Our Beliefs

PREAMBLE 

We rest our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and believe the Bible to be the only basis for spiritual teaching and practice (II Timothy 3:16, 17). We, therefore, as members of the body of Christ, the universal Church, as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, as a local Church, band ourselves together and adopt for the guidance of our government, worship and service the following articles, which supersede all previous articles and actions. 

  1. SCRIPTURE 

We believe the Bible is the only standard of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. This inspiration extends to the very words of the original documents and every part of the original documents. The Scriptures are without error in the original writings (Psalm 119:160; II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18). 

  1. INTERPRETATION 

We believe that there is but one correct method of Bible interpretation – the literal method. The literal method recognizes the author as final authority and consistently applies the principles of grammatical, historical and cultural understanding. The method asserts there is one correct interpretation of any given passage of scripture, though applications may be as many as are consistent with the interpretation. While the literal method is dependent upon the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit in coming to accurate interpretation, it is equally dependent upon diligent study (I Corinthians 2:14-15; John 16:12-13; II Timothy 2:15; Deuteronomy 6:6). 

  1. THE NATURE OF GOD 

We believe there is one living and true God who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. He is absolutely separate and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the upholder of all things. We further believe that God is one in essence but eternally existent in three persons − Father, Son and Holy Spirit − each having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, with each worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence and obedience (Genesis 1:25; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalms 139:8; Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:18; John 4:24; Acts 17:24-25; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6). 

  1. GOD THE FATHER 

The first person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according to His own sovereign purpose, pleasure and grace. He created the universe apart from pre-existing materials and without any means other than His own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayers and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Psalm 33:8-9; Psalms 104; Isaiah 46:8-12; Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-24; Ephesians 1:3-6; Ephesians 1:11). 

  1. GOD THE SON 

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born son of man. Being fully God and fully man, He surrendered nothing of His divine essence during His earthly life. By His sinless life, miraculous ministry and substitutionary death He satisfied divine justice concerning sin. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension and His future visible return to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. We further believe that Christ is the only mediator between God and man (John 1:14-18; I Corinthians 15; Hebrews 2:17-18; Romans 3:24-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Colossians 1:15-18; I Timothy 2:5; Revelation 20:11-15). 

  1. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

The third person of the Trinity executes the will of God in the world of men. He was active in creation and in the writing of the Bible. In this age His ministry is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment,
to regenerate men and to mature, empower and comfort believers. He permanently indwells every believer at the point of conversion. He sovereignly administers spiritual gifts to the Church to glorify Christ and build up the Church (Judges 13:25; Job 33:4; Genesis 1:2; John 14:16; John 16:5-15; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9;
I Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 9:14; II Peter 1:20, 21). 

  1. ANGELS 

    1. Origin of Angels. The angels were all created simultaneously by God as a great host of sinless spirit-beings, most of whom willingly kept their first estate of holiness, and presently worship God and serve His purposes (Psalm 148:2-5; Isaiah 6:1-3; Matthew 26:53; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:14). 
    2. The Fall of Some Angels.  One of the angels, Lucifer, fell through the sin of pride, thereby becoming Satan and influenced a large company of angels to follow him, who thereby became demons (Isaiah 14:12-17; I Timothy 3:6; James 2:19; II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7-8). 
    3. Satan’s Work. The work of Satan and the demons is the attempted subversion and supplanting of the work of God. By a subtle suggestion Satan accomplished the moral fall of the progenitors of the human race, subjecting them and their posterity to his own power (Genesis 3:1-7; Job 1:12; Job 2:6; Ezekiel 28:13-15; Zechariah 3:1-2; Luke 4:1-13; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:9,10). Satan continues as the enemy of God and accuser of God’s people and persistently seeks to counterfeit the works and truth of God (II Corinthians 2:10-11; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:12-16; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9,12). 
    4. Satan’s Judgment. Satan was judged at the cross, though the sentence was not executed at that time. He will eventually and finally be consigned to the lake of fire at the end of the Millennium (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 14:12; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18; John 12:13; John 16:11; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:10). 

