Statement of Faith
The Scriptures: We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired and that it is truth without any admixture of error for its matter. It is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man. It is the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
- By the HOLY BIBLE we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
- By INSPIRED we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired, and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
- While we recognize that there are other accurate translations of the Bible, our standard for preaching, teaching, and memorizing will be the King James Version of the Bible.
(II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21, Psalm 119:160, Matthew 5:18, Isaiah 8:20)
The True God: We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3, Genesis 17:1, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 28:19, John 14:26, 15:26, II Corinthians 13:14, I Peter 1:2, Revelation 4:11)
The Person and Work of Christ: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem man. He was conceived as no other man was ever conceived or can ever be conceived by the Spirit of God, and He is both the Son of God, and God. (John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:18-25, I John 5:20)
We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross as the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (I John 2:2, I Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 4:25)
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor and Advocate. (Hebrews 7:25, I John 2:1)
The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation of the world. He restrains the evil one in this present age. He convicts of sin, of judgement, and of righteousness; and He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in the New Birth. He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. The gifts of tongues and healing were "sign-gifts" until the Scriptures were completed. The sign gifts ceased at that time. (Genesis 1:1-3, John 14:26, 15:8-13, II Thessalonians 2:1-8, Ephesians 4:30, I Corinthians 13:8, Mark 16:20)
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at conversion, and is that sovereign act by which the individual is organically and vitally joined into Christ and His Body. We believe the filling of the Holy Spirit may occur many times, and is essentially a matter of faith and surrender. (John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Hebrews 9:14, 10:14-15, Ephesians 5:18)
The Devil, or Satan: We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after him a host of angels. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the chief power behind the present apostasy. He is the lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all the powers of darkness. He is destined to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and the judgement of everlasting fire in a place prepared for him and his angels.
It is the duty of the believer to resist the devil. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:9, 20:10, Ephesians 2:2, Matthew 25:41, I Peter 5:8, James 4:7)
Creation: We believe in the literal Genesis account of creation, and that man was created directly in God's image and after His own likeness. All living things were made directly by God, and God's established law is that they should bring forth only "after their kind." (Genesis 1:1, 11, 26-27, John 1:3)
The Fall of Man: We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by the voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 1:32, 5:12, Ezekiel 18:19-20)
The Atonement for Sin: We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God. He, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust. Christ the Lord bore our sins in His own body on the cross. Having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven. Uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. (Ephesians 2:8, Matthew 18:11, Philippians 2:7-8, Isaiah 53:4-12)
Grace in the New Creation: We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. When a person is born again he becomes a new creation in Christ. We believe that this new creation is instantaneous and not a process.
When a person is born again he passes from death to life. He was formerly dead in trespasses and sins but now is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. This new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. The proper evidence of this new creature in Christ is repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3, II Corinthians 5:17, Luke 5:27, II Peter 1:4)
The Freeness of 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, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:12, I Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 11:1)
Justification: We believe that the believing sinner is justified by faith. This justification gives the believer right standing with God, imputing Christ's righteousness. Justification is not secured by works of righteousness which we have done but comes solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. (Acts 13:39, Isaiah 53:11, Titus 3:5-7, Romans 1:17)
Repentance and Faith: We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. The Spirit convicts the sinner of his guilt, his danger, his helplessness, and his need for salvation. In contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, the sinner receives Christ as his only and all-sufficient Savior. (Acts 20:21, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:37-38, Romans 10:9-10)
The Church: We believe that the local church is composed of baptized believers who voluntarily unite together for worship, fellowship, growth, and service. Our service centers around the commission of Christ to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. We believe that the Lord gave two ordinances to the church to observe "til He come." The first of these is baptism by immersion and the second is The Lord's Table. (Ephesians 5:25-27, Colossians 1:18, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 6:3-5, I Corinthians 11:2,23-26)
Perseverance and Security of the Saint: We believe that genuine believers endure unto the end, which distinguishes them from superficial professors. The true saint is kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. We believe the redeemed are secure in Christ forever. (John 8:31-32, Romans 8:1,35-39, John 10:27-30, I Corinthians 1:8, Jude 24, I John 2:19)
Things to Come: We believe that this age will culminate in the rapture of the Church, followed by seven years of unprecedented trouble on the earth (The Tribulation, also called the time of Jacob's trouble, and Daniel's seventieth week) which will be followed by the personal return of The Lord Jesus Christ and His saints to establish the Millennial reign of Christ. At the close of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a little season, will again (briefly) deceive the nations, but will meet his doom in the lake of fire. The Great White Throne of God's judgement will then take place. Following this there will be a new heaven and a new earth "wherein dwelleth righteousness." We believe in the everlasting conscious torment of the lost and the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved. (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:25-27, 12:1-3, Malachi 3:16-18, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Corinthians 15:51-53, Matthew 24:29-31, Luke 1:30-33, Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10, Psalm 2, Revelation 20-22)
Israel: We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people and that Israel has been dispersed because of disobedience and rejection of Christ. Israel is being regathered in the Holy Land, though evidently in unbelief. Israel will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. (Genesis 13:14-17, Romans 11:1-32, Ezekiel 37)
Separation: We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God. (Romans 12:1-2, 14:13, I Corinthians 6, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Hebrews 12:1-2, I John 2:15-17, II John 9-11)
Lawsuits Between Believers: We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Corinthians 6:1-8, Ephesians 4:31-32)
Divorce and Remarriage: We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the office of pastor or deacon. (Malachi 2:14-17, Matthew 19:3-12, Romans 7:1-3, I Timothy 3:2,12, Titus 1:6)
Human Sexuality: We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9, Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:26-29, I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-20, I Thessalonians 4:1-8, Hebrews 13:4)
We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24, Romans 7:2, I Corinthians 7:10, Ephesians 5:22-23, 25)
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:18, I Timothy 2:8-15, 3:1-15)
Abortion: We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustifiable, inexcusable taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Psalm 51:5, 139:14-16, Isaiah 44:24, 49:1,5, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 1:44)
Civil Government: We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7, Ephesians 5:22-24, Hebrews 13:17, I Peter 2:13-14)
Gifts, Giving, and Missions: We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. The gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teacher are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. We believe that speaking in tongues, and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Corinthians 12:4-11, II Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:7-12)
We believe Scriptural giving is expected of all saints. We believe that a tithe is only the beginning of giving, and that God loves a cheerful giver. (Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:10, Acts 4:34-37, I Corinthians 16:2, II Corinthians 8:1-9, 9:6-7, 9:8-15, Hebrews 7:2-4)
We believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and that this Great Commission is given to the churches. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:13-15)