Statement of Faith

 

The Scriptures
We believe in the Scriptures of the old and new Testaments as verbally, and plenary inspired of God, inerrant, preserved in the King James Authorized Version of 1611 A.D. and of supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error for its matter. It is the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:19-21, II Timothy 3:16-17, I Cor. 2:14-16)

 

The Trinity
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14). 

 

The Virgin Birth and Deity of Christ
We believe that God the Son became incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ, who was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, and is true God and true man. (Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:4, Isaiah 7:14, and Genesis 3:15)

 

The Blood Atonement
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that all that believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, 2:8, Acts 15:11, John 3:16 and Isaiah 53:4-7)

 

The Resurrection
We believe in the Resurrection of His physical body, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest, Intercessor and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-11, 2:32-36, Luke 24:2-6 and Mark 16:6  I Corinthians 5:3-6)

 

The Second Coming
We believe that Christ may at any time return in the air to rapture the Saints, and that a tribulation period of seven years shall follow, after which He will come to the earth with His Saints and rule for one thousand years. After this the wicked will be judged and cast into the lake of fire (I Thes 4:13-18, I Cor 15:1-57, Dan 9:27, Matt 24:15-21, 24:27, 25:46 and Rev 19 and 20)

 

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, possessing all of the distinctively divine attributes. He is God. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, seals and sets apart the believer to a holy life. At regeneration He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ and comes to indwell him permanently.  (John 16:8, 14:16-17, I Cor. 3:16, Heb 9:14 and I Cor 12:13)  

 

Man's Condition
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature. (Romans 3;23, 5:10-19, 1:18 and Gen 3:1-6 and 24)

 

Salvation
We believe that whosoever by faith, apart from works of any kind, receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior is "born from above," and thereby becomes a child of God, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Salvation is the free gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's shed blood on Calvary's cross.(Eph 2:8-10; John 1:12; Eph 1:7, I Peter 1:18-19)

 

Eternal Security
We believe that all born again believers are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the new birth, the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Christ. (John 10:28-39, 5:24, Romans 8:35-39, Jude 1, Philemon 1:6, Eph 4:30, Heb 7:25, John 6:37-39)

 

Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every believer, even after redemption still possesses the fallen Adamic nature in this life, but that God has made full provision whereby His children are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ by the powers of His Holy Spirit, who indwells each one. (Romans 6:13, 8:12-13, Gal 5:16-25, Eph 4:22-24, Col 3:10, I Peter 1:14-16)

 

The Local Church
We believe a  New Testament Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a visible, called out, local assembly of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend the Gospel to all men.(Heb 10:25, Acts 2:41-42, I Cor 11:2)

This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes with Christ as the Head. It's members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. (I Timothy 3:1-13) The New Testament speaks also of the body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of the Church Age, from Pentecost to the Rapture. (I Cor 12:12-13)

 

Baptism
We believe that the ordinance of baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit picturing the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism also pictures the believers death to sin and resurrection to  newness of life. (Rom 6:4, Acts 8:26-39, and John 3:23)

 

The Lord's Supper
We believe that communion at the Lord's Table is a privilege to the true believer, in commemoration of our Lord's death until He comes, and should always be preceded by self-examination.(I Cor 11:23-28, Col 2:12)

 

The Lord's Day
We believe the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for a regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be honored in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.(I Cor 16:2, Acts 20:7)

 

Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and word to the truths of the Holy Scriptures and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, and Matt 28:18-20)

 

Gifts of the Spirit
We believe the gifts of the Spirit are divided into two categories; temporary and permanent.

Temporary gifts of healing, prophecy, miracles, apostleship, and knowledge were for the early church as a sign to the unbelieving Jew and were removed about 96 A.D. (compare Acts 2:17-20; Acts 17:11-12 with I Corinthians 13:8-10) The gift of tongues was removed in 70 A.D. at the fall of Jerusalem; "But when that which is perfect (The Bible) is come, then that which is in part (temporary gifts) shall be done away." (I Cor. 13:8-10).

Permanent Gifts.  Pastor, evangelist, teacher, helps, and governments will continue to function throughout the church age. (Romans 12:6-8 and I Cor. 12:31)

 

Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

 

The Reality and Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is the accuser of the brethren; the unholy prince of this world system in opposition to God and is destined by God to eternal judgment in the lake of Fire. (John 13:31, Eph 2:2, Rev 12:10, 20:10, II Cor, 4:4, Matt. 4:1-3, and 25:41)

 

Hell
We believe that Hell is literal and is the temporary place of torments for the unsaved until they are cast into the Lake of Fire and consciously punished for eternity. (Rev 20:13-15, Matt. 25:46)

 

Stewardship
We believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. We are therefore under privileged obligation to serve Him with our time, talents and treasures. We should recognize these are entrusted to us to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel to the world and reaching the lost for Jesus Christ. (Phil. 4:19, Acts 17:28, II Cor 9:6-7 and Mal 3:10)

 

Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of the divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that all in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. The commandments of God and the will of our Lord Jesus Christ should be followed above all. (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Matthew 22:21)

 

Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of marital, sexual intimacy. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance.(Gen 2:24; Gen, 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thes 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4) We believe that Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman; not two men or two women. (Gen. 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph 5:22-23).