Statement Of Faith

1. The Bible: the Bible is the perfect Word of God preserved for us today. 

We believe the Holy Bible (66 books of canon), as originally written in the autographs, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore is the absolute truth without any admixture of error in its content. We believe that we have a preserved translation of the original inspired Word of God, originally given to men of His choosing who penned the original manuscripts. We believe the key to understanding the Scriptures is an understanding of “rightly dividing” and placing scripture passages in their proper context of to whom and when God gave the original truths. 

II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21

2. The True God: there is only one true God and He exists in three persons so we can understand the fullness of His magnitude. 

We believe there is one living and true God. He is the creator and supreme ruler of heaven and earth glorious in holiness and alone worthy of our worship. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Exodus 20:2-3, Revelation 4:11, I Corinthians 8:6, I John 5:7

3. The Son of God: Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. 

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner and was born of Mary, a virgin. He is both Son of God and God the Son, fully God and fully man. In taking upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, He honored the divine law by His obedience, and by His death made a full and substitutionary atonement for our sins. He is now in Heaven and is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior.

Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:27,  John 1:14, John 1:29-37, Hebrews 4:15

4. The Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit is the person of God that indwells the Christian. 

We believe that the Holy Spirit was given to be a helper to the believer and the restrainer of evil. Upon accepting Christ as our Savior, He indwells us. He was the agent of our regeneration, and we are sealed by Him guaranteeing our salvation.

John 14:16-17, Luke 1:35, John 3:5-6, Matthew 28:19, Acts 11:16, Ephesians 1:13-24, Hebrews 9:14, Romans 8:14-16, 
Mark 1:8, John 14:26, Romans 8:26-27, John 1:33

5. The Devil/Satan: Satan is real, and he is the enemy of God and the Christian.  

We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of evil and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.

Matthew 4:1-3, Revelation 20:10, II Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 12:9

6. The Act of Creation: God created the universe and is the Supreme Ruler of it. 

We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution in the absence of a creator. However, we do not take upon ourselves the audacity to declare how God brought the universe into existence and do not read into the Genesis account more than it gives us. Issues of time and specific details that God does not disclose are matters for personal beliefs and should not be divisive issues within the body of Christ.

Genesis 1 and 2, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17

7. The State of Man: Without a Savior, man is lost and estranged from God because of sin. 

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, the consequence of making all mankind sinners. Therefore every man and woman born today is a depraved being in need of the sacrifice made for him by Jesus Christ coming to earth to be crucified. It is for this reason all mankind must be led by the Holy Spirit to the Father. Further, God desires to restore man to His image at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 1:32, Romans 3:10-19, Romans 5:19, Romans 5:12, Romans 1:18

8. The Salvation of Man: there is only one way a person can be saved, and it is by faith in Jesus and Him alone. 

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace apart from works; through the death and resurrection of the perfect “Lamb of GOD”, Jesus Christ, who substituted Himself for us by taking the penalty for our sins. This satisfied the demands of the Holy God, thus justifying the repentant sinner. We believe that repentance is a true desire to turn away from a life characterized by sin and a turning to a new life in Christ. We furthermore believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only hope for salvation.

Ephesians 2:8, I John 4:10, Acts 15:11, Romans 3:24-27, I Corinthians 15:3, John 3:16, Matthew 18:11,
II Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 2:7-8, Hebrews 2:14, Acts 13:39, Isaiah 53:4-7, and 11, Zechariah 13:1, Romans 5:1-9, Romans 8:1, Acts 16:31

9. The Local Church: the local church is a fellowship of believers united together by their faith and a desire to edify one another and give hope in Christ to others. 

We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and friendship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, (baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper), governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of a hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that its one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to co-operate with each other in the contending for the faith, and for the furtherance of the Gospel, with the realization that it is necessary to separate from apostasy; that each local church is the sole judge of the measures and action of its co-operation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41-42, I Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:17-28,  I Timothy 3:15, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 5: 23-24

10. The Resurrections and Second Coming: Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death and giving us hope for new life. 

We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ; the resurrection of the dead in Christ at the return of Christ, and the millennial reign of Christ on the throne of David.

Matthew 28:6-7, I Corinthians 15:4, Luke 24:39, Acts 1:9-11, John 14:3, Hebrews 9:28, I Corinthians 15:42-44,  and 52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Luke 1:32,  Isaiah 9:6-7, Acts 2:29-30, I Corinthians 15:25, Psalm 72:8, Revelation 20:6-14, Isaiah 11:4-5, Isaiah 32:1

11. The Distinction of Gender: God created mankind as male and female.

We believe that God created mankind in His image as male and female, and that these two genders alone are recognized in Scripture as His created design. We therefore hold that one’s gender is given by God according to His creation and is not a matter of personal choice, cultural preference, or individual redefinition.

Genesis 1:27, Genesis 5:2, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6

12. Marriage: marriage is ordained of God to be the union of one man and one woman.

We believe that marriage was instituted by God and is intended to be the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong covenant relationship. We hold that this is the only Scriptural definition of marriage.

Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:31, Hebrews 13:4

13. The Office of Pastor: the office of Pastor is reserved by Scripture for qualified men.

We believe that the office of Pastor in the local church is limited by Scripture to qualified men. While men and women are equal in value before God, He has established distinct roles within the church, and the authority and responsibility of the pastoral office are given to men who meet the Biblical qualifications.

I Timothy 2:12, I Timothy 3:1-2, Titus 1:5-6

14. Baptism: baptism is an ordinance of obedience and a public testimony of faith, but is not required for salvation.

We believe that baptism by immersion is to be administered to believers after salvation as an act of obedience to Christ and as a public testimony of faith in Him. Baptism does not save, nor is it a requirement for salvation, for salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ apart from works. Baptism is instead the believer’s outward identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 8:36-38, Romans 6:3-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, I Corinthians 1:17, Acts 10:43-48, Luke 23:42-43

15. The Apostolic Gifts: the apostolic sign gifts were given for a specific purpose and are not normative for the church today.1. The Distinction of Gender: God created mankind as male and female.

We believe that the miraculous sign gifts and revelatory gifts given in the apostolic age, such as tongues, prophecy, and signs and wonders, were granted by God for the confirming of the apostolic message and for the foundational period of the church. We believe that, with the apostles no longer present and the foundation of the church having been laid, these apostolic gifts are not the normal practice for the church today. We further believe that God is unchanging in power, still hears and answers prayer, and is fully able to heal and work according to His perfect will.

Ephesians 2:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, II Corinthians 12:12, I Corinthians 13:8-10