The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was verbally and fully inspired of God, and the product of Spirit-controlled men. It, therefore, is the perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, especially concerning how sinful man can be saved, and has truth without any mixture of error for its matter (II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:21; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psalm 119:11; Romans 3:1-2; I Peter 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Romans 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39; Proverbs 30:5-6; John 17:17; Revelation 22:18-19; Romans 3:4).
We believe that the Bible reveals the principles by which God will judge us, is the true center of Christian union, and is the only true standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (Romans 2:12; John 12:47-48; I Corinthians 4:3-4;
Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48; Philippians 3:16; 2:1-2; Ephesians 4:3-6; I Corinthians 1:10; I Peter 4:11; I John 4:1, 6; Isaiah 8:20;
I Thessalonians 5:21; Acts 17:11; II Corinthians 13:5; Jude 3; Ephesians 6:17; Psalms 119:59-60; Philippians 1:9-11).
The True God
We believe that there is one and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, trust, love, and worship (John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 45:21-22; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; I Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13).
We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 3:16-17; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14;
I John 5:7; Luke 1:35); that each person in the Trinity is equal in
every divine perfection (John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 20:28; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6); and that each person in the Trinity executes distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption (Ephesians 2:18; 1:3-14;
II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5; 2:7).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born of woman, and that He is both perfect God and perfect man, the Son of God, and God the Son (Genesis 3:15;
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalms 2:7; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, baptizes, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer in accordance with the Scriptures
(John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11&13; 15:25-27; 3:5-6; 1:33;
Matthew 28:19; 3:11; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; Genesis 1:1-3; II Thessalonians 2:7&13; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; Romans 8:16, 26-27; I Peter 1:2).
We believe that the “sign gifts” of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues, the gift of healing, and the gift of prophecy were temporary gifts that ceased when the Bible was completed at the end of the apostolic era (I Corinthians 13:8-10;
II Corinthians 12:12).
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in holiness, in the image of God, under the law of his Maker (Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:16-17; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:24-29), and that man by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state (Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12).
As a result, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice (Psalm 51:5; 14:1-2; Romans 5:12-19; 8:7; 3:9-18, 23; Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 6:5, 12).
Man is, therefore, utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God and positively inclined to evil. As a result he is under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse before God (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:18-32; 2:1-16; 3:19;
Galatians 3:10, 22; Ezekiel 18:19-20).
Salvation
The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Himself our human nature and the sins of the whole world, and paid the price of our redemption. By His suffering, death, and resurrection He completely satisfied God’s just demands for the sin of man, and now sits on the right hand of the Father as our all-sufficient Savior and intercessor
(John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-21; Hebrews 10:4-14; Isaiah 53:4-5;
I John 2:1-2; Hebrews 7:25).
Salvation by Grace
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone and that no works or human effort, however noble, can contribute to man’s salvation (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13).
Justification
We believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and that His righteousness is given not in consideration of any works of righteousness that man has done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s shed blood
(Romans 3:24; 4:5; 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9).
The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel, and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own voluntary rejection of the Gospel. It is, therefore, the duty of all to accept God’s offer of salvation immediately (Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Luke 14:17; Acts 17:30; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matthew 23:37).
Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again. This regeneration is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the truth of God’s Word. It produces our voluntary obedience to the Gospel and is evidenced by the fruit of repentance, faith, and newness of life (John 3:3-8;
I Corinthians 2:14; Revelation 21:27; II Corinthians 5:17;
James 1:16-18; Romans 5:5; I Peter 1:22-25; Galatians 5:16-23).
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, but also graces produced in our souls by the regenerating work of the Spirit of God. This work brings about a clear sense of our guilt, danger, and helplessness and a clear understanding of the only way of salvation through Christ. As a result we turn to God with genuine contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy at the same time receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our only and all-sufficient Savior (Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; 20:21; John 16:8; Acts 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:9-13; Psalm 51).
God’s Sovereign Election and Man’s Free Will
We believe that God’s choosing us for salvation is according to His eternal purpose and is perfectly consistent with the free will of man. It is a glorious display of God’s goodness, freedom, wisdom, holiness, and love. God’s election of us totally removes any possibility of our boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, and trust in God.