8. THE NATURE OF MAN 

We believe that man was directly created in the image of the triune God to enjoy His fellowship, to fulfill His will on earth, and to glorify Him forever. We believe the image of God in man is a reference to Adam’s spiritual likeness to God. As such, man has the qualities of intelligence, emotion and self-determination. Just as God is spirit, man possesses a spirit, a fact that is not true of the rest of the earthly creatures. Man’s body is designed for giving expression to spiritual and moral selfhood (John 4:24; Romans 5:12-21). Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God and is consequently subject to death, both physical and spiritual. The fall of man was a once-for-all historical fact. Its effect is evident in all men, each of whom is born with a sinful nature and each of whom sins habitually in thought, word and deed. We believe that God created man on the sixth day of creation. We believe that day to have been a literal twenty-four hour day (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:3-4; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:10-21; Ephesians 2:1-3). 

  1. Marriage, Gender and Sexuality.  We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union (Genesis 1:26-26; Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18-20; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). 
  2. Family. In God’s design for humanity, life begins at fertilization. He established the institution of family through the union of one man and one woman in a marriage covenant for life. His design for the continuance of humanity is through the procreation and discipleship of children within the marriage union, including those who have been adopted. Marriage is to be an example of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church (Genesis 2:23-24; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 1:18, 19:4-6; Luke 1:31, 34-36, 41-44; I Timothy 3:2). 

9. SALVATION 

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins as the only able and sufficient substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His death and His resurrection. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith have been regenerated and baptized by the Holy Spirit.
They are thereby the children of God forever and members of the one true church, the body of Christ. This salvation results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his behavior to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Sonship is not a license to sin, for God faithfully disciplines His children who choose to disobey (John 10:27-29; John 14:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 10:10-12; Galatians 3:26; Titus 3:4-7; I John 5:11-13; John 1:12; John 3:16; John 5:24; Romans 5:1-11; Hebrews 12:3-11). 

  1. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH 

We believe that all who have been born again by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church and are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local visible assemblies. The local church is the only scriptural representation of Christ’s invisible church and should consist only of regenerated, baptized believers. The local church is autonomous in its relationships and elects its own members to the biblical offices of Elder (Pastor, Overseer, Bishop) and Deacon. Autonomy does not absolve responsibility for mutual aid and support between churches as they cooperatively carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The twofold purpose of the church is to lead men to Christ and mature (disciple) them in faith. We believe there are two ordinances required of the church. 

  1. Baptism by Immersion 

  2. Communion 

We further believe the primary instruments for strengthening the body of Christ are: 

  1. Teaching 

  2. Breaking of Bread 

  3. Fellowship 

  4. Prayer 

(Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 4:1-6; I Corinthians 12:14; Matthew 16:13-28; Matthew 25:34-40; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 2:19-22; I Corinthians 11:24-34; II Corinthians 8:9-15; Philippians 4:15-19; James 2:14-18). 

  1. LAST THINGS

We believe in the sudden, visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ and in His Millennial Kingdom.  He will return with His saints from heaven with power and great glory, on a day known only to God. We believe that those who have accepted God's gift of salvation through faith in Jesus  Christ, at the point of physical death, enter into God's eternal glory. They shall be resurrected and transformed to His body of glory, and they shall receive their inheritance of glory in the  Kingdom of their Father. They shall be made fully blessed in the presence and service of God, whom they shall see and enjoy throughout the ages. We believe that all unsaved persons, at the point of physical death, are destined for eternal damnation. They will be resurrected, separated from the righteous, judged, and cast into an existence of eternal punishment where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever when death and Hades is cast into the Lake of Fire. We believe it is imperative for the Church to work and wait in sober watchfulness, that it may be found ready at His coming (Mark 13:32-37; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:2-6; Matthew 24:30, 36; 25:31; Mark 13:32-37; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Hebrews 9:27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:25-29; Acts 24:14-15; 1 Corinthians 6:14; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:5-6; 21:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 22:3-5; Hebrews 9:27; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:25-29; Acts 24:14-15; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:10; 21:8, Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Hebrews 10:25).