Beliefs (printable)
Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed, and therefore are the Final Authority for faith and life. We believe that the Holy Scriptures never contradict themselves and that they must at all times be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. See, among others, Psalm 12:6; Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33; II Timothy 3:16; Matthew 4:4; II Peter 1:18 - 21; Revelation 22:18, 19.
God
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth, inexpressively glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love, and that, in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit (both names being synonymous and used interchangeably in Scripture), equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. See, among others, Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; I John 5:7.
Jesus
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became Man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and virgin-born of Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. See, among others, Isaiah 7:14; 6:9; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. See, among others, Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5.
We believe that the 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 Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. See, among others, Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2.
Holy Ghost
We believe that the Holy Spirit (or “Holy Ghost”) is a divine Being equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation. Presently, He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, bearing witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. See, among others, Genesis 1:1,2; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; Psalm 76:10; II Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8, 9, 12-16.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Agent in the New Birth, and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. See, among others, John 14:16-17; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16; Romans 8:26-27.
Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, that he is the author of all the powers of darkness, and that he is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire. See, among others, Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10.
Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six approximately twenty-four (24) hour periods. We reject “evolution” and all evolutionary type hypotheses. We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution or any other act, cause, or force. See, among others, Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11; John 1:3.Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3.
Sin
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, and, in consequence of which, all mankind have been and are now sinners, not only by birth, but also by choice and, therefore, in need of Christ’s salvation, before which they are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. See, among others, Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:19.
Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8,9) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God (I Timothy 2:5), Who, by the appointment of the Father (Acts 2:23), freely took upon Him our nature (Philippians 2:5-8), yet without sin (II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18), honored the divine law by His personal obedience (Hebrews 5:7-9), and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53:10,11; Hebrews 9:24-28).
We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. We believe that the repentant sinner, by virtue of the new birth, is a new creation in Christ Jesus. We believe that the new birth is instantaneous and not a process. See, among others, John 3:3; John 5:24; I John 5:1; II Corinthians 5:17.
We believe that, in the new birth, the one who is dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life as the free gift of God. See, among others, Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1,8,9.
We believe that salvation and justification is bestowed, not in consideration of any work of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, and thereby His righteousness is imputed to us. See, among others, Romans 5:9; Romans 5:1.
We believe that salvation involves repentance – a turning from sin, cf. Psalm 19:7; Matthew 18:3; Acts 3:19, and faith – a turning to Christ, cf. Acts 15:3; we believe that faith and repentance in the Lord Jesus Christ comprise the only conditions for salvation. See, among others, Acts 16:31; Hebrews 6:1. We believe that when an individual, realizing – confessing – that he is a sinner, turns from sin – repentance – and turns to Christ – faith, Christ will save him. See, among others, Acts 16:31 and Romans 10:9,10,13.
Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. See, among others, Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29; John 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6,12-13.
We believe that 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 at such time their spirits, souls, and bodies are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. See, among others, Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6.
Heaven and Hell
We believe in a literal Heaven where God in His holy omnipotence reigns supremely and where the saved will spend eternity with the Lord. See, among others, John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-4. We believe that the Bible teaches the real existence of a literal burning Hell. See, among others, Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 9:17; Isaiah 5:14; Matthew 10:28; 23:33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 16:19-30; Revelation 20:14,15.
Church
We believe that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. See, among others, Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:15-18.
We believe that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel and that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. See, among others, Romans 15:22-32; II Corinthians 8:1-15; 11:9.
Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is commanded by Christ, not as a part of salvation, but as an early step of obedience after salvation testifying to the fact of salvation. We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith and identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our reckoned death to sin and spiritual resurrection to a new life. See, among others, Matthew 3:13-15; 28:18,19, Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-6.
Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper, like Baptism, carries no mystical powers and conveys no special blessing in and of itself other than such blessings God wishes to bestow upon His obedient children. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, through the unleavened bread, is symbolic of the broken body of the Lord Jesus, and, through the unfermented juice of the grape, is symbolic of Christ’s shed blood, both of which – His body and His blood – were the essential elements sacrificially offered for our salvation. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination and the rectifying of any area of disobedience such self-examination under the leadership of the Holy Spirit would reveal. See, among others, I Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; I Corinthians 10:16,17; I Corinthians 11:23-32.
Security of the Believer
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father through the sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit for Jesus Christ forever. See, among others, Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; II Corinthians 1:18-22; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Jude 1.
