Statement Of Faith

Baptist Faith and Message

I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by divinely inspired men and is God's revelation of himself to man. It is a perfect treasure trove of divine instruction. It has God as its author, its purpose is salvation, and its subject is truth, without any mixture of error. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and reliable. She reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is and will remain until the end of the world, the true center of the Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human religious conduct, creeds, and opinions must be. judged. All Scripture is a testimony of Jesus, who is Himself the center of divine revelation.

Exodus 24.4; Deuteronomy 4.1-2; 17.19; Joshua 8.34; Psalms 19.7-10; 119.11, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah 34.16; 40.8; Jeremiah 15.16; 36.1-32; Matthew 5.17-18; 22.29; Luke 21.33; 24.44-46; John 5.39; 16.13-15; 17.17; Acts 2.16 and sgts .; 17.11; Romans 15.4; 16.25-26; 2 Timothy 3.15-17; Hebrews 1.1-2; 4..12; 1 Peter 1.25, 2 Peter 1.19-21.

II. God

There is one God, and only one, living and true. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and in all other perfections. God is almighty and omniscient; and his perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present and future, including the future decisions of his free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal and triune God reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with different personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

A. God the Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over all his universe, his creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of his grace. He is almighty, omniscient, all loving, and all wise. God is truly the Father of all those who become his children through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude towards all men.

Genesis 1.1; 2.7; Exodus 3.14; 6.2-3; 15.11 and sgts .; 20.ly sgts .; Leviticus 22.2; Deuteronomy 6.4; 32.6; 1 Chronicles 29.10; Psalms 19.1-3; Isaiah 43.3,15; 64.8; Jeremiah 10.10; 17.13; Matthew 6.9 and sgts .; 7.11; 23.9; 28.19; Mark 1.9-11; John 4.24; 5.26; 14.6-13; 17.1-8; Acts 1.7; Romans 8.14-15; 1 Corinthians 8.6; Galatians 4.6; Ephesians 4.6; Colossians 1.15; 1 Timothy 1.17; Hebrews 11.6; 12.9; 1 Peter 1.17; 1 John 5.7.

B. God the Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In his incarnation as Jesus Christ, he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and fulfilled the will of God, taking upon himself human nature with its demands and needs and identifying himself completely with humanity, but without sin. He honored divine law by his personal obedience, and in his substitute 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 appeared to his disciples as the person who was with them before his crucifixion. He ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the Only Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person the reconciliation between God and man has been effected. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and fulfill his redemptive mission. He now abides in all believers as the living and omniscient Lord.

Genesis 18.1 et seq .; Psalms 2.7 et seq .; 110.1 and sgts .; Isaiah 7.14; 53; Matthew 1.1823; 3.17; 8.29; 11.27; 14.33; 16.16,27; 17.5; 27; 28.1-6.19; Mark 1.1; 3.11, Luke 1.35; 4.41; 22.70; 24.46; John 1.1-18.29; 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; 2.22-24; 7.55-56; 9.45.20; Romans 1.3-4; 3.23-26; 5.6-21; 8.1-3.34; 10.4; 1 Corinthians 1.30; 2.2; 8.6; 15.1-8, 24-28; 2 Corinthians 5.19-21; 8.9; Galatians 4.4-5; Ephesians 1.20; 3.11; 4.7-10; Philippians 2.5-11; Colossians 1.13-22; 2.9; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-18; 1 Timothy 2.5-6; 3.16; Titus 2.13-14; Hebrews 1.1-3; 4.14-15; 7.14-28; 9.12-15, 24-28; 12.2; 13.8; 1 Peter 2.21-25; 3.22; 1 John 1.7-9; 3.2; 4.14-15; 5.9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1.13-16; 5.9-14; 12.10-11; 13.8; 19.16.

