Statement Of Faith

Statement of Faith Section 1.-The Church is: divinely called, redeemed body of baptized believers and a spiritual institution. God is her Architect, Jesus her builder, and the Holy Spirit her overseer. a. Matthew 16:18 - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. b. 1 Corinthians 12:18 - But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. c. 1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Section 2. The Bible is: the inspired word of God, and the supreme guide in all matters of belief and conduct. In it God reveals his will ` for all areas of life. It will be the means by which men will be judged in the last days. a. 2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: b. Matthew 12:36 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. c. Matthew 12:37 - For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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Section 3. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of salvation for all men. He liberates from the bondage of sin and calls men to freedom of truth and righteousness. He is the way, the truth and the life for all men. a. Matthew 1:21 - And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. b. Luke 9:56 - For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. c. 1 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; d. 1 Timothy 2:4 - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. e. John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Section 4. Repentance Repentance is the means whereby men turn to God and are saved by grace though faith. Conversion, cleansing, and acceptance are operations of God’s grace, but are the result of an act of will by man. In choosing to accept God’s gracious offer of forgiveness through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ one shall be restored. a. Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. b. Acts 2:39 - For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 2

c. Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; d. Ephesians 2:4 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, e. Ephesians 2:5 - Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) f. Ephesians 2:6 - And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: g. Ephesians 2:7 - That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. h. Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: i. Colossians 1:13 - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: j. Colossians 1:14 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: k. 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Section 5. Life of Holiness God’s requirement for every believer is a life of holiness and purity. Holiness is purity of heart and motive; it is wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. The Christian is called to forsake sin and walk in newness of life. 3

a. Luke 1:73 - The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, b. Luke 1:74 - That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, c. Luke 1:75 - In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. d. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 - He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. e. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. f. Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. g. 1 Peter 1:14 - As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: h. 1 Peter 1:15 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; i. 1 Peter 1:16 - Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

. Holy Spirit Every believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is given to enable us to live holy, conquer sin, witness for Christ, and grow in grace. To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit, by divine love and power. 4

a) John 14:16 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; b) John 21:25 - And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. c) John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. d) Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. e) Ephesians 5:17 - Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. f) Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Section 7 – Witness Every believer is called to witness to the world the saving faith of Jesus Christ. Sharing one’s faith is a means of spiritual growth and of fulfilling the great commission of our Lord.

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a) Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: b) Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. c) Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. d) Colossians 2:6 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Section 8 – Membership of the Church Membership in the church is the result of the spiritual experience of a new birth. When he is born anew, the Spirit baptizes or initiates the believer into the family of God, which is the church. Since Jesus himself is the door, we do not “open the doors of the Church” but rather reach our hands in fellowship to every born again believer. Early church honored Jesus’ prayer to “keep them in your name” as he prayed to the Father, and we seek to follow their example.

Section 9- The Ordinances Believers should observe the ordinances of baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and footwashing. Baptism is by immersion and speaks to the believer’s relationship to the world; it is a testimony that he has broken friendship with the world, has buried the old life to live in newness of life. Communion symbolizes the believer’s relationship to his Lord, that he, too, is a partaker of his divine nature, of his sufferings, death, and resurrection, and his redemptive work in the world. 6

Feetwashing testifies to the relationship of believers to each other. It tells us that humility is essential to the Christian life and that one is not too proud to literally kneel at his brother’s feet. a) Romans 6:3 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? b) Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. c) Matthew 26:26 - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. d) Matthew 26:27 - And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; e) Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. f) Matthew 26:29 - But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. g) 1 Corinthians 11:23 - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: h) 1 Corinthians 11:24 - And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. i) 1 Corinthians 11:25 - After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. j) 1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

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k) 1 Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. l) 1 Corinthians 11:28 - But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. m) 1 Corinthians 11:29 - For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. n) John 13:12 - So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? o) John 13:13 - Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. p) John 13:14 - If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. q) John 13:15 - For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Section 11 – Divine Healing Divine healing is an integral part of the ministry of the church. God still heals through faith without human aid or assistance. a) Mark 16:17 - And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