We believe that it encourages not discourages witnessing, and is the foundation for the Christians assurance of his salvation
(II Timothy 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-14; I Peter 1:1-2;
Romans 11:5-6, 9; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-31).
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification (to be “set apart”) has a threefold meaning:
The sanctification of the believer begins when he is saved. This sanctification is instantaneous and positionally sets the believer apart for God by redemption. Believers are, therefore, “saints” and “holy” the moment they believe
(I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10-14).
Sanctification is also an on-going process and progressive for the believer after he/she is saved. The believer becomes more holy and more like Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures (II Peter 3:18; Ephesians 5:26;
I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Philippians 2:12-16;
II Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; John 17:17).
The believer’s sanctification will be complete at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. At this consummation the believer will be sanctified wholly – spirit, soul, and body
(I Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:23; I John 3:2; Ephesians 5:27).
The Security of the Believer
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept eternally by God the Father for Jesus Christ. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word.
But the Scripture clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an excuse to sin (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; I Corinthians 1:4-8;
I Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1; Romans 8:35-39;
I John 5:10-13; John 5:24; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
The Church
We believe the church, the body of Christ, is a New Testament institution established by Jesus Christ, Who is its sole Head. It is revealed through the apostles, empowered and preserved by the Holy Spirit, composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, both Jew and Gentile, called out from the world, baptized into His body and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is called His body (service) and His bride (glory). It began with the New Testament saints at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the rapture (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21:9).
We believe that the church is manifest through the local church, which is a congregation of immersed believers associated by a covenant and confession of faith and the fellowship of the Gospel, who observe the ordinances of Christ, and are governed by His Word. We believe that its officers are pastors (bishops, elders) and deacons, and that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and is answerable only to Christ. In all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the local church is final (Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 5; 7:17; 11:16;
I Timothy 3:1-15; Philippians 1:1; Acts 2:41-47).
We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s day, and is to be set aside as the day of worship by the church (Acts 20:7: John 20:19, 26;
I Corinthians 16:1-2; 15:20; Luke 24:1-7; Leviticus 23:9-11).
The Ordinances
We believe that there are two ordinances for the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is properly called “believer’s baptism”. It shows in a beautiful way our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior and emphasizes our death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to membership. The Lord’s Supper is a service in which the believers use the bread and the cup as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood, which He sacrificed for them as a demonstration of His love. Participation is to always be preceded by careful self examination (Acts 8:36-39; 8:12; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-32).
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous (saved) and the wicked (lost). Only those who are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus through faith and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in God’s eyes. All others who continue in their unbelief and unrepentant hearts remain under the curse of sin. After death those who are righteous experience everlasting happiness in heaven, while those who are lost experience everlasting conscious suffering
(Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17, 18, 22-23; Proverbs 12:26;
I Peter 4:17-18; John 3:36; Revelation 14:13; Luke 16:25;
II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is appointed by God for the interests and good of human society, and that those in authority are to be prayed for and conscientiously honored and obeyed
except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and Prince over all the kings of the earth (Romans 13:1-7; II Samuel 23:3;
Exodus 18:21-23; Acts 23:5; 5:29; 4:18-20; Matthew 22:21; Daniel 3:14-18; Psalms 72:11; 2; Revelation 19:16).
The Resurrection
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ rose bodily and literally from the tomb on the third day and later ascended into heaven where He is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. We believe that His resurrection makes possible our resurrection – that those bodies of dead believers will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with the transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air. The unsaved dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final doom (Matthew 28:6-7; I Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrew 7:25; Acts 7:55; I Corinthians 15:12-23;
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15).
The Return of Christ
We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, pretribulational, premillennial, return of Jesus Christ. We believe Christ will come before the seven-year tribulation period to catch away His church. At that time He will not come to earth, but we will meet Him in the air. At the close of the tribulation He will come to the earth with His church to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom on earth and reign for a thousand years. After this will be the Great White Throne Judgment where Christ will judge the unsaved, and they will be sent to their eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. The saved will then enjoy eternal glory with God in the New Heavens and New Earth ( I Thessalonians 4:13-18;
I Corinthians 15:52; Zechariah 14:1-5; Acts 1:11; Daniel 9:24-27; Titus 2:13; II Thessalonians 2:3,7-8; Revelation 2-4; 19-22).