C. God, the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, completely divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through enlightenment He enables men to understand the 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 gives them the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through his church. He seals the believer for the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will lead the believer to the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. Genesis 1.2; Judges 14.6;Job 26.13 ; Psalms 51.11; 139.7 and sgts. Isaiah 61.1-3; Joel 2.28-32 ; Matthew 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; 5.3; 6.3; 7.55; 8.17.39; 10.44; 13.2; 15.28; 16.6; 19.1-6; Romans. 9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2.10-14; 3.16; 12.3-11.13; Galatians 4.6; Ephesians 1.13-14; 4.30; 5.18; 1 Thessalonians 5.19; 1 Timothy 3.16; 4.1; 2 Timothy 1.14; 3.16; Hebrews 9.8,14; 2 Peter 1.21; 1 John 4.13; 5.6-7; Revelation 1.10: 22.17.

III. The man

Man is God's special creation, made in his own image. He created them male and female as the crown of his creation. The gift of gender is therefore part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent and was endowed by God with the freedom to choose. By his own decision man sinned against God and brought sin to the human race. Through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the commandment of God, and fell from his original state of innocence, whereby his posterity inherited a nature and environment inclined to sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into his holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill God's creative purpose. The sanctity of the human personality is evident in that God created man in his own image, and that Christ died for man; therefore, each person of each race possesses absolute dignity and is worthy of Christian respect and love.

Genesis 1.26-30; 2.5, 7.18-22; 3; 9.6; Psalms 1; 8.3-6; 32.1-5; 51.5; Isaiah 6.5; Jeremiah 17.5; Matthew 16.26; Acts 17.26-31; Romans 1.19-32; 3.10-18.23; 5.6,12,19; 6.6; 7.14-25; 8.14-18.29; 1 Corinthians 1.21-31; 15.19,21-22; Ephesians 2,122; Colossians 1.21-22; 3.9-11.

IV. Salvation

Salvation implies the total redemption of man, and is freely offered to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace by which believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart, worked by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin to God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and the dedication of the whole personality to Him as Lord and Savior.

B. Justification is God's work of grace and complete absolution based on the principles of his grace towards all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification places the believer in a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. Sanctification is the experience that begins at regeneration, whereby the believer is set apart for God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Growth in grace must continue throughout the regenerated person's life.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the blessed and permanent state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3.15; Exodus 3.14-17; 6.2-8; Matthew 1.21; 4.17; 16.21-26; 27.22-28.6; Luke 1.68-69; 2.28-32; John 1.11-14.29; 3.3-21.36; 5.24; 10.9,28-29; 15.1-16; 17.17; Acts 2.21; 4.12; 15.11; 16.30-31; 17.30-31; 20.32; Romans 1.16-18; 2.4; 3.23-25; 4.3 and sgts .; 5.8-10; 6.1-23; 8.1-18,29-39; 10.9-10.13; 13.11-14; 1 Corinthians 1.18, 30; 6.19-20; 15.10; 2 Corinthians 5.17-20; Galatians 2.20; 3.13; 5.2225; 6.15; Ephesians 1.7; 2.8-22; 4.11-16; Philippians 2.12-13; Colossians 1.9-22; 3.1 and sgts .; 1 Thessalonians 15.23-24; 2 Timothy 1.12; Titus 2.11-14; Hebrews 2.1-3; 5.89; 9.24-28; 11.1-12.8,14; Santiago 2.14-26; 1 Peter 1.2-23; 1 John 1.6-2.11; Revelation 3.20; 21.1-22.5.

V. The Purpose of God's Grace

Election is the purpose of God's grace, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free will of man, and includes all means related to the end. It is the glorious expression of God's sovereign goodness, and it is infinitely wise, holy, and unchanging. Exclude boasting and promote humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by his Spirit will never fall from the state of grace, but will endure to the end. Believers can fall into sin through negligence and temptation, by which they grieve the Spirit, undermine his virtues and his well-being, and bring reproach to the cause of Christ and temporary judgments upon themselves; however, they will be kept by the power of God through faith to salvation.

Genesis 12.1-3; Exodus 19.5-8; 1 Samuel 8.4-7 , 19-22 ; Isaiah 5.1-7; Jeremiah 31.31 et seq .; Matthew 16.18-19; 21.28-45; 24.22.31; 25.34; Luke 1.68-79; 2.29-32; 19.4144: 24.44-48; John 1.12-14; 3.16; 5.24; 6.44-45.65; 10.27-29; 15.16; 17.6,12.1718: Acts 20.32; Romans 5.9-10; 8.28-29; 10.12-15; 11.5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1.1-2; 15.24-28; Ephesians 1.4-23; 2.1-10; 3.1-11; Colossians 1.12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2.13-14; 2 Timothy 1.12; 2.10.19; Hebrews 11.39-12.2; James 1.12; 1 Peter 1.2-5.13; 2.4-10; 1 John 1.7-9; 2.19; 3.2.

