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Statement of Faith | Paw Creek Ministries

This local congregation of Bible Believers is committed to the Holy Scripture as the infallible Word of God. In doctrine and practice, we seek to represent the Life of Jesus Christ and to live by the standards of both the Old and New Testament. We recognize that the New Testament is the interpretation of the Old and does not eliminate its principles of righteousness. Rather it strengthens them and then provides the believer with the grace of Christ to live holy in an unholy world.

Our holiness is never a product of mere human struggle, but always the results of complete trust toward the mercy of our Savior. Self-righteousness is just as dangerous as worldliness, and we seek to escape both by abiding in Jesus Christ every hour.

Read the 14 statements of our declaration of faith and 34 items of both doctrinal and practical teachings. Membership in the Paw Creek Church requires your commitment to these Biblical principles.

We Believe:

  1. In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
     
  2. In one God eternally existing in three persons: namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
     
  3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the intercessor.
     
  4. That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded by God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
     
  5. That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
     
  6. In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ, through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
     
  7. Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
     
  8. In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
     
  9. In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
     
  10. In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
     
  11. Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
     
  12. In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
     
  13. In the pre-millennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. We look to be caught away before the Great Tribulation.
     
  14. In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

Doctrinal Commitments:

The Paw Creek Church stands for the whole Bible rightly divided. We believe that the whole Word of God is infallible and unchanging. All of His Book is our Standard.

  1. Repentance. Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19
     
  2. Justification. Rom. 5:1; Titus 3:7
     
  3. New birth. John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9
     
  4. Regeneration. Titus 3:5
     
  5. Sanctification subsequent to justification. Rom. 5:2; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 13:12
     
  6. Holiness. Luke 1:75; 1 Thess. 4:7; Heb. 12:14
     
  7. Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to cleansing; the endowment of power for service. Matt. 3:11; Luke 24:49, 53; Acts 1:4-8
     
  8. Water baptism. Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:9,10; John 3:22,23; Acts 8:36,38
     
  9. Speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. John 15:26; Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7
     
  10. Spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12:1, 7, 10, 28, 31; 1 Cor. 14:1
     
  11. Signs following believers. Mark 16:17-20; Rom. 15:18,19; Heb. 2:4
     
  12. Fruit of the Spirit. Rom. 6:22; Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph. 5:9; Phil. 1:11
     
  13. Divine healing provided for all in the atonement. Psa. 103:3; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; Jas. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:24
     
  14. The Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
     
  15. Washing of the saints’ feet. John 13:4-17; 1 Tim. 5:9,10
     
  16. Tithing and giving. Gen. 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Mal. 3:10; Luke 11:42; 1 Cor. 9:6-9; 16:2; Heb. 7:1-21
     
  17. Restitution where possible. Matt. 3:8; Luke 19:8,9
     
  18. Pre-millennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the dead saints and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 2:1. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. Zech. 14:4; 1 Thess. 4:14:2; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Jude 14:15; Rev. 5:10; 19:11-21; 20:4-6
     
  19. Resurrection. John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:5,6
     
  20. Eternal life for the righteous. Matt. 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 10:28; Rom. 6:22; 1 John 5:11-13
     
  21. Eternal punishment for the wicked. No liberation nor annihilation. Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 3:29; 2 Thess. 1:8,9; Rev. 20:10-15; 21:8

Practical Commitments

  1. Total abstinence from all liquor or strong drinks. Prov. 20:1; 23:29-32; Isa. 28:7; 1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10; Gal. 5:21
     
  2. Against the use of tobacco in any form, opium, morphine, etc. Isa. 55:2; 1 Cor. 10:31,32; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:3-8; Jas. 1:21
     
  3. A New Testament interpretation of the use of meats and drinks in accordance with the following scriptures: Rom. 14:2, 3, 17; 1 Cor. 8:8; 1 Tim. 4:1-5
     
  4. Christian Day of Worship. Rom. 14:5,6; Col. 2:16, 17; Matt. 28:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2
     
  5. That our members dress according to the teachings of the New Testament. 1 John 2:15, 16; 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Peter 3:1-6
     
  6. That our members conform to the Scripture relative to outward adornment and the use of cosmetics, etc. that create an unnatural appearance. 1 Peter 3:3-5; 1 Tim. 2:9-10; Rom. 12:1-2
     
  7. That our members adhere to the scriptural admonition that our women have long hair and our men have short hair as stated in 1 Cor. 11:14,15
     
  8. Against members wearing jewelry for ornament or decoration, such as finger rings (this does not apply to wedding bands), bracelets, earrings, lockets, etc. 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3
     
  9. Against members attending movies, dances and other ungodly amusements: further, that extreme caution be exercised in viewing and in the selectivity of television programs. 1 John 2:15, 16; Rom. 13:14; 1 Thess. 5:22; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1
     
  10. Against members going swimming with opposite sex other than the immediate family. 1 John 2:15,16; 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 6:13; 2 Pet. 1:4; Gal. 5:19
     
  11. Against members belonging to lodges. John 18:20; 2 Cor. 6:14-17
     
  12. Against members swearing. Matt. 5:34; Jas. 5:12
     
  13. Divorce and remarriage. Matt. 19:7-9; Mark 10:11,12; Luke 16:16; 1 Cor. 7:2, 10, 11

Resolution Relative to Principles of Holiness of the Paw Creek Church

The foundation of the church of Jesus Christ is laid upon the principles of Biblical holiness. Even before the holiness churches experienced the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, their roots were set in sanctification. It was, and is, a holiness church – holiness in fact and holiness in name.

The passing of three-quarters of a century has not diminished our holiness position or convictions. The years have, instead, strengthened our knowledge that without holiness it is impossible to please God.

We hereby remind ourselves that the Scriptures enjoin us at all times to examine our own hearts. The continuing and consistent life of holiness requires this. Conditions of our day desperately require it. The subtle encroachment of worldliness is a very real and unrelenting threat to the Church. We must therefore beware lest we become conformed to the world, or lest a love for the world take root in our hearts to manifest itself as lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or pride of life.

For these reasons, we present the following:

Whereas, the true church of the New Testament is historically a holiness church and

Whereas, we are enjoined by the Scriptures to be so and

Whereas, a tide of worldliness threatens the spirituality of the church world

Be it resolved that we, Paw Creek Ministries, reaffirm our standard of holiness in stated doctrine, in principles of conduct, and as a living reality in our hearts.

Be it further resolved that we, as ministers, maintain this standard in our own lives, in our homes, and in our pulpits.

Be it further resolved the we, as ministers and members, rededicate ourselves to this purpose, and guard our lives against conformity to the world in appearance, in selfish ambition, in carnal attitudes, and in evil associations.

Be it further resolved that we, as ministers and members, seek to conform to the positive virtues of love, mercy, and forgiveness as taught by Jesus Christ.