (John 1), who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20 - 21) who came in the flesh being born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23), who is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), who went about doing His Father's will (John 8:28), who died on the cross of Calvary for sinners (Romans 5:6), whose death was a substitutionary atonement for man's sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), who rose from the dead the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4), who ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), who now prepares a place for believers (John 14:2), who makes intercession for believers (Hebrews 7:25), who is the head of the body of believers (Ephesians 4:15-16), who gives spiritual gifts to believers (Ephesians 4:8), in whose name we are to pray (John 15:16), who will return bodily to the clouds to rapture believers unto Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:14 -17), who will return to the earth to reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:6), who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).
We believe the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the godhead, proceeds form the Father (John 15:26), and from the Son (John 16:7), was active in creation (Genesis 1:2), was active in inspiration (2 Peter 1:21), convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11), guides into all truth (John 16:13), regenerates (John 3:5), indwells (1 Corinthians 6:19), baptizes once for all into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), seals unto the Day of Redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14), will fill (control) all who are willing (Ephesians 5:18), prays for believers (Romans 8:26), and is their comforter (John 16:17).
We believe in the existence of a real and personal Satan ( Matthew 13:39), who was the highest of God's creation, who fell from his first estate in independence from God and self-will (Isaiah 14:12-20), whose work has been constant enmity against God (Genesis 3:15), who was at work in the crucifixion of Christ (John 13:27), who deceives nations (Revelation 20:2-3), who blinds the minds of non-believers (2 Corinthians 4:4), who tempts believers (Acts 5:3, Ephesians 6:11-12, and 1 Corinthians 7:5), and incites persecutions against them (Revelation 2:10), who will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
We believe man was created by the direct act of and in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7,21-22). Created without sin (Genesis 1:31) but with a will to choose for or against God, man chose to disobey God's clear commandment (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7) and , therefor, received the curse of his sin, spiritual and physical death, separation from God, and evil (Genesis 3:16-19, 23 and I Corinthians 15:22). Because Adam was the head of the race, his sin and the consequences of it have passed upon us all (Romans 5:12). All men are sinners (Romans 3:23). All men without Christ are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Unless an individual receives the remedy for sin (see "Salvation" below), he will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15)
We believe salvation is deliverance from sin and death, unto righteousness and eternal life and communion with God. It is obtained by believing (Acts 16:31) in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means (John 14:6) of escaping the wrath of God against sin (John 5:24 and 3:18, 36). Salvation is the free gift of God and by no means can be earned by the individual (Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9). When an individual receives Christ by faith, he is given eternal life (John 3:16) and is baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), indwelt (1 Corinthians 6:19) and sealed (Ephesians 1:13), by the Holy Spirit. Nothing can ever separate him from Christ (Romans 8:38-39 and John 10:28).
We believe the universal church consists of all born again persons. It is the body of Christ, a spiritual organism (Ephesians 2:19-22).
We believe that the local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. We recognize its officers are Deacons and Trustees whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9). We further allow for the selection of Administrators, on the basis of their spiritual gifts, as are deemed necessary for the operation of the church. We declare by the authority of Scripture that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the overlordship of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Head is Christ guiding through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:22-23 and Acts 5:29). We also recognize that, while it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of cooperation on all matters of membership, constitution, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the local church is final (Acts 15:1-21). The purpose of the church is to glorify God (Matthew 5:16), to build one another up in Christ by use of spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16), to evangelize (Matthew 28:19-20 and 2 Timothy 4:5), to care for its own (1 Timothy 5 and John 13:35), to do good in the world (Galatians 6:10).
We believe that certain spiritual gifts were foundational (apostles and prophets) or given as a sign (tongues, miracles, and healing) and were temporary in nature, but we believe God can and may use supernatural means to accomplish His will (Ephesians 2:20, 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14, and Hebrews 2:3-4).
We believe that marriage is a blood covenant that God has established between a man and a woman. (Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 5:32, 19:5-6,9; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10-11,15; II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:2-23.)
Having been lead, as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the Profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to educate ourselves and our children in the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our conduct; to abstain from all behavior which might cause a weaker brother to stumble, and to avoid a manner of living which reflects an attitude of agreement with the world rather than of fellowship with Christ.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
30 Wilton Rd.
Greenfield Center, NY 12833
518-893-7429
greenfieldcenterchurch@gmail.com
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