306 East Main Street - Newport, Vermont 05855 - Phone 802-334-5554

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst" Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

Our Beliefs

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures, compromised of the Old and New Testaments (66 books in all) are inspired by God, and authoritative for personal application and doctrinal matters, cf. 2 Timothy 3:16. The Scriptures are the work of God written by men who were "moved by the Holy Spirit." They contain an array of literary genres and styles that reflect each individual author's culture, education, and personality, cf. 2 Peter 1:21 and 2 Peter 3:15-16. We also believe that the canon is closed. Therefore, there are no new books added to the Bible.

The Trinity

We believe that God exists in three distinct transcendent persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, cf. Deuteronomy 6:4 and Matthew 28:19. The members of the Trinity are of one essence and nature, immortal, and eternal, cf. James 2:19, John 5:19, and 1 Peter 1:16. The Trinity is void of division, yet each member possesses distinct attributes, duties, and offices that exist and function in complete harmony,
cf.1 Corinthians8:6, John5:21-23, and Matthew12:31.

The Father

We believe the Father is holy in thought, word, deed, and is void of iniquity, hence He is infallible and the ultimate source of all truth, cf. 1Peter1:16. God the Father is spirit, omniscient, and unchanging in character, hence He is eternal, cf. John 5:37, Matthew 6:8, and Malachi 3:6. The Father is the all powerful, all loving Director of the Trinity and serves as the Orchestrator of all events within time and space, cf. John 15:10 and Isiah 45:7.

The Son

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became fully human yet retained all of His Deity when He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, cf. Luke 1:34-35, John 1:1-2, and Philippians 2:5-8. Jesus was and is sinless, yet He died a vicarious death for the sins of all people, cf. Hebrews 4:15 and Acts 2:23-24. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were accomplished in fulfillment of the Scriptures,
cf. Matthew 1:22-23, 4:12-16, 12:15-21, 21:4-5, 28:6. Three days after His death Jesus physically rose from the grave and later ascended to heaven where He currently intercedes for the saints, cf. John 20:1-9, Acts 1:9, 1 Timothy 2:5. Jesus is the head over both the church and the totality of creation. He will physically return to earth, rule throughout the millennium, and reign for all eternity, cf. Matthew 24:29-30, Ephesians 4:15, Philippians 3:2:9-11, Acts 1:11, 1 Chronicles 17:14, and Revelation 20:4-5.

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit continues Christ’s work by testifying about Jesus. He convicts people of sin, regenerates the repentant, baptizes the redeemed at the moment of conversion, and seals all who accept the gospel, cf. John 5:21, 15:26, 16:8, and Ephesians 1:13. He permanently sustains and indwells all who have entered into a covenant relationship with the Trinity, continues the sanctification process in the redeemed, imparts spiritual gifts, and fills those who faithfully obey God’s commandments, cf. Ephesians 1:14, 5:18, John 16:12, and 1Corintians 12:4-11. We believe that the Bible teaches no other baptism of the Holy Spirit and that no singular spiritual gift is necessary for proof of salvation.

Angels

We believe angels, who were originally created as sinless spiritual beings, currently exist in either an unfallen or fallen state, cf. Mark 8:38, 1 Timothy 5:21, and 2 Peter 2:4. Those who are unfallen continue to minister to God and His people, but are not to be worshipped, cf. Hebrews 1:7-14 and Revelation 19:10. Fallen angels who rebelled against God, have been doomed to eternal damnation, and are led by Satan (a fallen angel) who is limited in power, yet stands as an adversary to God and the church, cf. Jude 6-7, Isiah 14:12-14, and
1 Peter 5:8.

Man and Sin

We believe man was created in God’s image for the purpose of bringing Him glory and ruling over His creation, cf. Genesis 1:26 and Romans 15:6. By voluntary transgression, man fell from his original sinless state, cf. Genesis 3:1-6. Consequently, all have inherited a sinful nature, will act upon that propensity to sin, and shall incur spiritual and physical death, cf. Romans 5:12-14. Sinful man stands justly condemned without defense or excuse,
cf. Romans 1:20, 2:1, and 3:9. There is nothing a human being can do on his/her own to absolve sin and earn a right standing with God. Neither acts of contrition or meritorious works can serve as a propitiation for sin. Because humanity is depraved, all are in need of Christ’s salvation, (the only means of redemption from sin),
cf. Romans 3:10-12 and Titus 3:3.

