The Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, the complete and final revelation of the will of God to man and the supreme authority in all matters to which they speak.

Psalm 19:7-11; 119:105; John 5:39; 12:48;17:17; Romans 15:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12

We believe “The Holy Bible” constitutes that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, not only contains and conveys the Word of God,but IS the very Word of God.

Psalm 119:89, 160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Luke 24:25-27; II Peter 3:15-16; Revelation 22:18-19

We believe by “inspiration” 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.

Isaiah 30:8; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12-14; I Corinthians 2:11-14; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:20-21

God

We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Psalm 139:8; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Acts 17:24-29; I Corinthians 8:4; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 19:10

God The Father: We believe God the Father to be an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass, and continually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and events. This He does so as not to be the author and approver of sin, nor to abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. He has graciously chosen from all eternity those whom He would have as His own; He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; and He relates Himself to His own as their Father.

Genesis 1:1-31; Job 1:6; Psalm 103:19; 145:8-9; I Chronicles 29:11; John 1:12, 18; 8:38-44; Romans 11:33; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:5-9; I Peter 1:17

Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, and has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement,

His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into Heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people and His personal, visible, premillennial return from Heaven.

Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:25; 25:14; 28:6; Luke 1:26-35; 24:38-39; John 1:1-18, 29; 5:22-23,28-29; 10:15,27-30; 14:9-10, 19; Acts 1:9-11; 2:30-31; 17:30-31; Romans 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 5:8; 6:5-10; I Corinthians 3:10-15; 15:20, 23; II Corinthians 5:10, 14-15; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:18; 2:9; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25-26; 9:24; I Peter 1:19; 2:22, 24; 3:18; I John 1:3; 5:20; Jude 25; Revelation 20:1-15

Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality, and His work in regeneration, sanctification, and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service.

Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 6:8-9; 40:13-14; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 1:18; 28:19; John 3:5-7; 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4;Romans 12:3-8; Galatians 5:16-25; I Corinthians 12:1-14:39; II Corinthians 1:20-21; 3:6, 18; 13:14; Ephesians 1:13; 2:22; 4:30; 5:18; Hebrews 9:14; 10:15-17; II Peter 1:21; I John 2:20, 27

Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher form; that all animals and vegetable life were made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind”; and that this creation is intended for the pleasure and glorification of God. Genesis 1:3; Exodus 20:11; Job 38:4-12; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10-12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

Man: We believe God created Man, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We believe that man was created to walk in fellowship with God to glorify Him.

Genesis 2:15-25; Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; I Thessalonians 5:23; James 3:9; Revelation 4:11

Fall of Man: We believe that man, although created in innocence, by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless state and his fellowship with God. Consequently, all of mankind is not only born into sin but sins by choice. Therefore, all of mankind stands before God under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1 -19; Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:36; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12; 6:23; I Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Timothy 2:13-14; James 2:10; I John 1:8

Salvation

We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We further that this salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received by man through faith, apart from any human merit, works or ritual. We believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern.

Matthew 5:13-16; John 1:12; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Hebrews 11:6; I Peter 18-19

Regeneration: We believe that regeneration is a supernatural work performed in the life of man by the Holy Spirit. It is instantaneous and is initiated by a repentant heart expressing faith toward Jesus Christ. It will be manifested by good works and righteous attitudes bringing forth spiritual fruit.

John 3:3-7; 5:24; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians2:20; Ephesians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:16; II Peter 1:4-10

Justification: We believe that justification is a declaration by God that those who believe in Christ are righteous. This righteousness is not from any work of man but is the imputation of the righteousness of Christ to us.

Roman 3:26; 4:3-6; 8:33; I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:14; I Peter 3:18

Sanctification: We believe that sanctification is the “setting apart” of every believer unto good works. This work is positional in nature, stating our destiny. The believer will progressively grow toward this final state, being increasingly fashioned toward His image.

John 17:17-19; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:1-22; I Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:26; I Thessalonians 2:11; 4:3-4; 5:23; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14

Election: We believe that God chose in Christ those whom He saves and sanctifies before the foundation of the world. We believe election does not negate the individual responsibility of man, but it is by an act of the will that Christ is accepted as Savior. Although sovereign, God’s will does not exalt itself above His other attributes as revealed in Christ. Since these two perspectives of His provision of salvation are clearly presented in God’s Word, we must accept their relationship in the infinity of His wisdom.

Matthew 11:25-28; Mark 13:27; John 1:13; 3:16; 6:37, 44; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-33; 9:11-16; Ephesians 1:4-11; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Timothy 2:4; II Timothy 1:9; 2:10; I Peter 1:1-2; II Peter 3:9

Security: We believe that the power of God’s hand keeps all those who have accepted God’s gift of eternal life and that those once placed in God’s hand can never be taken out.