SAW. Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local and autonomous congregation of baptized believers, covenant in faith and gospel fellowship; fulfilling the two ordinances of Christ, governed by his laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges with which they have been invested by his Word, and who seek to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation acts under the lordship of Jesus Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible for giving an account to Jesus Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. Although both men and women are gifted to serve in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men, as Scripture limits it.

The New Testament also speaks of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all ages, believers of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation.

Matthew 16.15-19; 18.15-20; Acts 2.41-42, 47; 5.11-14; 6.3-6; 14.23.27; 15.1-30; 16.5; 20.28; Romans 1.7; 1 Corinthians 1.2; 3.16; 5.4-5; 7.17; 9.13-14; 12, Ephesians 1.22-23; 2.19-22; 3.8-11.21; 5.22-32; Philippians 1.1; Colossians 1.18; 1 Timothy 2.9-14; 3.1-15; 4.14; Hebrews 11.39-40; 1 Peter 5.1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21.2-3.

VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony of your faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Because it is an ordinance of the church, it is a requirement that precedes the privilege of being a member of the church and participating in the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience by which the members of the church, by partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, commemorate the death of the Redeemer and announce his second coming.

Matthew 3.13-17; 26.26-30; 28.19-20; Mark 1.9-11; 14.22-26; Luke 3.21-22; 22.19-20; John 3.23; Acts 2.41-42; 8.35-39; 16.30.33; 20.7; Romans 6.3-5; 1 Corinthians 10: 16,21; 11.23-29; Colossians 2.12.

VIII. The Lord's Day

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution that must be observed regularly. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day must be in accordance with the Christian conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20.8-11; Matthew 12.1-12; 28.1 and sgts .; Mark 2.27-28; 16.1-7; Luke 24.13,33-36; John 4.21-24; 20.1,19-28; Acts 20.7; Romans 14.5-10; 1 Corinthians 16.1-2; Colossians 2.16; 3.16; Revelation 1.10.

IX. The kingdom

The Kingdom of God includes both his general sovereignty over the universe and his particular lordship over men who voluntarily recognize him as King. The Kingdom in particular is the kingdom of salvation into which men enter by surrendering themselves to Jesus Christ through childlike faith and trust. Christians must pray and work for the Kingdom to come and for God's will to be done on earth. The final consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.

Genesis 1.1; Isaiah 9.6-7; Jeremiah 23.5-6; Matthew 3.2; 4.8-10.23; 12.25-28; 13,152; 25.31-46; 26.29; Mark 1.14-15; 9.1; Luke 4.43; 8.1; 9.2; 12.31-32; 17,2021; 23.42; John 3.3; 18.36; Acts 1.6-7; 17.22-31; Romans 5.17; 8.19; 1 Corinthians 15.24-28; Colossians 1.13; Hebrews 11.10,16; 12.28; 1 Peter 2.4-10; 4.13; Revelation 1.6,9; 5.10; 11.15; 21-22.

X. The Last Things

God, in his own time and in his own way, will bring the world to its proper end. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return to earth in glory in a personal and visible way; the dead will rise; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unjust will be consigned to Hell, the place of eternal punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2.4; Matthew 16.27; 18.8.9; 19.28; 24.27,30,36,44; 25.31-46; 26.64; Mark 8.38; 9.43-48: Luke 12.40.48; 16.19-26; 17.22-37; 21.27-28; John 14.1-3; Acts 1.11; 17.31; Romans 14.10; 1 Corinthians 4.5; 15.24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5.10; Philippians 3.20-21; Colossians 1.5; 3.4; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-18; 5.1 and sgts. 2 Thessalonians 1.7 et seq .; two; 1 Timothy 6.14; 2 Timothy 4.1,8; Titus 2.13; Hebrews 9.27-28; James 5.8; 2 Peter 3.7 and sgts. 1 John 2.28; 3.2; Jude 14; Revelation 1.18; 3.11; 20: 1-22.13.

