What We Believe

Concerning the Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and is wholly without error, altogether sufficient as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.  Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5a; II Timothy 3:16 ; II Peter 1:19 -21

CONCERNING GOD
We believe in the one true and living God, the creator and sustainer of all things.  He is infinite, unchangeable, eternal, perfect, sovereign, and personal.  He is eternal in His being, love, holiness, wisdom, and power.  He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons but without division of nature, being or mission.  The Father is the head of the Godhead; the Son is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit is the One sent from God to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 83:18, 139:7-9; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30 , 15:26

CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person, he became man by the miracle of the Virgin Birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, One person with two natures.  As Man, He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.  As the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead, and He arose from the grave in a glorified body.  As our great High Priest, he ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessory.  John 1:1, 14;  3:16; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:6-10; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1-2

CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, and the divine Agent in nature, revelation and redemption.  He was sent from God to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment.  He regenerates, in dwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become children of God through Christ; He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills believers who daily surrender to Him.  John 3:5, 14:16 , 17, 26; 16:7-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13 , 5:18

CONCERNING MAN
We believe that man was created in God’s likeness and image, that He was tempted by Satan, and by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God became a sinful creature.  Man became the father of a fallen race which in universally sinful in both nature and practice.  He is alienated from God and has within himself no possible means of salvation apart from God.  Genesis 1:27; 3:6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23 ; 15:12 , 19; Galatians 3:11

CONCERNING SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a free gift from God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man.  All men are under condemnation through personal sin, and escape from condemnation comes only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  This righteousness can only be received through a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit regenerates the one who makes the life commitment to Jesus, and the life begun in regeneration is never lost.  Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; 3:14; 10:28-29; Romans 8:1, Philippians 1:6

CONCERNING WORKS
We believe that righteousness and godly works are not a means of salvation in any sense, but are its proper evidence and fruit.  Therefore, as Christians, we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, walk as He walked, and accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privileges of bearing the gospel to a lost world.  Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:16

CONCERNING SATAN
We believe that Satan was originally created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God.  He became utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits, and the deceiver and god of this present world.  His powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good.  He was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain.  We are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Isaiah 14:12-15; Ephesians 6:12; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Revelation 12:9-11, 20:10

CONCERNING THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that Christ is coming in the air to rapture His Church, which could be at any time.  When He has first, by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living, removed from the earth His waiting Church, He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world.  Afterwards He will descend with His Church to establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years.  I Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:8; Hebrews 10:37; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11 -16, 20:4-7

CONCERNING FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION, AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT
We believe in the final resurrection of all men, just and unjust.  We believe that those who commit their lives to Christ during this life will be raised to everlasting life.  The spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, and their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own.  Those who do not commit to Jesus Christ in this life will be raised to everlasting condemnation.  The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, and they shall be judged and cast into Hell, the place of final everlasting punishment.  I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:8-10; Luke 16:19-23; Revelation 20:11-15

CONCERNING THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
We believe that the Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7

CONCERNING THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest.  The believer has the right and responsibility through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to study and interpret the Scriptures.  John 14:6; Hebrews 4:16; II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:1,5,9

CONCERNING THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ alone is the head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit.  All members of this one spiritual body should then assemble and identify themselves in a local church.  I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22 -23; 4:11 -15; Galatians 1:22

CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a local assembly of born-again baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances.  They meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and united testimony, and to actively engage in carrying out the Great Commission.  Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 28:19-20

CONCERNING THE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads.  Each local church is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God.  Matthew 18:17; Acts 6:1-5; 13:1-3; 15:22 -23

CONCERNING THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the local church has only been given two ordinances by God; baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Baptism is by immersion of believers, thus portraying the death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the Lord’s death.  The bread symbolizes His body which was given for us.  The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood which was shed for us.  Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41 ; 8:38 -39; Matthew 26:26,30; I Corinthians 11:23,34

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