John 5:24; 6:37-50; 10:27-30; 17:15-20; Romans 5:9-10; 6:15-22; 8:1, 31-39; 13:13-14; I Corinthians 1:4-8; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; I Peter 1:5; Jude 24

Separation: We believe that since the initial fall of man, there has been a separation between those who would live in obedience to God and those who would walk in their own way. God has always demanded that His followers walk worthy of their calling so that His love, His power, and His grace would be made known unto all men.

Leviticus 19:2; John 15:15; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; I Corinthians 5:9-13; II Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1; Galatians 5:16; I Thessalonians 2:11-12; II Thessalonians 1:11-12; II Timothy 3:1-5; Hebrews 12:1-2; I John 2:15-17; II John 9:11

The Church

We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe that the Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe that this body fully expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, for instruction, for evangelism and for service.

Matthew 16:18; Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; I Corinthians 11:18-20; 12:12-13; II Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 1:2;Ephesians 1:22; 2:11-3:6; 4:15; 5:23-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; I Thessalonians 1:1; II Thessalonians 1:1; Hebrews 10:25; Revelation 19:7-8

Commission: We believe that God has commissioned the church to take the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. It is manifested in both the shared work and the living testimony of each believer, being validated before the world by love for one another.

Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19; Acts 1:8; 2:38-42; I Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 3:21; 4:12-16; II Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-17; I John 1:3

Ordinances: We believe that water baptism by immersion soon after accepting Christ as personal Savior is a testimony of death to sin and resurrection to a new life, and the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers and only believers should share in it.

Matthew 3:6; 16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:38-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-32; Colossians 2:12

Offices: We believe that the biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders, also called bishops or pastors; and deacons, both of whom must fit biblical qualifications.

Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 3:1 -13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:7, 17; I Peter 5:1-5

Authority: We believe that each local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or civil authority. We believe that every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life and that each should be free to choose to worship God by his own free will. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed.

Exodus 18:21-22; II Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28, 22:21, 23:10; Acts 4:19-20, 15:19-31,20:28, 23:5; Romans 13:7; I Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 1:15, 3:1,1 Peter 2:13-14, 17; 5:1-4

Stewardship: We believe that God has chosen to provide financially for His work by the faithful giving of His people.  Since God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, all that we have and are, we owe to Him. We believe Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are, therefore, under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and they should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the scriptures, Christians should contribute their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and generously for the advancement of our Lord’s kingdom on this earth.

Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 8:7; Philippians 4:1-6; Hebrews 7:2, 4

Angels

We believe that angels are created beings and, therefore, are not to be worshipped. They have been created for special purposes including the worship of God, special assignments, messenger and guardianship.

Genesis 19:1; 28:12; I Chronicles 21:15; Psalm 91:11-12; Isaiah 6:1-6; Daniel 9:21; 10:13; Matthew 4:6; Luke 2:9-14; John 20:12; Acts 6:15; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9

Fallen Angels: We believe that Satan is a created angel. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against the Creator, involving numerous angels in his fall and introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve. We believe that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man, the prince of this world who was defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.

Genesis 3:1-15; Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:10

Last Things

Death: We believe that the soul of man was created to exist for eternity, that upon death of the physical body, the non-material consciousness passes on to either eternal life with Christ for those who have believed on Him or eternal destruction for those who have rejected Him. We believe that there will be a resurrection for the redeemed to stand before God to receive their reward and a resurrection for the nonbelievers to stand at the judgment throne of God to receive eternal condemnation.

Job 3:11-19; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 10:28; 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; John 5:28-29; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; I Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54; II Corinthians 4:14; 5:8; Philippians 1:23-24; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 6:9-11; 20:1-15

The Rapture of the Church: We believe in the personal, bodily return of Jesus Christ in the air to receive His church, after which the church, as His bride, will be glorified and presented before the Father. During this time will be the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy concerning Israel’s 70th week, after which the church will return with Christ to establish His earthly kingdom.

Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 3:11-15; 15:51-53; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:15-5:11; Titus 2:11-13

The Tribulation Period: We believe that immediately following the calling out of the church, the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world. The climax of these judgments will be the Second Coming of Christ to the earth.

Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16:1-21

The Millennial Reign: We believe that Christ, in His Second Coming, will establish the earthly manifestation of His kingdom, will assume the throne of His father David, will conquer all of His enemies, and will subdue all of the earth. It will be during this time that Satan will be imprisoned, and peace with prosperity will abound.

Isaiah 11:1-16; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-27; Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-7

The Eternal State: We believe that once the final judgment is completed, God will destroy this present earth from which the former things will pass away, to make a new earth. All saints will dwell for eternity in the heavenly city that will descend to the new earth.

John 17:3; I Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:11-16; 5:5; II Peter 3:10; Revelation 21 & 22