The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired, complete Word of God. They are the sole and final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God breathed. (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; John 16:12-13; Matt. 5:18; Deut. 8:3)
The Godhead
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those persons are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory. The distinctions have to do with administration of office rather than essence. (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Matt. 28:19)
The Person and Work of God the Father
We believe in the personal existence of God the Father, the Supreme Being, as both infinite and perfect. He possesses all the attributes of eternity, self-existence, immutability, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, peace and mercy. He created and now sustains all things. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Gen. 1:1, 26-28; Isa. 40:21-28, 45:6-7; Zeph. 3:5; Mal. 3:6; John 3:16; Rom. 11:33)
The Person and Work of The Son (Jesus Christ)
A. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order to reveal God and to redeem sinful men. (Jn. 1:1-2, 14; Lk. 1:35)
B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by his literal bodily resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)
C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and now is exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1-2)
D. We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the personal, imminent, bodily pre-tribulational and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones. We also believe in His subsequent bodily return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom after the seven year tribulation. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, The Comforter, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the one who regenerates men, baptizes them into the Body of Christ; and indwells each believer, thus sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Jn. 14:26; 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:13-14)
Mankind
We believe that mankind is created in the image and likeness of God, and was originally without sin. Through Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Mankind is utterly unable to remedy its lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3)
Salvation
A. We believe that salvation is the gift of God, brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sin. (Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Jn. 3:16)
B. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become a new creation in Jesus Christ. This is a change of heart brought about by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner must respond in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a genuine turning away from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment to Him as Lord and Savior. (Jn. 5:24; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:17-20)
C. Justification is God’s complete acquittal of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. This act is based wholly on the principles of Christ’s righteousness. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God. (Rom. 3:23-25; 4:3; 5:8-10; 8:29-39; 10:9-13: 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 2:20)
D. Sanctification is the experience, beginning with regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit living within the believer. Growing in God’s grace continues throughout the believer’s life until he/she is glorified in the very presence of God. (Jn. 17:17; Acts 20:32; Rom. 6:1-23; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Thes. 5:23-24)
E. We believe that the redeemed are kept by God’s power, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are secure in Christ forever. (Jn. 6:37-40; Rom. 8:38-39; Eph. 1:13)
The Church
A. We believe that the universal Church, which is represented as the body and bride of Christ, is an organism composed of all born-again believers. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22-23)
B. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught in the New Testament; and as such, are the proper medium for the administration of the ordinances prescribed by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 14:27; Titus 1:5-11; Acts 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13)
C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has left two ordinances to be observed by the local Church in commemoration of His Person and Work. They are Baptism (immersion) and the Lord’s Supper. (Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-32)
Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and cause of the fall of man. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and he shall be eternally punished in the Lakeof Fire. (Isa. 14:12-17; Rev. 20:10; 1 Pet. 5:8)
The Eternal State
A. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to everlasting life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Jn. 5:28-29; Rev. 20:5, 6, 13)
B. We believe, at death, that the souls of the redeemed are 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 Cor. 5:1-10; Rev. 20:4-6)
C. We believe, at death, that the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne judgment, and be cast into the Lakeof Fireto suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Lk. 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Matt. 25:41-46; Rev. 20:11-15)
Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour days. We reject all other unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen.1-2; Ex. 20: 11)
Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: (1) the family (2) the Church, and (3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The family, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom.13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14; Gen. 2:24)
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. Any employee of the Church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a result of consensual intercourse, outside of the marriage relationship, shall be terminated from employment. Additionally, any employee found to be a declared homosexual shall be terminated from employment. (Gen. 2:24; 19:5; 13; 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; 20:13; Rom 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the Church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the Church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. (Ps.139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
Missions
We believe that God has given the Church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the mission fields and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
The Assurance of Believers
We believe that the redeemed are kept by God’s power, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are secure in Christ forever. (Jn. 6:37-40; Rom. 8:38-39; Eph. 1:13)
We further believe that it is a privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s word. However, the word forbids the misuse of Christian liberty as an occasion to sin. (Rom. 12:13-14; 8:12-13; 6:1-2; 14:14-17)
The Ministry of Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of his gifts, and that these gifts are intended to edify the Church. We believe that the gifts of healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, performance of miracles, and other gifts associated with the charismatic movement were temporary, sign gifts that are no longer needed after the completion of the New Testament and therefor are not practiced in the Church today. We do believe that the sick may call on the elders of the Church to administer anointing oil and to pray for them. God is the great and divine healer and does hear and answer prayers of faith in accordance with His will for the sick and afflicted. (Mark 16:17-18; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-12, 22-25; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; James 5:13-15; 1 Pet. 4:10-11)