Rapture
We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture believers prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom as promised to the nation of Israel. See, among others, Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:1-6.
Bible
We believe that God has preserved His Word for us in English with the Authorized Translation of the Bible, sometimes referred to as the “Authorized Version” or the “King James Version.” Psalm 12:6, 7; 100:5; 119:89; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
Tongues
We believe that the word “tongues” in the New Testament refers to “languages,” not an ecstatic emotional chatter; it was used as a sign primarily to the unbelieving Jews; and was used for winning the lost rather than the glorifying of self. We believe that, as practiced today, tongues, dreams, visions, prophecies, etc., are “extra Biblical messages” which are to be avoided, because the Bible says not to add to or take away from the Word of God. We believe the Bible clearly teaches that speaking in tongues is not to be confused with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, for all true believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ at salvation, and those who do not have the Spirit of Christ are not His at all. See, among others, Mark 16:17; Acts 2:3,6,8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; I Corinthians 14:22; II Corinthians 10:31; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:5,6; Revelation 22:18,19.
Christian Education
We believe that Scripture teaches that it is the responsibility of the family to provide for the Christian education for their children, even if they employ teachers to help in this endeavor. See, among others, Deuteronomy 6:6-9; II Timothy 1:5; 3:15.
Testimony
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner so 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 of God. See, among others, Deuteronomy 30:11-18; Amos 3:3; Matthew 5:34-37; 6:24; Romans 6:1,2,12-16; 12:1-2; 13:11-14; 14:13; 16:17,18; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Ephesians 5:2-21; 1 Timothy 4:1,2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11.
As part of our commitment to one another, we encourage and exhort our fellow believers to enjoy and appreciate the purest and best music, not only as part of our public worship, but also as part of our private devotional life. Created by God as spiritual beings to enjoy Him and His fellowship forever, we will respond, consciously or not, to the stimulus of music as it affects our spirits, positively or negatively. If the music is genuinely good, with or without lyrics or words, we will be uplifted and blessed. Music, however, which is less than intrinsically good panders to our flesh and we know is at enmity with God, and we will be pulled down and drawn away from our Lord. We believe that Scripture confirms that music is not amoral. Therefore, it is part of our Christian duty to develop an understanding and appreciation for that kind of music that will increase our faith and joy and avoid that which appeals to our old carnal natures. We must therefore conclude from its origins and its effects that rock music, even when labeled or disguised as “Christian” rock or “CCM” (Contemporary Christian Music), is at work within and outside of the local church to lure young and old alike into a life of dulled conscience, insensitivity to the quiet leadership and conviction of the Holy Spirit. See, among others, John 3:6; Romans 7:18; Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:16,17; Psalm 40:3; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Philippians 4:8; Romans 13:14.
Marriage
We believe that God has ordained marriage. The only legitimate marriage is the joining of one natural gender man and one natural gender woman in a formalized committed familial relationship. Therefore, we believe that any and all forms of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, polygamy, pornography, and such like are sinful perversions of God’s gift of intimacy. 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, such as pastors and deacons, of the church. We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. See, among others, Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5,13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Malachi 2:14-17; Romans 1:26-29; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9; I Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Timothy 3:4-5,12; Hebrews 13:4.
Sanctity of Life
We believe that since the Garden of Eden, all mankind, originally created in the image of God – Genesis 1:27, begins life at conception – Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:5, and that the unborn child from conception on is a living creature, also created in God’s image, with an eternal soul for whom Christ died – Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:6,8-21.
Ecumenism
We are therefore compelled to resist any and all attempts as a church to cooperate ecumenically with the “moderate,” or “liberal,” or apostate denominations or movements who reject the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture, the virgin birth and absolute deity of Jesus Christ, the creation of man by the direct act of God, the fall and depravity of man, the efficacy of the blood atonement, the literal bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead, salvation by grace through faith without and apart from works, and the Christian imperative to live a holy life before the world. See Deuteronomy 4:2; I Corinthians 16:22; II Timothy 3:1 - 17; 4:1- 5; Jude 3, 4.
Evangelism
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned believers in the churches to take the gospel to the world, and that evangelism and church-planting at home and abroad should be primary in the program of the local church which includes the baptism and instruction of believers. See, among others, Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 15:16; Acts 1:8.