THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God and that all sixty-six books are fully inspired and absolutely inerrant in the original manuscripts (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We believe that the Scriptures were written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
We believe that while there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation found through a diligent application of the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15; 1 John 2:20).
We believe that God has preserved His Word as the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct for every generation to properly apply. The truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it (Psalm 12:6-7; 119:105).
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, equal in deserving of worship and obedience, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7).
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own eternal purposes and grace in perfect holiness, wisdom, power, and love (Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 3:9; Romans 11:33-36). As Creator, He is Father to all men (Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual Father only to believers (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:5-6; Hebrews 12:5-9).
We believe that in His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin (James 1:13; Ezekiel 18:4; Habakkuk 1:13a), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (1 Peter 1:17). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own (Ephesians 1:4-6), saving from sin and the second death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 1:12; Romans 8:15).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies of, and is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father (John 1:1-2; 10:30; 14:9).
We believe that God the Father created all things according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by Whom all things continue in existence and in operation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man (i.e. the incarnation) without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (John 1:14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8), in order that He might reveal God, redeem sinful men, and rule over God’s kingdom (Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross. As the sinless Lamb of God, He took upon Himself our sins and died in our place to offer atonement for all who believe. The believer’s justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 3:18).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God (Acts 1:9-10), as the High Priest and the only Mediator between God and man (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25-26; 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1-2), the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23; Colossians 1:18), and the coming universal King who will reign on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31-33). He is the final Judge of all who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2), the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), the written revelation (2 Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7). He is the Divine Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11).
We believe the Holy Spirit is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), indwelling (Romans 8:9), sanctifying (2 Thessalonians 2:13), gifting (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), empowering (Acts 1:8), and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14); and that He is the abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (John 15:26; 16:13-14).
MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God to bring Him glory, to enjoy His fellowship, and to accomplish His will (Genesis 1:26-27; Revelation 4:11). But, when Adam sinned, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; therefore, man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore under condemnation (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:19, 23; 5:10-12).
We believe that every individual possesses dignity, value, and a moral responsibility to God in that man is created in God’s image and that Christ died to redeem sinful man (Psalm 8:4-9; Colossians 3:9-11).
SALVATION
We believe that all men are sinners and that salvation is wholly of God’s grace. We believe that men are justified by grace through faith alone and are accounted righteous before God through the merit of the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every true believer and that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37; 10:10; 27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
THE CHURCH
We believe that all who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone are set apart as saints of God and are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the head (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament where believers are instructed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (Acts 14:21-27; Romans 16:4). Each local church is made up of like-minded believers who have been baptized upon a credible profession of faith and are united for the purpose of worship, evangelism, fellowship, teaching, and service (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We believe that God enabled the church to fulfill its purpose by giving two kinds of gifts. First, the ministering gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by God to every believer for the edification of the church. These permanent gifts are designed to build up the body of Christ and are still present today (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). God appointed pastors and teachers (also called bishops and elders) who are chosen men for each church to shepherd, oversee, and equip the saints for the work of ministry (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Second, the miraculous gifts, given for the purpose of confirming the Apostle’s authenticity and message, came to an end upon the completion of the New Testament. We believe that speaking in tongues (languages) is not a necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God does not give certain individuals the gift of healing but that He does heal and He frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for specific acts of physical healing (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; 14:21-22; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 5:13-16).
We believe the supreme authority for the church is Jesus Christ alone and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in Scriptures (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
We believe the Scriptures teach that each church should be independent and free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. It is scriptural for true churches to fellowship and co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure, extent, and method of such co-operation (3 John 5-8; Titus 1:5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Table. Christian baptism by immersion is the public testimony of a believer picturing his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 8:35-39). Baptism is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the local visible body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42). The Lord’s Table was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death and should only be observed following a careful self-examination (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). The church should observe and administer these two ordinances until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe God has established the three institutions of government, church, and family for the purpose of raising up individuals that are self-governing under God (Proverbs 21:1; Romans 13:1-2; Ephesians 5:23-27; Genesis 2:18-25).
We believe that the civil government is established for the interests and good order of human society and that Christians are to pray for, honor, and obey the ruling public officials. The established government is to be obeyed except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Judge of all (Romans 13:3-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
We believe that the church is established for the exaltation of Jesus Christ, the edification of believers, and the evangelization of the lost and that Christians are to faithfully attend, humbly serve, and sacrificially give to the Lord’s work and His servants (Hebrews 10:24-25; Galatians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
We believe that the family (husband and wife with/without children) is established for the education, discipline, and welfare of its members (Ephesians 5:22-33). We further maintain that God created man and woman distinct in gender, purpose, and role within the home, and that the relationship between man and wife is a most solemn picture of Christ and His church. We stand opposed to practices which violate the Biblical doctrine of the home, including: divorce, by which man puts asunder what God has joined together and corrupts a type of Christ (Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-9); promiscuity, immorality, and homosexuality, which substitutes depraved and unnatural acts of lust for the holy and undefiled expression of marital love (Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8); the ordination of women, which denies the fulfillment of the woman within her divinely endowed role of helper and supporter, and usurps the headship and authority of the man (1 Corinthians 11:3, 8; Titus 1:6); abortion, which is the destruction of the fruit of the womb and indeed the taking of life (Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5); and delinquency within the home, by which parents fail to exercise godly authority and discipline over the children with whom God has entrusted them (Ephesians 6:1-4). We stand ready to extend our love and ministry to those who have been victimized by the above practices which we stand opposed to, and for those who have repented from such practices (Matthew 18; Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11).
We believe that every individual should live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellowman. All believers should be blameless before the world, faithful stewards of all possessions, and they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 4:13).
LAST THINGS
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5-12). The souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23). Upon death, the souls of the unsaved await in conscious misery until the second resurrection where they will be judged (Luke 16:19-26).
We believe the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is the next event of God’s prophetic calendar. Christ will come in clouds to catch away His church. All the saved will meet Him in the air and forever be with the Lord. This is called the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:11-13). Believers will then stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ where their works will be judged, not for salvation, but to determine rewards or the loss thereof (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12).
We believe the Rapture will be followed by seven years of Tribulation on the earth. During this time, Satan will rule this world through his false Messiah, the Antichrist, and God will pour out His wrath on unrepentant humanity (Revelation 6:12-17; 13; 16:1).
We believe the Tribulation period will culminate in the battle of Armageddon where the Antichrist will gather his armies to oppose Christ and His people. At that time, the Lord Jesus will return to earth followed by His saints (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 14; Joel 3:9-16). He will defeat and judge those who have rejected Him, cast the Antichrist into the Lake of Fire, and bind Satan. Christ will then set up His Millennial Kingdom and reign on earth for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-7).
We believe that after the Millennium, Satan will be loosed and lead a last rebellion against God. Christ will then cast Satan into the Lake of Fire that was prepared for him and his angels. All unbelievers will be raised and stand before the Great White Throne Judgment where they will be condemned for their failure to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer eternal punishment (Revelation 20:7-15).
We believe that all believers will spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven, a place specifically prepared for those who love Him. There they will live in glorious bliss worshipping and serving the Lord forever (John 14:1-6; Revelation 21-22).