Inspiration of Scripture – We believe that the Bible, as contained in the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, in the original writings, is the verbally inerrant inspired Word of God. We believe that this Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice; therefore, it is the supreme and final authority in our life (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 1 Thess. 2:13; Psalm 19:7-11; 1 Cor. 2:13).
The Trinity or Godhead – We believe that God is triune; that there are three eternal, co-equal, divine persons in the Godhead, and these three are one God (Matt. 28:19; Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:14).
Person and Work of God the Father – We believe in God the Father, a perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support and end. He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, everywhere present, never changing, and ever loving. He hears and answers prayer, and accepts those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Rev. 4:11; Mal. 3:6; John 4:24; Psalm 99:9, 147:5, 139:7-12; Isa. 44:24; 1 John 4:8; John 14:6).
Person and Work of God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, Mary, and is true God and true man (John 1:2, 14; Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:18-25).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 4:25).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, where He is now exalted at the right hand of God, and ministers as our High Priest and Intercessor (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 4:14, 7:25; 1 John 2:1).
We believe in that “Blessed Hope”, the personal, imminent, coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to the earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom (1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16, 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 5:9, Rev. 3:10).
Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit – We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin and regenerates, indwells, seals, enlightens and empowers the saved and fills those yielded to God (Matt. 28:19; John 16:7-11, 3:3; Titus 3:5, 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 2:12, 6:19; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Matt. 3:11; Eph. 4:30, 1:13-14; John 16:13; Zech. 4:6; Acts 1:8; Eph. 5:18; Acts 4:29-30).
Salvation – We believe that man is totally unable to save himself because of his sinful nature and his guilt in the original sin of Adam. All men, therefore, deserve eternal punishment. We further believe that God, who is rich in mercy, sent His only Son to be our Savior; for the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood; and furthermore, are eternally saved, in the light of the perfect, finished work of Christ (Rom. 3:23, 5:12, 6:23; John 3:36; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 4:5, 4:24, 5:21; John 10:28-29).
The Church
Body and Bride of Christ – We believe that the future aggregate church is an elect company of born-again believers, born into the living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated believers are members; that this group composes the body and bride of Christ that will be completed at the rapture (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:21-23; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; Matt. 3:11; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 21:2, 22:17.)
The Local Assembly – We believe that the establishment and continuance of local independent churches are clearly taught in the New Testament; that they are the manifestations of the living body until the rapture; that they are organized for the purpose of ministering Christ to the lost world and for worship, edification and fellowship for the believers. We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church; that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is the responsibility of the church to follow the pattern of the New Testament and is directly accountable to God (Acts 13:1-3, 14:23-27; Gal. 1:2; Titus 1:5-11; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 12:27).
The Church’s Commission – Two Ordinances
Baptism – We believe that baptism is the immersion of a true believer into water in the name of the Triune God; that it is in obedience to Christ following conversion; that it is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior, and likewise of the believer in his regeneration experience as passing from death unto life, and that water baptism is not the door, (automatic membership), of the local church and that baptism has no saving merit (Rom. 6:1-10; Matt. 3:13-17; Acts 8:36-38, 2:41; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 9:18, 16:14-15, 33).
The Lord’s Supper – We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an observance commemorating the death of our Lord on Calvary; that the provision of bread and fruit of the vine are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood; that the partaking is only for the truly regenerated believers; and that faithful self-examination should precede its observance; and that the ordinance has no saving merit (Matt. 26:21-30; 1 Cor. 11:17-34).
Christ’s Return – The Second Coming – We believe that Christ may at any time return in the air to rapture the saints, and that there shall be a seven year tribulation period, after which He will come to the earth with His saints, and rule for a thousand years. After this, the wicked will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. We believe in “that blessed hope”; the personal, imminent, pre- tribulation, and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Rev. 20:1-6, 10-15; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Acts 1:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9-10; Rev. 3:10; 1Cor. 15:51-57; Matt. 24:15-31).
Satan – We believe in the existence of Satan, the Devil, who was created a perfect angelic being; who willfully led a host of other angels in rebellion against God; who is the author of sin and wickedness; who is the accuser of saints and tempter of all men; and who shall be destroyed in the “lake of fire” with his followers at the end of time. We further believe that he is the deceiver and god of this present world; that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God. He was defeated and judged at the cross, and, therefore, his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Rev. 12:10; Matt 4:1-11; Rev. 20:10-15; 1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14; Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4; Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7; Luke 22:31-32).
Man and Depravity – We believe that man was created in the image of God with a body, soul and spirit; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become sinners in thought, word and deed. (Gen. 1:26-27; 1 Thess. 5:23; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3; Ps. 51:5, 58:3).
Eternal Security
We believe that all true believers are saved with an eternal salvation, are kept by God’s power, and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-39, 10:28-29; Rom. 8:37-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Phil. 1:6).
We believe that the true believer is responsible to live a godly, consistent Christian life; and that the evidence of saving faith is manifested in a true desire to live in a manner that is pleasing to God (Rom. 8:5-9; Gal. 5:16-25; Titus 2:13-15; Eph. 2:10; 2 Cor. 5:17).
Sanctification – We believe that every true believer is promised positional (is set apart), progressive (is being set apart), and ultimate (will be set apart) sanctification (Heb. 10:10-14; John 17:17; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 4:3-4;1 John 3:2).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-12, 14:1-40; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:11-12).
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with his own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 5:7-9, 1 John 5:14-17, James 5:13-20).
The Priesthood of All Believers – We believe that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest. We believe that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and apply the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 5:5-10, 7:25, 10:19-22; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
Church and State – We believe the Bible teaches there is to be a distinct separation between church and state. The believer is to obey the laws of the land as long as they are not in opposition to the will and Word of God. The believer has a responsibility to pray for the rulers of the land at all times (Matt. 22:21, 17:24-27, 10:28; 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:2, 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Acts 5:29).
Final Judgment, Our Eternal State – We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost ( John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:46; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).
The Saved – We believe that the spirit of the saved at death goes immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the judgment seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own, and that a man regenerated through Jesus Christ has the blessed hope and joy of eternal life with God in Heaven and in the new Heaven and earth to be established at the end of time (Ecc. 12:7; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; John 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4; Rev 21:1-21).
The Unsaved – We believe that the spirit of the unsaved at death descends immediately into Hell (Hades) where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into the Great Lake of Fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment. We believe that a man rejecting Christ as his Savior is doomed to this just and eternal punishment (Heb. 9:27; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:10-15; John 3:17-21, 3:35-36).