Our Beliefs

Our Beliefs

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the plenary and verbal inspired Word of God.  They are inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and authoritative.  We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for faith, teaching, and practice (2 Tim 3:16, 17; 2 Pet 1:20, 21; Matt 5:18; John 16:12, 13).

The Godhead

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These three are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory having the same attributes and perfections (Deut 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became man, without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross. Jesus died as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice for man. Our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom 3:24, 25; 1 Pet 2:24; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:3-5).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God. As our High Priest in God’s presence, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Heb 9:24; 7:25; Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1, 2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers in this age into the body of Christ, filling, indwelling, and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 12:12-14; 2 Cor 3:6; Eph 1:13,14; 5:18).

We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides all believers into truth. It is the privilege and duty of all saved to be yielded to the Spirit (John 16:13; Eph 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27).

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God.   In Adams sin the human race fell, and each person inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God.  Since the fall into sin by Adam, man is totally depraved and, unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen 1:26, 27; Rom 3:22, 23; 5:12-21; Eph 2:1-3, 12).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received solely by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.

We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the substitutionary death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.   No resolutions, works, efforts, or submission to rules or regulations of any church can add in the least to the efficacy of His precious shed blood.  It is solely the merit of His finished work on the cross that provides the ground of our justification (Rom 3:19-28; 4:4, 5: 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 2:6-8; Eph 2:8, 9; 1 Pet 1:18, 19).

When we believe, put our total trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary, we then receive Christ as our Savior.  At that moment, we pass from death to everlasting life, being justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of Christs acceptance.  We are loved as He is loved, have His place and portion, as we are linked to Him and one with Him forever (John 5:24; Acts 13:39; Rom 5:1; Eph 2:4-10; 4:13; 1 John 4:17; 5:11, 12; 2 Cor 5:17).

The Believers Assurance of Eternal Life

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by Gods power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom 1:38,39; 1 Cor 1:4-8; 1 Pet 1:5).

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. Such a privilege does not give one the liberty to continue in living in sin.  (Rom 13:13, 14; Gal 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord.   God directs the Christian believer to practice separation from the world and worldly pleasures; separation from ecclesiastical apostasy; and separation from the erring brethren. (Rom 12:1, 2; 1 Cor 6:19, 20; 2 Cor 6:14-17; Gal 1:6-9; Matt 7:15; 2 Tim 4:3-5; Acts 20:29-31; Mark 13:22; Titus 1:10-13, 16; 1 Tim 6:5; 1 John 4:1-4; 2 John 10:11; Titus 3:10, 11; 2 Pet 2:1)

Missions

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:19, 20).

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts.  He divinely selected the times as well as the recipients of His gifts.   The gifts of apostles, prophets, speaking in tongues and other sign miracles and gifts, being only necessary for the foundation of the church, gradually ceased with the completion of the New Testament Scriptures. These gifts were utilized to authenticate both message and messenger, and were also used as a sign to the unbelieving.   It is each believer’s responsibility to use what God has given in service for Him.  (Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:12, 13:8-10; Eph 2:20-21, 4:7-16; 1 Pet 4:10; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21; Rev 11:3-6).

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to pray to God the prayer of faith and that God will answer in accordance with His will the requests made for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; James 5:13-15; 1 John 5:14,15).

The Church

We believe that the universal Church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age. All who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the Church, The Church, Having begun at Pentecost, is the Body and Bride of Christ, The Body of Christ is made up of all believers of this dispensation regardless of their membership in organized churches on earth.  Any truly saved person is a brother or sister in Christ, and, as such, we are to love one another fervently with a pure heart.  (Matt 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-27; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 1:20-23, 4:3-10; 5:25-27; Col 3:14-15; 1 Pet 1:22).

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church making it free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20-28; Rom 16:1,4; 1 Cor 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; 1 Pet 5:14)

Ordinances

We recognize two ordinances of the church for this age: The Lords Supper and Water Baptism.  They are not to be regarded however, as a means of salvation, or as a means of grace by which special merit is obtained.

The Lords Supper

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic, memorial time to reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The bread represents His body which was given for us, and the cup of grape juice represents His blood which was shed for us.

This ordinance shall be observed monthly and as often as the pastor and elders shall decide on special occasions. All who have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior and are walking in fellowship with the Lord shall be welcome to join in this service (1 Cor 11:17-32).

Water Baptism

Water baptism is a picture sermon that identifies a believer with Christ and the Church when the person is immersed in water.  The immersion pictures our death, burial and resurrection with Christ.  (Rom 6:1-11)

When administered by this church, baptism shall be by immersion at the request of those who have personally acknowledged Christ as Savior thus making the individual a prospect for church membership (Acts 2:40-42; 8:36-39; 10:47; 1 Cor 1:14-17).

Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define mans responsibilities in successive ages.  These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose.  Of the seven dispensations, these three; the age of law, the age of the church, the age of the millennial kingdom, are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (John 1:17; 1 Cor 9:17; 2 Cor 3:9-18; Gal 3:13-25; Eph 1:10; Col.1:24, 25; Heb 1:1; 7:19; Rev 20:26).

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a spirit being, real, the author of sin and the cause of the fall.  He is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6,7; Isa 14:12-17; Matt 4:2-11; 8:44; 25:41; Rev 20:10).

The Second Advent of Christ 

The next prophetic event is the imminent, personal, pre-tribulation coming of Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself His Bride which is the Church. Those who have died in Christ and the living believers will be translated to heaven where we will be forever with the Lord. (1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:13-19; Titus 2:13; Rev 3:10).

After the Tribulation and prior to the Millennium Jesus will physically descend from heaven to the Mount of Olives to set up His kingdom which will last for 1000 years. (Zech 14:4-11; Acts 1:11; Rev 20:6).

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; Rev 20:5, 6; 12, 13).

We believe that the souls of the redeemed, at death, are absent from the body and present with the Lord. They remain in conscious bliss while they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess 4:16, 17)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery in hell until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited. They shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matt 25:41-46; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Mark 9:43-48; Rev 2:11-15)

The Doctrine of Creation    

We believe that God spoke the universe into existence and made man (a special creation) from the dust of the earth.   We believe in the literal, historical record of the creation account as recorded in the book of Genesis. We believe that God completed His creative work at the close of the sixth day and that “all was very good”.   We believe these were six literal, consecutive, twenty-four hour days with no gaps of time before, between, or after. God’s creative work was entirely free of any form of evolutionary process.  We believe that all forms of evolutionary hypotheses are serious errors that strike at the person and glory of God.  (Gen 1:1-31; Col 1:16; Neh 9:6; John 1:1-3; Heb 11:3).

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

We believe that God created man and woman as uniquely created beings on the sixth day of the creation week.  Both man and woman are created in the image of God, and therefore possess special qualities that distinguish the human race from all other creatures that God made.   While man and woman are equal in personhood and standing before Him, His design is for each to function according to different divinely ordained roles and responsibilities in a marriage relationship.  Those roles and relationships are defined, described, and illustrated in Scripture.   (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7, 18-25; Eph 5:22-33)

Marriage

We believe that God’s Word establishes marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, designed to illustrate the relationship of Christ with His Bride, the Church.  We further believe that God has commanded that a man and a woman should not engage in intimate sexual activity outside of a marriage relationship.  We believe that any form of incest, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgender activity, bestiality, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.  (Eph 5:22-33; Rom 1:24-32; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Lev 18:1-30)