THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed, the final authority for faith and life. (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Pet. 1:20,21; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 16:12,13)

 

THE GODHEAD

We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same divine nature and attributes, and totally worthy of our worship and service (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 1:14; John 10:30; II Cor. 13:14)

 

THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal, only begotten Son of God, who became man without ceasing to be God. Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, redeem sinful men, and forever continue true God and true man. (Jn. 1:1,2,14; Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:35)

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, being sinless, accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead after three days. (Rom. 3:24,25;4:24,25; I Pet. 1:3-5;2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Cor. 15:3,4)

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ physically ascended to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, serving as our High Priest, fulfilling the ministry of a Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts1:9,10; Heb. 1:3;9:24;7:25; Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:1,2)

 

We believe that Lord Jesus will return in the air to take and claim His bride, the Church. He will later come again to earth in physical bodily form to conclude human history and consummate God’s eternal plan by executing judgment and ushering in His Millennial Kingdom reign to be followed by the eternal state (Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 21-22).

 

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the primary Agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration. He is the Supernatural Agent of regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (His Church), in dwelling permanently, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Jn. 16:8-11; II Cor. 3:6-8; I Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph.1:13,14; I Cor. 6:19)

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:20,27; Eph. 5:18)

 

THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Adam, the first man, disobeyed God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him and his descendants from God. Man, therefore, is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition by his own merit or effort. (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 2:6,17, Gen. 3:17-24; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:9-19,23, Rom. 5:8;

 

THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN

We believe that Satan is a person, the instigator of evil, and a real spirit being, not simply the personification of evil. He is a fallen angel and the author of sin. Satan is under the sovereign permission of God and has been given temporary rulership of the earth until after the Millennial Kingdom, when he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. (Gen. 3:1-5; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Job 1-2; 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 11:14;1 Tim. 3:6; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; James 4:7; Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 7-10).

 

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood on Calvary and rose again on the third day that our sins might be forgiven and that we might have eternal life. Those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption,” being kept by the power of God. (Eph. 1:7:13-14; John 1:12-13, John3:1-7, John 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17;Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 8:14-17, Rom. 31-39; John 10:27-29,Rom. 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

 

THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS

We believe all the redeemed are secure in Christ forever and can never lose their salvation. (Jn. 6:37-49;10:27-30;Rom. 8:1,38,39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:5; II Tim. 1:12)

 

We believe God’s Word clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal.5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

 

Christian Life We believe that the saved should live in a way that does not bring reproach upon their Savior. That separation from religious apostasy, sinful pleasures, practices, and association is commanded by God. (II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom.12:1,2;14:13; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9,11; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:7-11)

 

We believe that sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God, expressed between one man and one woman (as genetically defined), within marriage (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5; Hebrews 13:4). Therefore any other form of sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gift (Leviticus 18:1-30; Proverbs6:32; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.

 

MISSIONS

We believe that it is the mandatory obligation of the saved to obey our Lord’s commandment to witness by making disciples as we proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1,2;14:13; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9,11; II Cor.6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:7-11)

 

THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe the gifts of evangelists, bishops, and teachers are given for the perfecting of saints today. Gifts, such as faith, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy, are also functional in the Church. Each believer should look to the Lord to bestow and develop His gifts. Sign miracles gradually ceased with the completion of the New Testament, such as the office of Apostle, gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation, and special wisdom and knowledge on a par with Scripture revelation. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11,27-31; 13:8-10; II Cor. 12:12; Eph.4:7-12; Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3,4)

 

We believe that the biblical offices of bishop and elder in the Church, or their equivalents, are restricted to biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accord to His own will for the sick and afflicted. (Jn.15:7; I Jn. 5:14,15; Jas. 5:14,15)

 

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is a spiritual organism comprised of all born-again persons of this present age. The Church is the body and the espoused bride of Christ (Eph. 1:19-23;5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2)

 

We believe that the establishment of local churches is taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts14:27;20:17,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

 

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

 

We believe the ordinances of believer’s water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as a scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age. (Mt. 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42;18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26)

 

We believe Christians are to be encouraged to unite with a Bible-believing church, accepting those sectarian or denominational practices that are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the Church is to make Christ known to lost men and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23, Eph. 4:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20; John 17; Col. 1:24-29).

 

DISPENSATIONALISM

We believe that the dispensations are stewardships by which God administers His purpose on the earth through man under varying responsibilities. The dispensations are not ways of salvation nor different methods of administering the so-called Covenant of Grace. Three of these –the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the millennial kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Jn. 1:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10;3:2-10; Col. 1:24,25; Heb. 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6)

 

THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST

We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones, and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16;20:1-6; I Th. 1:10;4:13-18;5:9; Rev. 3:10)

 

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment to be sentenced to everlasting punishment. (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 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 in bliss, awaiting their resurrection, whereupon soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. (Lk. 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23;3:20,21; I Th. 4:16,17)

 

We believe that the souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of condemnation and in misery until the second resurrection when the soul and body are reunited. They shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment at the close of the millennium and be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Lk. 16:19-26; Mt. 25:41-46; II Th. 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Mk. 9:43-48; Rev.20:11-15).