The Scriptures
We believe that “all Scripture is inspired by God,” by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture.
We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings - historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical - as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the original is therefore without error. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
The Godhead: The Holy Trinity
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God, representing the same nature, attributes and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience.
(Matthew 28:18,19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).
God the Father
We believe that God the Father is the Creator and that He continues to sustain and preserve all things. In His nature He is completely holy, all powerful, all knowing, omnipresent, eternal, just, and loving. He is totally sovereign in all things past, present and future. As such, He, by His own choosing, elected a people for Himself. He is the Author and Finisher of His people and is their provider and disciplinarian. (Psalm 139:1-18; Matthew 6:30-32; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:16; 1 John 1:5).
God the Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God to man and redeem sinful man. We believe that He accomplished our redemption and salvation by His literal, physical death and resurrection from the dead.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted at the right hand of God where, as High Priest, He is the Intercessor and Advocate for His people. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25; Hebrews 1:3; John 2:1,2).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is that Person of the Trinity who restrains evil in the world and convicts men of sin, righteousness and judgment. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior and Lord, baptizing them at the moment of salvation into the Body of Christ, the church. He indwells them permanently and seals them unto the day of ultimate redemption. The Holy Spirit bestows upon the believer spiritual gifts.
The Holy Spirit leads, instructs, and fills believers as they are yielded to Him and are steadfast in the study of the Scriptures and in prayer. In all these, it is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to give the glory to Jesus Christ. (John 3:8, 14:16,17, 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 14:20-25; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The Angels and Satan
We believe that angels are spiritual beings who were created a sinless state. We believe that Satan, the Devil, is a fallen angel who, along with others, by their own choice, became the enemies of God, and were the originators of sin. We believe that Satan tempted our first parents into sin and rules as the god of this world. Satan was judged guilty at the cross, and ultimately he will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. (Hebrews 2:13,14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:12, 20:10; Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:1-19).
The Creation and Fall of Man
We believe that man was originally created in the image after the likeness of God, and that he fell through sin, and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of Satan. We also believe that this spiritual death, or total depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, the Man Christ Jesus alone being excepted; and hence, that every child of Adam is separated from God apart from divine grace. (Genesis 1:26, 2:17, 6:5; John 3:18; Romans 3:10-19,23, 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3).
Salvation by Grace and Eternal Security
We believe that salvation, the gracious gift of God, is freely offered to all, but individually received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His shed blood provides for the forgiveness of sin and satisfies all God’s righteous demands for our salvation. Salvation by grace through faith, of necessity, excludes all of man’s attempts to procure salvation by the meritorious efforts of any kind, including baptism, partaking of the communion meal, good works, or any such things. All the redeemed, having been born again, are retained in that state by the power of God and are, therefore, secure in Christ forever, without interruption. The believer’s assurance of salvation is based upon the declared Word of God and reassured by the Holy Spirit. (John 3:16-18, 10:26-30; Romans 3:24-26, 6:23, 8:1,16,38-39; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-13).
Sanctification
We believe that having been justified once and for all through the death and resurrection of Christ, the believer is counted righteous before God, and in Christ is set apart unto God. However, since the believer retains the flesh as unredeemed, there is the need for progressive sanctification (spiritual growth) whereby the Christian matures in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the child of God will be wholly sanctified only when he is taken to be with Christ and becomes like Him. (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-26, 6:13-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10-14; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2,3).
The Church
We believe that the universal Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism comprised of all born again persons from Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church, and is distinct from Israel. We believe that the local church is an assembly of professing believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purpose of worship, instruction, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, and prayer; thereby, to be equipped for Christian service and evangelism. (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:3-10; Hebrews 10:24-25).
The Great Commission
We believe, as our Lord commanded, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Therefore, a purpose in the life of the believer should be to make Christ known to the whole world. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Peter 2:11).
The Ordinances
We believe that Christ instituted the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by believers until He returns.
We believe in baptism by immersion for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with his Savior in His death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward sign of an internal reality.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’ death by which He established the New Covenant, the elements being symbols of His Body and Blood. Every professing Christian in good standing has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper, but participation should be preceded by solemn self-examination. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:7-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30).
The Dispensation
We believe in the normal interpretation of the Bible which recognizes the various dispensations to be different administrative relationships of God to His people. Three of these dispensations are subject to extensive revelation in the Scripture, namely the dispensation of Mosaic Law, the present dispensation of Grace (the Church Age) and the future dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom. In every age, salvation is the gift of God by grace which is obtained through faith and based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:10, 3:2-11; Colossians 1:25; Hebrews 11:6).
Events of the End Times
We believe in the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself all those, dead or alive, who belong to Him. This is the Blessed Hope which is the Rapture of the Church, for which all believers should be constantly looking.
We believe that the spirit of the believer in Jesus Christ passes immediately into His presence at death and remains there in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the Church. At that time, the spirit and new body shall be united and shall be associated with Him forever in glory. We believe that the spirit of the unbeliever remains in conscious torment in Hades until the final judgment, when body and spirit shall be reunited and cast into the Lake of Fire, not be destroyed, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord. (Luke 16:19-26, 23:43; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52; Phillipians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 20:11-15).
Christian Liberty
We believe that it is not for believers to seek to dictate to others in those areas of life for which Scriptural precepts or principles are not clearly given. In all such matters of conduct and conscience we believe the Christian is to be responsible to God. We believe that all the earth is the Lord’s, that it is good, and that nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude. All things are lawful but not all things are profitable. In this liberty, the Christian is free, yet bound, to live a life pleasing to God, striving to conform to His will.
Consequently, as Christians, we are to maintain open harmony with fellow believers. We are to bear one another’s burdens, doing so in love, responding not only in word, but in deed and in truth. In all these things we are to hold a good reputation before the world, for the sake of the Gospel. (Romans 14:3,4,8,12,21,22; 1 Corinthians 8:10,13, 9:19; Galatians 5:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Peter 2:5,9;1 John 3:11-24)
Inviting you to listen to Jesus' call and answer with your life.