XI. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to strive to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of the spirit of man by the Holy Spirit of God means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all, therefore, depends on a spiritual need for regenerated life, and is repeatedly expressed and commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has ordained that the gospel be preached to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to constantly seek to win the lost to Christ through personal testimony supported by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods that are in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12.1-3; Exodus 19.5-6; Isaiah 6.1-8; Matthew 9.37-38; 10.5-15; 13.18-30.3743; 16.19; 22.9-10; 24.14; 28.18-20; Luke 10.1-18; 24.46-53; John 14.11-12; 15.7-8.16; 17.15; 20.21; Acts 1.8; two.; 8.26-40; 10.42-48; 13.2-3; Romans 10.13-15; Ephesians 3.1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1.8; 2 Timothy 4.5; Hebrews 2.1-3; 11.39-12.2; 1 Peter 2.4-10; Revelation 22.17.

XII. Education

Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ dwell all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All basic knowledge is therefore a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. On the other hand, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is coordinated with the causes of missions and charities, and must receive together with them the liberal support of the churches. A proper system of Christian education is necessary to complete the spiritual program of the body of Christ.

In Christian education there must be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any ordered human relationship is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian educational institution, school, college, university, or seminary, is always limited by the preeminence of Jesus Christ, the authoritative nature of Scripture, and by the distinctive purpose for which the school exists.

Deuteronomy 4.1,5,9,14; 6.1-10; 12/31-13; Nehemiah 8.1-8; Job 28.28 ; Psalms 19.7 sgts. 119.11; Proverbs 3.13 et seq .; 4.1-10; 8.1-7.11; 15.14; Ecclesiastes 7.19; Matthew 5.2; 7.2 and sgts .; 28.19-20; Luke 2.40; 1 Corinthians 1.18-31; Ephesians 4.11-16; Philippians 4.8; Colossians 2.3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1.3-7; 2 Timothy 2.15; 3.1417; Hebrews 5.12-6.3; James 1.5; 3.17.

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; All that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians are spiritually indebted to the whole world, a holy commission in the gospel, and a binding stewardship of their possessions. Therefore, they are under obligation to serve God with their time, talents, and material possessions; and they must recognize that all of this has been entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and to help others. According to the Scriptures, Christians are to contribute what they have, cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionally, and liberally to the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.

Genesis 14.20; Leviticus 27.30-32; Deuteronomy 8.18; Malachi 3.8-12; Matthew 6.1-4,19-21; 19.21; 23.23; 25.14-29; Luke 12.16-21.42; 16.1-13; Acts 2.44-47; 5.1-11; 17.24; 25.20-35; Romans 6.6-22; 12.1-2; 1 Corinthians 4.1-2; 6.19-20; 12; 16.1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12.15; Philippians 4.10-19; 1 Peter 1.18-19.

XIV. Cooperation

The people of Christ must, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions that can best ensure the cooperation necessary to achieve the great objectives of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over each other or over the churches. They are voluntary organizations to advise, discover, combine and direct the energies of our people in the most effective way. The members of the New Testament churches are to cooperate with one another in carrying out missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of the Kingdom of Christ. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of the people of Christ.

Exodus 17.12; 18.17 and sgts .; Judges 7.21; Ezra 1.3-4; 2.68-69; 5.14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8.1-5; Matthew 10.5-15; 20.1-16; 22.1-10; 28.19-20; Mark 2.3; Lucas 10.1 et seq .; Acts 1.13-14; 2.1 and sgts .; 4.31-37; 13.2-3; 15.1-35; 1 Corinthians 1.10-17; 3.5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9; Galatians 1.6-10; Ephesians 4.1-16; Philippians 1.15-18.