Salvation

We believe salvation has been offered to humanity as a free gift through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who died as the only acceptable atonement for sin, cf. Romans 3:22-26. Man can only be justified before God through a personal profession of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, cf. Romans 10:10-11 and Ephesians 2:8-9. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers at the moment of conversion and enables them to lead fruitful lives which progressively conform to God’s holy standard as they yield to His lordship, cf. Ephesians 1:13 and Galations 5:16-26.

Eternal Security

We believe that upon conversion the Holy Spirit secures all who have placed their faith in the person and work of Christ for eternity. A believer can not lose his salvation even if he commits a heinous sin. Salvation is imputed, it is an act of grace which can not be earned nor rejected once it has been received because it is a gift from God, cf. John 10:28 and Ephesians 2:8-9.

The Church

We believe the church universal, commonly referred to as the body of Christ, consists exclusively of people (Jews and Gentiles) who have placed their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, cf. 1 Corintians 12:12-13 and Colossians 1:18. The body of Christ is one covenant community over which Jesus presides as Lord. The church was inaugurated at Christ’s first advent and will exist through the end of the age. All believers are called to proclaim the truths of Scripture in word and deed, cf. Matthew 28:19-20. The church is obligated to walk by the Spirit; living in the world, yet separating itself from worldly, sinful practices, cf. Galations 5:16-26 and Ephesians 4:1-32.

We believe the local church consists of believers who are called to holy living, worship, service, and evangelism (locally and globally). They are privileged to participate in the ordinances of baptism and communion and are obligated to love, edify, equip, and encourage one another, cf. Acts 2:28-47, Ephesians 4:11 16, and 1 Peter 1:16.

The Ordinances of the Church

We believe the ordinances of believers’ baptism and communion have been instituted by Christ as a commemorative testimony in this present age, cf. Luke 22:19-20 and Matthew 28:19. Following conversion all believers are obligated to be baptized, by immersion if possible, as a sign of their redemption, death to sin, and new life in Christ, cf. Matthew 28:19 and Romans 6:1-5. Believers are to partake of communion, on a regular basis, as a memorial celebration of the Lord’s death until He returns to earth, cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The End Times

We believe that at an undisclosed moment in time living believers will be raptured (physically removed from the earth), experience judgement, and enter into union with the Lord, cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-10. Following the rapture the world will experience 7 years of tribulation, cf. Daniel 9:27. At the end of the tribulation, Christ will return to earth to judge all who have perished during the Tribulation and inaugurate His reign for a millennium, cf. Zechariah 14:4-21 and Matthew 25:1-46. At the end of Christ’s millennial reign, Satan will be released from the abyss, gather a consortium of followers, wage war against Christ, and be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity, cf. Revelation 20:7-10. Christ will judge all of the dead who did not trust in Him for salvation at the Great White Throne of judgement, cf. Revelation 20:11-15. We also believe that in the New Testament, Israel and the church are separate entities and by God’s design have unique programs,
cf. Romans 10:1, 11:1-32, and 1 Corinthians 10:32.

The Eternal State

We believe all of the redeemed, upon death will be separated from their earthly bodies and their souls will be ushered into the presence of the Lord, cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8. Those who have rejected the gospel, will not be permitted to enter heaven but, shall await their final judgement in hell, cf. Matthew 10:28, Matthew 23:33, and Luke 16:23. Both believers and unbelievers will experience a bodily resurrection, cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Matthew 10:28. The unsaved will receive their final judgement at the “Great White Throne” and be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity, cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 and Revelation 20:11-15. The saved will also be judged according to their works as redeemed people and will experience eternity in the blissful presence and service of God on a new earth, cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 21 and 22.

Religious Liberty and Social Responsibility

We believe that all people have direct access to God and will be held personally responsible for all words, thoughts, and deeds, cf. 1 Timothy 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Hebrews 9:27. The church and state have distinct social and religious functions hence the two entities should separately execute their duties free from dictation or patronage of the other, cf. 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. Believers have a responsibility to submit to governing authorities (even those which are secular) because government has been instituted by God. cf. 1 Peter 2:13-17. Civil disobedience should only be exercised when government mandates or forces disobedience to the Scriptures, cf. Luke 20:25, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:17 and Acts 4:1-20. The local church ought to remain autonomous, free from any ecclesiastical powers, cf. Hebrews 13:17.