Statement of Faith

OBMM Statement of Faith

  1. We believe in the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Bible as the Word of God, and that it is the only infallible rule for faith and practice.
    II Samuel 23:2; II Timothy 3:15,16; II Peter 1:20,21

  2. We believe that there is but one God eternal, infinite, perfect, and unchangeable, Who exists and reveals Himself in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    Psalm 9:2; Isaiah 57:15; Romans 8:9

  3. We believe in God as Creator and Sustainer of all things. We accept the Genesis account of creation as a historical fact and literally true. We believe in the sacredness of human life, which begins at conception and is terminated by God’s authority.
    Genesis 1:1; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 10:29; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16

  4. We believe that man was created in the likeness and image of God and by disobedience brought depravity and death upon humanity; thus all inherit a sinful nature and need to be redeemed.
    Genesis 1:27, 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:3

  5. We believe in Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God, born of a virgin; that He is the perfect Lamb of God, Who died and shed His blood to make atonement for our sins, and arose for our justification; that through repentance and faith we might be saved.
    Matthew 28:1-6; John 1:1, 3:16; I John 1:8-10

  6. We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit; that He convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment; that He indwells and comforts the believers, guides us into all truth, empowers us for service, and enables us to live a life of righteousness.
    John 16:7-16; Acts 1:8

  7. We believe that the spiritual gifts are given by God, are intended for the edification of the Body of believers, and should not be used for personal glorification.
    I Corinthians 12-14, highlighting 12:7,25, 14:1-5,12

  8. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to know that they have passed from death unto life; that God is able to keep them from falling, but that the obedience of faith is essential to the maintenance of one’s salvation and growth in grace.
    John 8:31; Romans 8:1-10, 16; Galatians 3:11; II Peter 1:5-11; I John 3:14, 5:11-13; Jude 24, 25

  9. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all those who through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been born again and were baptized by one Spirit into one body, and that it is her divinely appointed mission to preach the Gospel to every creature, teaching obedience to all His commandments.
    Matthew 16:16-18, 12:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8, 20-23; Colossians 1:18; I Corinthians 12:13

  10. We believe that the Lord has vested the Church with authority in accordance with Scriptural teachings: (1) to choose leaders; (2) to regulate the observance of ordinances; (3) to exercise wholesome discipline; and (4) to organize and conduct her work in manner consistent with her high calling and essential to her highest efficiency. We recognize the plural ministry to be a strength to the congregation. In keeping with Scriptural qualifications of the ordained, we believe that only men should be ordained to church leadership.

    Matthew 16:18,19, 18:15-18, 28:19, 20; Acts 6:1-6, 13:1-3, 14:21-23; I Corinthians 5; Ephesians 4:11-16; II Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 2:10-14; Hebrews 13:7,17; I Peter 5:1-4

  1. We believe that there are two opposing Kingdoms to which men give their spiritual allegiance: that of Christ and that of Satan. Those who belong to Satan’s Kingdom live for sin and self and refuse the obedience of faith. The Kingdom of Christ is composed of those who have been born again, by faith have entered into a union with the Lord Jesus Christ, and who evidence the fruit of the Spirit. They recognize the Lordship of Christ and perform all manner of good works.

    Matthew 7:13,14; Luke 9:23-26; John 3:3,6,7; Romans 6:11-18; Galatians 5:16,26; Ephesians 4:1-32; Colossians 1:12,13; I Peter 2:9-12; Titus 2:11-14

  2. We believe that we are called with a holy calling to a life of separation from the world, in which we regard our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we will take good care of our bodies, giving careful consideration to our diet, exercise, and rest. We will also avoid the production, distribution, and use of harmful drugs, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages. Our adornment will be the beauty of the spirit expressed in attire that is modest, economical, simple, and avoids the world’s fashions, We believe that the stewardship of money, possession, and time should be consistent with the Christian walk. Through the Spirit we will put off the old man and put on the new, seeking for holiness of life, in thought, speech, and conduct, refusing to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

    Numbers 15:37-41; I Samuel 3:16-26; Matthew 6:31-33; John 17:14-18; Romans 12:1,2; I Corinthians 3:16,17, 6:12-20; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 4:22-24; 5:8-11; I Timothy 2:9,10, 6:6-14; I Peter 1:15,16, 3:3-5; I John 2:15-17

  3. We believe that marriage is intended by God to be the union of one man an one woman for life, dissolved only by death, and that Christians shall marry only in the Lord.
    Genesis1:27,28; Matthew 19:3-9;I Corinthians 7:39

  4. We believe that the family was designed by God for the purpose of fostering unity and promoting purity, training and raising godly children, and being an example in the community of Christ’s relationship to His Church.
    Ephesians 6:1-4; I Timothy 6:11,12

  5. We believe God’s design is that men be leaders in the home and in the church. As leaders, without wrath and doubting, men must sacrificially love and honor women as joint heirs with them in Christ. In God’s design, women are to be subject to the authority of man. As a help-meet to man, women have the liberty to minister in the home and in the church, except where prohibited by the Scriptures.

