What We Believe

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have been given by the verbal plenary inspiration of God and therefore are inerrant (Ps. 19:7-13; 119:89,105). They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

They are fully inspired by God and therefore serve as the authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life, and ministry (2 Timothy. 3:15-17). The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded, or changed by tradition or any supposed later revelation (Isa. 8:20; Gal. 1:8-9). 

Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:29-33; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23). Correct understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the most accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition, and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating an understanding through the Word and applying the message to the heart ( 1 Cor. 2:7-16).

God is triune. There is but one God, infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love (Deut. 6:4; I Cor. 8:4,6; Isa. 44:6-8; 57:15; 1 John 4:8; Gen. 17:1; Ps. 145:3). 

In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are co-existent, co-equal, co-eternal (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14). 

The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is true Deity. The belief in one God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is the foundation of Christian faith and life (John 14:23, 25; 15:26; 16:13-15). 

God is the Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3; Ps. 33:9). By His Word, all things were made. Through the same Word, He daily sustains all of His creation (John 1:3,10; Col.1:15-17; Heb. 1:2-3; Ps. 147:13; Rom. 8:28; John 3:16). 

He made man for fellowship with Himself and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory (Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:12, 14, Rev. 4:11). As Creator, the Triune God fashioned the universe apart from any pre-existing materials and without any evolutionary process. (We affirm the historicity of the first eleven chapters of Genesis.)

Jesus Christ the Son is fully God and fully man. He is mankind’s only provision for forgiveness and redemption (John 1:1, 20:28; Col. 1:19; 1Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:14-18). 

He is the Word made flesh, meaning He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and perfect in nature, being, and obedience (John 1:14; Matt. 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:35; John 8:29; Heb 5:8). 

He shed His blood on the cross as the vicarious atonement for the sins of all mankind. He rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory (John 19:33-37; Rom. 4:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; 2 Cor 5:21; 1Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). 

He is the Head of His body the Church; He is Victor over all the powers of darkness. He reigns at the right hand of God the Father (Col. 1:8, 2:15; Heb. 1:3-4).

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; He unites man to Jesus Christ in faith; He brings about the New Birth; and He dwells within the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Holy Spirit, thus enabling them to grow in the experience of sanctification (John 16:8-11; 1 Cor. 12:13; John 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9- 11; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Cor. 3:17-18). 

The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges, and kings in ancient times; He anointed Jesus Christ for His ministry, filled the Church with power on the day of Pentecost, and will transform the mortal bodies of believers into the likeness of Jesus Christ’s glorious body (Phil. 3:21).

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. It was by man’s free volition that he disobeyed God, incurring physical and spiritual death (separation from God). (Rom. 5:12, 16-17; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:1-3; John 6:44). human being is born with a sin nature. Because of this each human is a sinner by nature and is in need of a divine salvation. (Gen. 1:26-27, John 3:3-7; Acts 4:12)

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God’s standard and breaking His commandments – and therefore are under God’s righteous judgment. Yet, God saves and gives new life to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, trusting in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus Christ died in our place as our substitute, absorbing God’s wrath that should have come upon us. 

Because Jesus died for the sins of the world the invitation to believe is open to all, and whoever desires may come unto Jesus for new life and the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20:21; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; I John 2:2; Revelation 22:17).

Salvation is the gift of God. Salvation is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1; Acts 16:31) and His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 3:25; 1 Cor. 15:1-2, Heb. 9:12 and 10:19; Rev. 1:5). Recognizing his need for a Savior and looking to Christ and His vicarious atonement for sin, man is born anew unto eternal life by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:4-7; Acts 3:19-21). 

There is absolutely no other name except Jesus Christ by which man may be saved (Acts 4:12). Through His great redemptive act, there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world, and freedom in His Spirit (Eph. 1:17; Gal. 6:14-15).

We believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the full-immersion water baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper/Communion. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is sent upon all who believe in Jesus Christ. This takes place in each believer at the moment of salvation. Continual infilling may follow. 

Each gift given by the Holy Spirit is for the edification of the Body of Christ, and is still present today. Lord's Supper or communion is offered to every born again believer. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

We believe that God created man and that He created them male and female. As such, He created them different so as to complement and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible consistent with the Old and New Testament (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11,18-20, 7:1-3,8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; I Timothy 1:9-11).

The fulfillment of the Great Commission is the responsibility of all believers. Believers are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He would send forth laborers into the world to preach the Gospel and to plant churches (Matt. 28:18-20).

The Church, which is the body and future bride of Christ, is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments / ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as the practice of good works (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:22; 5:23, 26,27; 1 Peter 2:5, 9- 10; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and to make disciples, bringing the Gospel into every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls, through the obedience to the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).

We believe in the pattern and principle of male leadership and responsibility in both the home and the church, according to the sacrificial example of Jesus. We believe this limits the roles of pastoral leadership and doctrinal authority to qualified men (I Corinthians 11:1-12; I Timothy 2:1-15). We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16).

Satan was created a perfect angelic being (Ezekiel 28:15). He rebelled against God (Ezekiel 28:15-18; Isaiah 14: 12-17). As a result, he became completely depraved and the leader of the host of angels who fell with him, and the adversary of God and God’s people (Revelation 12:4, 10-17; Revelation 13:7; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan has been defeated and judged at the Cross. He now awaits his ultimate doom at the second advent of Jesus Christ (John 16:11; Revelation 20:1-2, 7-10).

Jesus Christ will return to rapture His church. Immediately following this event will be the seven-year tribulation period. At the conclusion of this period Christ will return to the earth and establish His 1,000 year reign. At the end of Christ’s 1,000-year reign, Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The next event will be the Great White Throne judgment of the unsaved. Christ will then establish new heavens and a new earth. This will be the consummation of all things.

The consummation of all things include the following events: the rapture of the Church, period of tribulation on the earth; the second advent of Jesus with His 1000 year reign on the earth from Jerusalem; the white throne judgment of the unsaved (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3: 11-15; Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Zech 12:10 and 14:3-11; Rev 20:11-15). 

Satan with his hosts, and all humanity outside of Christ will be separated eternally from the presence of God, enduring eternal punishment in a literal hell (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:47-48; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). 

All who have been redeemed by Christ from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be present with Christ in the New Jerusalem with the new heaven and new earth forever (Rev. 21:1-4).