XV. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ sovereign in our own lives and in human society. The means and methods used for the betterment of society and for the establishment of justice among men can be truly and permanently useful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual through the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians must oppose racism, all forms of greed, selfishness, vice, all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography. We must work to provide for the orphans, the needy, the abused, the elderly, the defenseless, and the sick. We must speak up for the unborn and fight for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should endeavor to make industry, government, and society as a whole governed by the principles of justice, truth, and brotherly love. To further these ends Christians must be willing to work with all men of good will in any cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their allegiance to Christ and his truth.

Exodus 20.3-17; Leviticus 6.2-5; Deuteronomy 10.12; 27.17; Psalms 101.5; Micah 6.8; Zechariah 8.16; Matthew 5.13-16, 43-48; 22.36-40; 25.35; Mark 1.29-34; 2.3 and sgts .; 10.21; Luke 4.18-21; 10.27-37; 20.25; John 15.12; 17.15; Romans 12-14; 1 Corinthians 5.9-10; 6.1-7; 7.20-24; 10.23-11-1; Galatians 3.26-28; Ephesians 6.5-9; Colossians 3.12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3.12; Philemon; James 1.27; 2.8.

XVI. Peace and war

It is the duty of every Christian to seek peace with all men based on the principles of justice. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ, they must do everything in their power to end the war.

The true remedy for the warrior spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of its teachings in all relationships of men and nations, and the practical application of its law of love. Christian people all over the world should pray for the kingdom of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2.4; Matthew 5.9,38-48; 6.33; 26.52; Luke 22.36,38; Romans 12.18-19; 13.1-7; 14.19; Hebrews 12.14; James 4.1-2.

XVII. Religious freedom

Only God is Lord of the conscience, and He has set it free from the doctrines and commandments of men that are contrary to his Word or not contained in it. The church and the state must be separate. The state owes protection and complete freedom to every church in the exercise of its spiritual ends. In providing such freedom no church group or denomination should be favored by the state over other groups. Since civil government is ordained by God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience to it in all things that are not contrary to God's revealed will. The church should not turn to civil power to carry out its work. The gospel of Christ considers only the spiritual means to achieve its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. The Christian ideal is that of a free church in a free state, and this implies the right for all men of free and unhindered access to God, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion, without interference by part of the civil power.

Genesis 1.27; 2.7; Matthew 6.6-7.24; 16.26; 22.21; John 8.36; Acts 4.19-20; Romans 6.1-2; 13.1-7; Galatians 5.1,13; Philippians 3.20; 1 Timothy 2.1-2; James 4.12; 1 Peter 2.12-17; 3.11-17; 4.12.19.

XVIII. The family

God has ordained the family as the fundamental institution of human society. It is made up of people related to each other by marriage, blood, or adoption.

Marriage is the union of a man and a woman in a covenant of commitment for life. It is the unique gift of God to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and woman in marriage a means for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for the procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal value before God, since they were both created in the image of God. The marriage relationship shapes the way God relates to his people. A husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has a God-given responsibility to provide, protect, and direct his family. A wife must gracefully submit to leadership as her husband's servant, just as the church willingly submits to Christ's leading. She, being created in the image of God as her husband is, and therefore equal to him, has a God-given responsibility to respect her husband and assist him in running the home and educating the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and inheritance from the Lord. Parents must demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents should teach their children spiritual and moral values and guide them, by example of consistent lifestyle and loving discipline, to make decisions based on biblical truth. Children must honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1.26-28; 2.15-25; 3.1-20; Exodus 20.12; Deuteronomy 6.4-9; Joshua 24.15; 1 Samuel 1.26-28 ; Psalms 51.5; 78.1-8; 127; 128; 139.13-16; Proverbs 1.8; 5.1520; 6.20-22; 12.4; 13.24; 14.1; 17.6; 18.22; 22.6.15; 23.13-14; 24.3: 29.15.17; 31.10-31; Ecclesiastes 4.9-12; 9.9; Malachi 2.14-16; Matthew 5.31-32; 18.2-5; 19.3-9; Mark 10.6-12; Romans 1.18-32; 1 Corinthians 7.1-16; Ephesians 5.21-33; 6.1-4; Colossians 3.18-21; 1 Timothy 5.8,14; 2 Timothy 1.3-5; Titus 2.3-5;

Help us make a change