The Bible
We believe that the whole Bible in the original writings is inspired of God; the only infallible, authoritative Word of God; the only source of God’s plan of salvation; and only guide for the Christian life. II Timothy 3:16 II Peter 1:21.
The God Head
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 I John 5:7.
A. God, the Father
We believe in God the Father, creator and sustainer of all things visible and invisible; who is true holiness, eternal power, infinite love, perfect justice, absolute truth, the Alpha and Omega, the “I AM THAT I AM.” Exodus 20:23; Genesis 1:1; Leviticus 19:2; Romans 1:20; I John 4:8-9; Romans 3:6; Titus 1:2; Revelation 22:13; Exodus 3:14.
B. God, the Son
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (the only begotten Son of God), in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His bodily ascension to the right hand of the Father where He ever liveth to make intercession for His saints, in His premillennial coming for His saints, and in His return to earth to reign in power and glory. John 1:14; Matthew 1:18, 22 23; Hebrews 4:15; Acts 10:38; I Peter 1:19; Matthew 28:6; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:25; I Thess. 4:1318; Acts 1:1011; Zech. 14:4-9.
C. God, the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who moved holy men of God to write the Scriptures, who convicts of sin, who quickens in the new birth, who seals and is the earnest of our inheritance, and who indwells the believer with the power for holy living and service. John 14:16-17; II Peter 1:21; John 16:8-9; Romans 8:11; Eph. 1:13-14.
Man
We believe that God created the entire world, including the first actual man and woman, in six literal 24hour days and that no aspect of creation was through any evolutionary process. We believe the account of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 is to be taken literally. Genesis 1,2; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3.
Sin
We believe that man was created by God in His own image as given in the Genesis account; that through disobedience to God, man lost his first estate and thereby became a sinner in need of a Savior; and that since that time all men are born sinners, spiritually dead, alienated from God, and stand in need of personal redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Gen. 1:2627; Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Psalm 51:5; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:21; Rom. 3:23-24; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12.
Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, shedding His blood on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who repent and believe in Him, receiving Him by faith as personal Savior, are thereby justified on the ground of His shed blood. Eph. 2:89; Rom 4:45; I Cor. 15:3; I Cor 5:6; Isa. 53:6; Acts 17:30; Matt. 9:13; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:3839; John 1:12; Col. 2:6; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7.
We believe that in order to be saved, all people, being sinners, must be born again. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit. We believe that this new birth is instantaneous, and of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
We believe that sanctification is a threefold process in the believer’s life. First, at the moment of salvation, the believer is immediately separated from the penalty and power of sin. Then, throughout the believer’s life, the believer progressively separates himself or herself from the practices of sin. Finally, the believer will be separated from the very presence of sin when he or she is taken home to heaven. Hebrews 10:10. Colossians 3:812. I John 3:2. Jude 24.
We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally secure since they have been saved by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are kept by the power of God unto salvation. I John 5:1; Acts 16:31; John 10:2629; Rom. 10:9-13; Eph. 1:13; II Cor. 1:22; I Pet. 1:35; Rom. 8:31–39.
Sign Gifts
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is experienced at the moment of salvation; that the gift of speaking in tongues and the gift of men with powers of miraculous healing were temporary sign gifts that ceased when the Bible was completed. Acts 2:38; Acts 10:4445; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:3,7,13; 13:810; 14:19,22; II Cor. 12:710: Gal. 3:2,14; 4:6; Eph. 1:1314; I Tim. 5:23; II Tim. 4:20; Rev. 13:12–15.
The Church
A. Universal
We believe that the only true church, the body of Christ, is a living organism made up of bornagain believers including those believers who have gone to be with the Lord. Eph. 5:30; Acts 2:47; Col. 1:18; Rom. 12:45; I Cor. 12:13; I Thess. 4:1318; II Cor. 5:68.
B. Local
We believe that the majority of references to the Church in the New Testament refer to the local, visible Church, which is also called the Body of Christ. The Bible teaches that its membership is to be made up only of those who have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ, and who have been baptized by immersion. Matt. 18:17; Acts 2:41,47; 5:11; 8:1,3; 9:31; 11:22,26; 12:1,5; 13:1; 14:23,27; 15:3,4,22,41; 16:5; 18:22; 20:17,28; Rom. 16:1,4,5,16,23; I Cor. 1:2; 4:17; 6:4; 7:17; 11:16,18,22; 12:27,28; 14:4,5,12,19,23,28,3335; 15:9; 16:1,19; II Cor. 1:1 etc.
The Ordinances
We believe that Christ, as the Head of the Local Church, commanded two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
A. Baptism
We believe that baptism, as taught in the Scriptures, is by immersion, is not necessary for salvation, yet it is the privilege and duty of every child of God to follow the Lord in baptism as an open confession of his identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism must be performed under the authority of the local church and is a prerequisite for church membership. Mark 1:9; John 3:23; Acts 8:3839; Luke 23:39 43; Acts 10:4748; Rom. 6:3.; Acts 2:41
B. The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed by born again believers in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ; that its observance shows forth His death till He comes; and should always be preceded by self-examination. Matt. 26:2629; Luke 22:1920; I Cor. 11:2332; I Cor. 10:21.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord and in His bodily ascension into Heaven where He now is at the right hand of God as our High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate. Mark 16:57; Matt. 28:57; John 20:27; Luke 24:3640; Acts 1; Luke 24:50 51; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 9:15; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1; Heb. 1:3.
Satan
We believe that Satan was created holy by God and was once in heaven, but through pride and ambition to be as almighty as God, he fell and took a host of angels with him. He is now the evil prince and unholy god of this world. We believe that he is the greatest deceiver of mankind, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the creator of false religions, the cause of the current departure from the faith, the creator of all dark forces. He is destined to be conquered and sentenced by the Son of God for eternity in the lake of fire – a place prepared for him and his angels. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:15-19; Luke 10:18; Acts 5:3; 2 Peter 2: 4; James 2:19; Revelation 12:9)
Eschatology
We believe in the second coming of Christ before His millennial reign on earth. We believe in His bodily return to the earth. We believe the time of His Second Coming is not known (except by God Himself), but is always approaching. With His Second Coming, He will reward the faithful dead together with the waiting living in heaven. After the great tribulation He will return again with the saints. He will condemn the unbelievers and rule over all nations for a thousand years. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 19:11-16, Zechariah 14:4)
We believe that the souls of those who are saved will go to heaven to be with Christ, where their deeds will be judged. We also believe that the unsaved souls will descend to Hell where they will be punished until Judgment Day comes. Then they shall rise from the grave, be judged, and cast into the lake of fire for everlasting punishment. (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:1-6, 11-15)
In overview, we believe:
a) The sole authority of Scripture for faith and life
b) The autonomy (independence) of the local church
c) Believers baptized by immersion for church membership
d) Two offices – pastor (elder, bishop) and deacon
e) Two symbols – baptism and communion
f) Individual priesthood of the believers
g) Separation of state and church