We believe that the
Bible is the written Word of God and that all sixty-six books
are fully inspired and absolutely inerrant in the original
manuscripts (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We believe that the
Scriptures were written by men under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
We believe that while
there may be several applications of any given passage of
Scripture, there is but one true interpretation found through
a diligent application of the literal grammatical-historical
method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy
Spirit (John 16:12-15; 1 John 2:20).
We believe that God has
preserved His Word as the supreme authority in all matters of
faith and conduct for every generation to properly apply. The
truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men
stand in judgment of it (Psalm 12:6-7; 119:105).
THE TRINITY
We believe that there
is one living and true God, eternally existing in three
Persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection,
equal in deserving of worship and obedience, and that they
execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of
creation, providence, and redemption (Matthew 28:19; 2
Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7).
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the
Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes
all things according to His own eternal purposes and grace in
perfect holiness, wisdom, power, and love (Ephesians 1:11;
Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is the only absolute and
omnipotent Ruler in the universe. He is sovereign in
creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Ephesians
3:9; Romans 11:33-36). As Creator, He is Father to all men
(Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual Father only to believers
(Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:5-6; Hebrews 12:5-9).
We believe that in His
sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin (James
1:13; Ezekiel 18:4; Habakkuk 1:13a), nor does He abridge the
accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (1 Peter
1:17). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom
He would have as His own (Ephesians 1:4-6), saving from sin
and the second death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ
(John 1:12; Romans 8:15).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus
Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the
divine excellencies of, and is coequal, consubstantial, and
coeternal with the Father (John 1:1-2; 10:30; 14:9).
We believe that God the
Father created all things according to His own will, through
His Son, Jesus Christ, by Whom all things continue in
existence and in operation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17;
Hebrews 1:2).
We believe that the
Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man (i.e.
the incarnation) without ceasing to be God, having been
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (John
1:14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8), in
order that He might reveal God, redeem sinful men, and rule
over God’s kingdom (Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:9-11; 1
Peter 1:18-19).
We believe that the
Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily accomplished our redemption
through His finished work on the cross. As the sinless Lamb
of God, He took upon Himself our sins and died in our place to
offer atonement for all who believe. The believer’s
justification is made sure by His literal, physical
resurrection from the dead (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans
3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 3:18).
We believe that the
Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at
the right hand of God (Acts 1:9-10), as the High Priest and
the only Mediator between God and man (Romans 8:34; Hebrews
7:25-26; 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1-2), the head of the
Church (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23; Colossians 1:18), and the
coming universal King who will reign on the throne of David
(Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31-33). He is the final Judge of all who
fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Matthew
25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the
Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is equal with
God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. We
recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2),
the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), the written revelation (2
Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7). He is
the Divine Person who reproves the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11).
We believe the Holy
Spirit is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing
all believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians
12:12-14), indwelling (Romans 8:9), sanctifying (2
Thessalonians 2:13), gifting (1 Corinthians 12:4-11),
empowering (Acts 1:8), and sealing them unto the day of
redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14); and that He is the abiding
Helper, Teacher, and Guide (John 15:26; 16:13-14).
MAN
We believe that man was
created in the image and likeness of God to bring Him glory,
to enjoy His fellowship, and to accomplish His will (Genesis
1:26-27; Revelation 4:11). But, when Adam sinned, the human
race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated
from God; therefore, man is totally depraved, and of himself,
utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Romans 3:22-23;
Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
We believe that all men
are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore under
condemnation (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:19, 23;
5:10-12).
We believe that every
individual possesses dignity, value, and a moral
responsibility to God in that man is created in God’s image
and that Christ died to redeem sinful man (Psalm 8:4-9;
Colossians 3:9-11).
SALVATION
We believe that all men
are sinners and that salvation is wholly of God’s grace. We
believe that men are justified by grace through faith alone
and are accounted righteous before God through the merit of
the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Romans
5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
We believe that eternal
life is the present possession of every true believer and that
all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power, sealed
by the Holy Spirit, and are thus secure in Christ forever
(John 6:37; 10:10; 27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
THE CHURCH
We believe that all who
place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone are set
apart as saints of God and are immediately placed by the Holy
Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, the bride
of Christ, of which Christ is the head (Romans 1:7; 1
Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32;
Revelation 19:7-8).
We believe that the
establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly
taught and defined in the New Testament where believers are
instructed to associate themselves together in local
assemblies (Acts 14:21-27; Romans 16:4). Each local church is
made up of like-minded believers who have been baptized upon a
credible profession of faith and are united for the purpose of
worship, evangelism, fellowship, teaching, and service
(Hebrews 10:24-25).
We believe that God
enabled the church to fulfill its purpose by giving two kinds
of gifts. First, the ministering gifts of the Holy Spirit are
given by God to every believer for the edification of the
church. These permanent gifts are designed to build up the
body of Christ and are still present today (Romans 12:3-8; 1
Corinthians 12:4-7). God appointed pastors and teachers (also
called bishops and elders) who are chosen men for each church
to shepherd, oversee, and equip the saints for the work of
ministry (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter
5:1-4). Second, the miraculous gifts, given for the purpose
of confirming the Apostle’s authenticity and message, came to
an end upon the completion of the New Testament. We believe
that speaking in tongues (languages) is not a necessary sign
of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that
God does not give certain individuals the gift of healing but
that He does heal and He frequently chooses to answer the
prayers of believers for specific acts of physical healing (1
Corinthians 13:8-10; 14:21-22; Ephesians 2:8-9; James
5:13-16).