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b) Mark 16:18 - They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. c) James 5:13 - Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. d) James 5:14 - Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: e) 1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Section 12 -The Kingdom of God The Kingdom of God is a present reality in the hearts of men; it is a kingdom of love and power manifested wherever men submit to the will of God. It will come in its fullness when Christ returns not to set up an earthly kingdom for a thousand years, but to gather the saints and take them back to glory with him. a) Luke 17:20 - And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: b) Luke 17:21 - Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. c) Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. d) 1 Corinthians 15:24 - Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. e) 1 Corinthians 15:25 - For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 9

f) 1 Corinthians 15:26 - The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. g) 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. h) 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. i) 1 Thessalonians 4:15 - For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. j) 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: k) 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. l) 1 Thessalonians 4:18 - Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Section 13 – Divine Judgment All life is under divine judgment. Men will be judged by their words, works, and deeds at the second coming of Jesus, who will come to judge the world with righteousness. The eternal destiny of every man is heaven or hell. We determine our future destiny by our choices here and now; there will be no second chance after death. a) John 5:22 - For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

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b) John 5:23 - That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. c) John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. d) John 5:25 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. e) John 5:26 - For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; f) John 5:27 - And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. g) John 5:28 - Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, h) John 5:29 - And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. i) John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. j) John 12:47 - And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. k) John 12:48 - He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. l) John 12:49 - For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

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m) 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. n) Matthew 25:31 - When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: o) Matthew 25:32 - And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: p) Matthew 25:33 - And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. q) Matthew 25:34 - Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: r) Matthew 25:35 - For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: s) Matthew 25:36 - Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. t) Matthew 25:37 - Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? u) Matthew 25:38 - When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? v) Matthew 25:39 - Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? w) Matthew 25:40 - And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. x) Matthew 25:41 - Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 12

y) Matthew 25:42 - For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: z) Matthew 25:43 - I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. aa) Matthew 25:44 - Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? bb). Matthew 25:45 - Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. ccMatthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. bb) John 14:1 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. cc) John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. dd) John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. ee) Luke 16:19 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: ff) Luke 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, gg) Luke 16:21 - And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. hh) Luke 16:22 - And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; ii) Luke 16:23 -And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. jj) Luke 16:24 - And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. kk) Luke 16:25 -But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 13

ll) Luke 16:26 -And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. mm) Luke 16:27 - Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: nn) Luke 16:28 - For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. oo) Revelation 22:11 - He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. pp) Revelation 22:12 - And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Section 14 – Gospel The gospel is the means whereby God has chosen to make men aware of their need for God and his means of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. a) Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. b) Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. c) Romans 10:8 - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; d) Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. e) Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 14

f) Romans 10:11 - For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. g) Romans 10:12 - For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. h) Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. i) Romans 10:14 - How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? j) Romans 10:15 - And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! k) Romans 10:16 - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? l) Romans 10:17 -So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. m) 2 Corinthians 5:18 - And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; n) 2 Corinthians 5:19 - To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. o) 2 Corinthians 5:20 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. p) 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Section 15 – Eternal Life God offers to everyone eternal life through Jesus Christ. Eternal life is a quality of life which he shares with us. It enables us to master and overcome the worst that human experience can bring upon us. This life gives victory here and prepares for the glory of the next because it is indestructible. a) John 1:4 - In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

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b) John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. c) Romans 8:31 - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? d) Romans 8:32 - He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? e) Romans 8:33 - Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. f) Romans 8:34 - Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. g) Romans 8:35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? h) Romans 8:36 -As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. i) Romans 8:37 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. j) Romans 8:38 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, k) Romans 8:39 - Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. l) 1 Corinthians 15:51 - Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, m) 1 Corinthians 15:52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. n) 1 Corinthians 15:53 - For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. o) 1 Corinthians 15:54 - So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. p) 1 Corinthians 15:55 - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? q) 1 Corinthians 15:56 - The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 16

r) 1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. s) 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. t) 1 John 5:11 - And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. u) 1 John 5:12 - He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Membership in the Church is the result of the spiritual experience of a new birth. When he or she is born anew, the Spirit baptizes or initiates the believer into the family of God, which is the church. Since Jesus himself is the door, we do not “open the doors of the Church” but rather reach our hands in fellowship to every born again believer. a. John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: b. John 10:9 -) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. c. I Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. d. 1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that another with a pure heart fervently:

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e. 1 Peter 1:23 - Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. f. Revelation 3:7 - And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

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g. Revelation 3:8 - I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

The Membership shall be open to all who excepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (confess, repents and believe). Psalms 89:7 - God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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