    Ephesians 5:22,23, 6:4; I Timothy 2:8,11,12, 5:14

  6. We believe that the Christian woman’s relationship is symbolized by her uncut hair and veiled head. The consistent wearing of the veiling gives testimony to the Christian woman’s privilege to pray, prophesy, and experience divine protection.
    I Corinthians 11:1-16

  7. We believe the salutation of the holy kiss should be observed and practiced by the believers, brethren among brethren and sisters among sisters, as an expression of fervent love.
    Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Peter 5:14

  8. We believe in the anointing of the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, accompanied by the prayer of faith for healing. Members shall call for the elders to administer this ordinance.
    James 5:10-18

  9. We believe that those who repent and believe should be baptized with water in obedience to the Scriptures and as a symbol of baptism with the Spirit, cleansing of sin, and commitment to Christ.
    Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:16-21; I Corinthians 12:13; I Peter 3:21

  1. We believe that those of like precious faith who have peace with God, the Church, and their fellow man observe the Communion of the Lord’s supper as a symbol, in remembrance of His broken body and shed blood, and of the fellowship of His Church until His return.
    Luke 22:19,20; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-29

  2. We believe in the washing of the saints’ feet as a symbol of brotherhood, cleansing, and service, and that it should be literally and appropriately observed.
    John 13:1-17; I Timothy 5:10

  3. We believe that it is the will of God for Christians not to resist him who is evil, but rather to show love to all. The example and teaching of nonresistance by our Lord Jesus Christ applies to every area of life: personal injustice, litigation, industrial strife, and military involvement.
    Matthew 5:38-48; John 18:36; Romans 12:18-20; I Corinthians 6:1-8; I Peter 2:23, 4:1

  4. We believe that the State is ordained of God to maintain law and order in society. We seek to obey the New Testament commands to render honor to the authorities, to pay our taxes, to obey all laws that do not conflict with the higher law of God, and to pray for our rulers. The Church should also witness to the authorities of God’s redeeming love in Christ and to His sovereignty over all men. In law enforcement the State does not and cannot operate on the nonresistant principles of Christ’s Kingdom. Therefore, nonresistant Christians cannot undertake any service in the State or in society which would violate the principles of love and holiness as taught by Christ and the inspired Word.

    Romans 13:1-7; Acts 4:19, 5:29; I Timothy 1-4

  5. We believe that it is our Christian obligation to be strictly truthful and transparent in life and doctrine, with no secrecy or hypocrisy. Therefore, we will not be members of secret societies or lodges nor use the swearing of oaths.
    Matthew 5:33-37, 23:7-10, 16-22; John 18:20; I Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Ephesians 5:11,12; James 5:12

  6. We believe that the latter days will be characterized by general lawlessness and departure from the faith; that on the part of the world “iniquity shall abound” and “evil men shall wax worse and worse,” that on the part of the Church there will be a falling away and “the love of many shall wax cold,” that false teachers shall abound, both deceiving and being deceived; and further, that present conditions indicate that we are now living in these perilous times.

    Matthew 24:9-14; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; II Thessalonians 2:3-12; I Timothy 4:1,2; II Timothy 3:1-8,13; II Peter 2:1,2, 3:3-4

  7. We believe that Satan, the great archenemy and adversary of human souls, is the slanderer and accuser of God and man. He is a real being with a distinct personality, and his goals are to tempt and deceive mankind and thwart the plan of God. When possible, he takes full control of those who can be swayed to his advantage and at his will. While he has absolute sway, so far as his dominion extends, there are limits beyond which he is not permitted to go. Finally, at the close of time, God will cast Satan and all his hosts from his presence into the lake of fire for their eternal punishment.

    Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 4:1-13; Luke 13:16; Acts 5:3; II Corinthians 2:11, 11:14; Ephesians 6:11; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8-10; Revelation 2:10, 12:9, 20:2,10

  8. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of all men, both of the just and the unjust—of the just to resurrection of life and the unjust to the resurrection of condemnation. John 20:20, 24-29; Luke 24:30,31; I Corinthians 15:42-44; Acts 24:15; John 5:28,29; I Corinthians 15:20- 23

  1. We believe in the personal, imminent coming of our Lord and look forward to this blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. This hope bids us to comfort sorrowing saints and live a life of watchfulness, fidelity, wisdom, activity, simplicity, self-restraint, prayer, and abiding in Christ.
    Matthew 25; John 14:3; Acts 1:4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Peter 3:11-14; Titus 2:11-13

  2. We believe that all humans shall have a conscious existence after death. In the interval between death and resurrection, the righteous will be with Christ in a state of conscious bliss and comfort, but the wicked will be in a place of torment in a state of conscious suffering and despair.
    Luke 16:19-31, 23:43; Philippians 1:23; II Corinthians 5:1-8; I Thessalonians 5:10; II Peter 2:9

  3. We believe that heaven is the final home of the righteous where we will dwell in our glorified bodies with God and His angels in fullness of joy forever and ever, and that hell is the place of torment prepared for the devil and his angels where with them the wicked will suffer the vengeance of eternal fire forever and ever. Matthew 13:30-50, 25:34,46; John 5:28; I Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 9:17; II Thessalonians 1:9; Jude 6,23; Revelation 20:10-15