I believe the Bible is the inerrant, Eternal, absolute, unbroken, verbally-inspired Word of God and that it is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (II Tim. 3:16, 17).

I believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every Divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (John 4:24; Psa. 83:18; Ex. 15:11; Mark 12:29-30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Pet. 1:2).

I believe that man was a direct, perfect creation of God, but that by voluntary transgression he fell from that holy and happy state, and that in his fall he became totally depraved and is under just condemnation, and is without defense or excuse (Gen. 1:27, 31; 2:7; 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18).

I believe that the Salvation of any sinner is wholly of grace, wholly of the Lord, apart from works of any kind; that Christ on the cross became our Substitute, in the grave our Scapegoat, in the resurrection our Justifier; that Salvation is free by the Gospel to those who by repentance and faith receive the Lord Christ as their Lord and Savior (Eph. 2:8; Jon. 2:9; Tit. 3:4-7; Phil. 2:6, 7; Rom. 4:25; Acts 17:30, 31; ; 20:21; Rom. 3:24).

I believe that, in order to be saved, a sinner must be regenerated or born again, which means he must be made a new creature in Christ Jesus; and that this is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the sinner, being evidenced by an outward and an inward change (John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; John 3:8; 1 Cor. 2:14; Ezek. 36:26; Col. 3:9-11; Rom. 8:9).

I believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of Salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the ony and all-sufficient savior, God’s appointed Substitute for sinners (Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; John 16:8; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:9-11; II Tim. 1:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:19, 20).

I believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that it is a display of God’s sovereign goodness, mercy, and grace, for without it no man would be saved; that Election excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, and trust in God; that its effects are seen in the lives of those who are called by God’s effectual grace, first, in the sanctification of the Spirit, and then, the belief of the truth; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; that Election is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, and in it are contained all the means in connection with the end (11 Tim. 1;8, 9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1;1, 2; Rom. 11:5, 6; John 15:16; Rom. 9:11-23; 8:28-34; II Thess. 2:13, 14; Acts 13:48; Ex. 33:18, 19; Jer. 31:3; I Cor. 4:7; 1:26-31; 1 Pet. 2:9; II Tim. 2:10; John 6:37-40; I Thess. 4:1-10; II Pet.1:10-11).

I believe in the eternal security of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation (John 10:28-30; Jude 24; Phil. 1:6; 2:12, 13; Jer. 32:40; I John 4:4).

I believe that the Law of God is the Eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen man to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from his love of sin; that the Law is the handmaiden of grace to bring the sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone kept it, satisfied it, and in whom alone we can have complete obedience to it and be free from its condemnation; that the Law was fulfilled in Christ and not done away with; and that it is still binding upon the believer as to its moral precepts (Rom. 3:31; 7:12; 8:7, 8; 8:2-4; 10:4; Gal.3:21-24; 4:4, 5; Heb. 8:10; 7:26, 27; 8:2-4; 1 John 2:3).

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was Virgin-born, and that he is the eternal Son of God, and that He became incarnate to die as our Substitute (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-55; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16, 17; Heb. 1:1-3, 8; I Tim. 3:16; II Cor. 5:21).

I believe that Christ was raised bodily from the grave and is seated on the right hand of God in His resurrection body.  I believe that there is a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked dead; the righteous dead will be raised to life and endless joy and will be with Christ in Heaven; and the wicked dead will be raised to damnation and endless punishment, and to spend eternity in Hell (Matt. 28:6: Mark 16:1-6; Luke 24:5-7; John 20:1-18; Acts 1:1-9; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; Phil. 3:20, 21; I John 3:2, 3; John 5:28, 29; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 5:8-10; 19:7-9; 21:9-27; 20:11-15; 21:8).

I believe in the imminent coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ back to this earth again for His own, to set up His earthly kingdom on earth, and to rule in Person for one thousand years (I Pet. 4:7; Tit. 2:13, 14; Heb. 9:28; Acts 1:10, 11; John 14:1-3; II Pet. 3:4-13; I Cor. 15:25; Rev. 20:1-5).

I believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer who, by the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart, has brought forth fruit suitable for repentance, and has come to rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ wholly and completely for his Salvation; that this baptism by immersion is in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, which is the final Name of the one true God.  I believe that baptism by immersion is one of the two ordinances that the Lord Jesus Christ left His people; that it shows in a most solemn and beautiful way the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Lord Jesus Christ; and that it is a sign of our having died to the world, and also a sign of the new life of resurrection in which we now walk.  Baptism has no saving qualities at all about it, for it is with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that God’s people are redeemed (Acts 8:36-9; Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19; Acts 9:18; 10:48; Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:41, 42).

I believe that the Lord’s Supper is the second of the two ordinances that Christ left us and, when observed by God’s people after solemn self-examination, shows forth the Lord’s death until He comes, and lifts up Christ in the church in all His love, beauty, mercy, and grace; that this privilege of partaking of the Lord’s cup is reserved to those, and only those, who by the work of the Holy Spirit in them have brought forth fruit suitable for repentance and have come to rest wholly and completely upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their all-sufficient Lord and Savior; and that wherever this ordinance is observed, every believer, regardless of race, color, or creed, has the privilege to participate (Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-34; Acts 2:42; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).

I believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, or Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept Sacred by rest, by attending the Gospel ministry, by prayer, by meditation, by searching of heart, and by the observance of all the means of grace that God has given us.  This day of rest sets forth the rest that remaineth to the people of God (Acts 20:7; Ex. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa. 118:24; Isa. 58:13, 14; Heb. 4:9).

I believe that civil government is of Divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates, or rulers, are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth (Rom. 13:1-7; Matt. 22:21; I Pet. 2:13; I Tim. 2:1-3; Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 19:16).

I believe that the local assembly, known as the Church, set forth in the New Testament, is the only Divine institution established by the Lord Jesus Christ; and that all other organizations are either extra-Scriptural or anti-Scriptural; that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His commission to the local Church; that He gave his Holy Spirit to the local Church, and He leads the local Church through the pastor, who is His messenger, and not through a mission board, a school, a board of deacons, stewards, elders or an individual (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:5; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22, 23; Philemon 2).

I believe all the above because it is found in God’s Holy Word, the Bible, and these Doctrines, or Truths, have become experimental in my own heart. I can certify with the Apostle Paul that these great Truths of the Gospel as contained in the Word of God, which I preach, teach, and by God’s grace endeavor to obey, are not after man; for I neither received them from man, neither was I taught them of man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I believe that we can sum up what the Bible teaches in these five great and precious Doctrines, or teachings, of the Word of God:
The Sovereignty of God, or God on the Throne;
The Total Depravity of the Natural Man;
Salvation by Grace and Blood Redemption in Christ Jesus;
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit;
The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ to Earth Again.

Pastor Albert Pendarvis