An answer to inquiries received concerning those who are gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

WE believe in the absolute and perfect inspiration of the Bible; which we hold to be, not in name only, but in reality—the WORD OF GOD.

Having in it the perfect revelation of the mind of God, we refuse all human creeds as being both unnecessary, and a slur upon His Word.

We, however, have no uncertain belief in the doctrines unfolded in the Scriptures—the fall and absolute ruin of man; his guilty, lost and helpless condition; the utter worthlessness of works, lawkeeping or reformation as a GROUND of salvation; the amazing love of God in providing a Saviour in His blessed Son; the spotless perfection of Christ, both in His divine nature and His true humanity; atonement by the blood-shedding of Christ on the cross, by which alone redemption has been accomplished; His resurrection as the proof of God’s acceptance of that atonement.

We also see in Scripture the absolute necessity for new birth by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, and of justification by faith alone, without the works of the law.

We see that the believer is warranted to have the fullest assurance of his present and eternal salvation, and that this assurance comes not through feelings or experiences, but by the Word of God.

We also see that being saved by a work once for all, the believer can never be lost, but is as secure as though he were in heaven already—because of Christ’s death and resurrection.

We see, however, that Scripture guards from abuse of this doctrine by insisting upon good works as the fruit of salvation, that the believer is to reckon himself dead to sin, and to live not only a moral life, but one of love and devotedness to Christ and of separation from the ways and thoughts of the world.

We believe that the proper hope of God’s people is not the improvement of the world, but the coming of Christ for His own, to raise the dead in Christ, and change the living, and then take them all out of the world, which He will then purge and cleanse by judgments preparatory to the Millennium, when Israel and the nations of the earth will inhabit it under His rule but His Church will always be a Heavenly company.

We hold that rejecters of the Gospel and all unbelievers will “have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone,” eternal punishment and not extinction or restoration. We therefore believe in an earnest and affectionate presentation of the simple gospel of the grace of God.

As to Church Government, we refuse, as unscriptural, all denominational names, and all systems of human devising for church order. Believing that the Church is one body, composed of all believers, we refuse to assume any name that is not common to all the people of God.

We see, however, a Scriptural order of meeting, worship and discipline and seek to carry this out.

As to ministry, we refuse all ordination as merely human, but recognize the various gifts which Christ has given for His whole Church.

We believe that when a company of Christians is gathered for worship, there should be no human leader in charge, but that all should be left to the Spirit of God to use whom He may choose, in prayer, praise or exhortation (1 Cor. 14).

We refuse all thought of salary or stipulated remuneration for the preaching of the Word but hold ourselves responsible to minister in temporal affairs to those who give themselves to the Lord’s work.

We take no collections at public meetings, and refuse all help from the world.

We meet in hired halls, or other modest buildings, believing such to be more in accord with the spirit of Christianity.

As to ordinances, we believe in Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper, which last is celebrated weekly.

—S.R.