We believe the supreme
authority for the church is Jesus Christ alone and that church
leadership, gifts, order, discipline and worship are all
appointed through His sovereignty as found in Scriptures (Acts
20:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:7, 17;
1 Peter 5:1-6).
We believe the
Scriptures teach that each church should be independent and
free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political
authority. It is scriptural for true churches to fellowship
and co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and
for the furtherance of the Gospel. Each local church is the
sole judge of the measure, extent, and method of such
co-operation (3 John 5-8; Titus 1:5).
We believe that the
Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local
church: baptism and the Lord’s Table. Christian baptism by
immersion is the public testimony of a believer picturing his
faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior (Matthew
28:18-20; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 8:35-39). Baptism is also a
sign of fellowship and identification with the local visible
body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42). The Lord’s Table was
instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death and
should only be observed following a careful self-examination
(Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). The church should
observe and administer these two ordinances until the return
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe God has
established the three institutions of government, church, and
family for the purpose of raising up individuals that are
self-governing under God (Proverbs 21:1; Romans 13:1-2;
Ephesians 5:23-27; Genesis 2:18-25).
We believe that the
civil government is established for the interests and good
order of human society and that Christians are to pray for,
honor, and obey the ruling public officials. The established
government is to be obeyed except in things opposed to the
will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Judge of all (Romans
13:3-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
We believe that the
church is established for the exaltation of Jesus Christ, the
edification of believers, and the evangelization of the lost
and that Christians are to faithfully attend, humbly serve,
and sacrificially give to the Lord’s work and His servants
(Hebrews 10:24-25; Galatians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1
Timothy 5:17-18).
We believe that the
family (husband and wife with/without children) is established
for the education, discipline, and welfare of its members
(Ephesians 5:22-33). We further maintain that God created man
and woman distinct in gender, purpose, and role within the
home, and that the relationship between man and wife is a most
solemn picture of Christ and His church. We stand opposed to
practices which violate the Biblical doctrine of the home,
including: divorce, by which man puts asunder what God has
joined together and corrupts a type of Christ (Malachi
2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-9); promiscuity, immorality, and
homosexuality, which substitutes depraved and unnatural acts
of lust for the holy and undefiled expression of marital love
(Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Thessalonians
4:1-8); the ordination of women, which denies the fulfillment
of the woman within her divinely endowed role of helper and
supporter, and usurps the headship and authority of the man (1
Corinthians 11:3, 8; Titus 1:6); abortion, which is the
destruction of the fruit of the womb and indeed the taking of
life (Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5); and
delinquency within the home, by which parents fail to exercise
godly authority and discipline over the children with whom God
has entrusted them (Ephesians 6:1-4). We stand ready to extend
our love and ministry to those who have been victimized by the
above practices which we stand opposed to, and for those who
have repented from such practices (Matthew 18; Galatians 6:1;
1 Corinthians 6:11).
We believe that every
individual should live for the glory of God and the well being
of his fellowman. All believers should be blameless before
the world, faithful stewards of all possessions, and they
should seek to realize for themselves and others the full
stature of maturity in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31;
Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 4:13).
LAST THINGS
We believe in the
bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and
the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew
25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation
20:5-12). The souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent
from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious
bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul,
and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (2
Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23). Upon death, the souls
of the unsaved await in conscious misery until the second
resurrection where they will be judged (Luke 16:19-26).
We believe the “Blessed
Hope” of our Lord’s return is the next event of God’s
prophetic calendar. Christ will come in clouds to catch away
His church. All the saved will meet Him in the air and
forever be with the Lord. This is called the Rapture (1
Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18;
Titus 2:11-13). Believers will then stand before the Judgment
Seat of Christ where their works will be judged, not for
salvation, but to determine rewards or the loss thereof (2
Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12).
We believe the Rapture
will be followed by seven years of Tribulation on the earth.
During this time, Satan will rule this world through his false
Messiah, the Antichrist, and God will pour out His wrath on
unrepentant humanity (Revelation 6:12-17; 13; 16:1).
We believe the
Tribulation period will culminate in the battle of Armageddon
where the Antichrist will gather his armies to oppose Christ
and His people. At that time, the Lord Jesus will return to
earth followed by His saints (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah
14; Joel 3:9-16). He will defeat and judge those who have
rejected Him, cast the Antichrist into the Lake of Fire, and
bind Satan. Christ will then set up His Millennial Kingdom
and reign on earth for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-7).
We believe that after
the Millennium, Satan will be loosed and lead a last rebellion
against God. Christ will then cast Satan into the Lake of
Fire that was prepared for him and his angels. All
unbelievers will be raised and stand before the Great White
Throne Judgment where they will be condemned for their failure
to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. They will be cast into the
Lake of Fire to suffer eternal punishment (Revelation
20:7-15).
We believe that all
believers will spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven, a place
specifically prepared for those who love Him. There they will
live in glorious bliss worshipping and serving the Lord
forever (John 14:1-6; Revelation 21-22).