The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible as originally written was verbally inspired from Genesis to Revelation and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and, therefore, has truth without any possibility of error of its contents. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standing by which all human conduct, creed, and opinion shall be tried. We believe God has preserved His Word through the ages. Deut. 4:1-4; Ps. 19:7-11; Ps. 89; Ps. 105; Matt. 5:17-18; I Pet. 1:25; Rev. 22:19; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:19-21; Heb. 4:12; II Pet. 3:1-2, 15-16

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The True God

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an infinite Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth. He is expressively glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, love and worship. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection. They execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Gen. 1:1-2, 26-27; I Cor. 8:5-6; Deut. 6:4; John 4:24; Rev. 4:11; Ps. 90:12; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 9:5, 15-18 & 11:33-36; I Cor 12:4-6

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Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin. He lived with mankind, yet without sin. We believe Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice. He shed his blood for the remission of our sins that all who believe in Him are justified. Today He lives in heaven at the right hand of God the Father, ever making intercession for us as our great high priest. He alone stands as the mediator between man and God. Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Phil. 2:5-11; Rom. 3:24-26 & 5:1; I Col. 15:3-4; Heb. 4:14-16 & 9:14-18, 24

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The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person along with God the Father and God the Son. He was active in creation and His relation to the unbelieving world is that He restrains the evil until God's purposes are fulfilled. He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in the new birth. He seals, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believers. We believe certain of the spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues were temporary gifts needed only in the beginning of the church and have ceased and are not to be expected today. John 3:8, 14, 16; John 15:26-27; John 16:7-15; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 12:4-13 & 13:8-11; Eph. 4:3 & 5:18; Rev. 22:17; II Thes. 2:13

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The Fall of Man

We believe man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker. By voluntary transgression, man fell from his sinless and happy state. In consequence of which all mankind are now sinners not only by constraint but by choice. Therefore man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18-32 & 5:10-19; Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 51:5; I Cor. 2:14

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Salvation

We believe salvation is totally a work of God for man and not a work of man for God. Salvation includes every divine undertaking by God necessary to deliver the believing sinner from his lost estate until his final presentation in glory. These divine undertakings would include God's grace, election, and calling, Christ's redemption and reconciliation. The Holy Spirit's sanctifying regenerating in order to bring about man's faith, repentance, and conversion. Therefore we stand justified, forgiven, and adopted into the family of God. We are preserved by God and sealed by the Spirit of God, interceded for by Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, unto the day of glorification. Eph. 1:4-14 & 2:8-10, 13-19; John 1:12-13 & 3:5-7, 16-19; I Pet. 1:23; Rom. 8:28-39; II Thes. 2:13; II Cor. 5:17-21; Heb. 4:4-16 & 10:10-18

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Separation

We believe in the Biblical doctrine of separation, which encompasses three things. 1. Ecclesiastical (church) separation being the separation of the local church from all affiliation, and partnership with those who deny the truths of the "faith once delivered to the saints" and the separation of the individual believer who "walks disorderly." 2. Personal separation being the separation of the individual believer from all sinful practices that may dishonor the name of Jesus Christ and His church. 3. The separation of the church and State, being that the State has no governing authority over the church and the church receives no funding from the State with the purpose of co-operative efforts. We want to be lovingly engaged “in” the world, but not conformed to the thinking and practices “of” the world. John 17:9-18, II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1-2 & 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 1:9-11; II Cor. 6:11 & 7:1; II Thes. 3:14-15; Rom. 16:17

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The Local Church

We believe that the local church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. It is to observe the ordinances of Christ and is governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined by the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the local church is the faithful carrying out of the great commission. We hold that the local church has absolute right of self government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit. 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. We believe that each church may decide the measure and methods of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the church, led by the Holy Spirit, is final. Acts 2:41-42; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11-13; Eph. 5:23-24; I Cor. 11:2; I Tim. 3:16; Titus 1:6-9 & 2:1-15; Col. 1:18

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Church Ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has instituted two ordinances--Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Communion. These ordinances are to be observed by all believers until His return. We believe baptism is the total immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to show forth the believer's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection and that it is a Scriptural prerequisite to church membership. We believe the Lord's supper is the partaking of unleavened bread and grape juice, being the unfermented fruit of the vine as symbols of Christ's sinless and pure body and blood. This supper commemorates Christ suffering and death for us and thus should be proceeded by careful self-examination. Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41 & 8:36-39; 1 Cor. 11:22-32. Matt. 26:26-30

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The Devil or Satan

We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy ruler of this age and the author of all powers of darkness. That he originally was Lucifer, the angel of light who guarded the throne of God but rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. His final destination is to be judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-19; Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; 11:14; Eph. 6:11-12; I Pet. 5:8-9; Rev. 20:10

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Angels

We believe angels were created by God and were good in their original state. Angels are ministering spirits and God's messengers executing the purposes and judgments of God. Fallen angels, however, work for Satan and will share in his destiny. Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:31; Jude 1:6, 11, 28; Matt. 4:11 & 13:41-42; Heb, 1:13-14; Rev. 12:9; II Pet. 2:4

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Demons

We believe demons are apparently unclean spirits, which seek embodiment to work their greatest evil. They are degenerate and malicious and very debased. They work for Satan and will bring physical and mental affliction on man and produce impurity. Unbelieving people can become demonically possessed, but the Christian cannot be demonically possessed because of the Spirit of God indwelling them. The Christian can be demonically oppressed. Luke 9:38-42; Mark 5:10-13; Matt, 12:24-27; II Pet. 2:10-12

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The Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society. We believe that magistrates are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ who stands as Lord over all people and governments. The government exists for the benefit of those who do good and the executer of judgment to those who are evil. Governments stand responsible for their actions to God. Christians, being consecrated to God, must live in peace as much as possible as they live-out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of peace, love, and prayer. 1 Tirn. 6:15; Rom. 12:16-21 & 13:1-14, 17; I Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Pet. 2:11-17; Col. 3:18 & 4:2; Dan. 1:1-8 & 3:17-18; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:20; Acts 23:5

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Christ's Second Coming

We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth. From Scripture, this is our understanding of the order of events: 1) The rapture of the church; 2) The tribulation period of seven years here on the earth; 3) Meanwhile, saints sit at reward seat judgment of Christ in heaven and enter into marriage with Christ as His bride; 4) Christ then returns to the earth with His bride for the battle of Armageddon; 5) The judgment of nations; 6) Satan bound in the pit; 7) Christ begins His millennial reign on earth; 8) Satan will be released from the pit and challenge God for one last battle called the battle of Gog and Magog; 9) Satan will be cast into the lake of fire; 10) The great white throne judgment, where all unbelievers will be judged; 11) God will create a new heaven and earth where we shall dwell with Him forever. I Thes. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:51-58; II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:11-15; Rev. 19:7-9; Dan. 9:24-27; Matt. 24:15-28; Rev. 16:1-14; I Thes. 5:1-3; Matt. 24:16-31; Rev. 16:13-16 & 19:11-19; Matt. 25:31-41; Rev. 20:1-3; I Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:7-15; Isa. 65:17; II Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1

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