The Holy Scriptures

We believe in the verbal (every word) and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Old and New Testaments; that they are the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be evaluated. Psalm 119:160; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1: 19-21; Revelation 22:18-19

The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, eternally existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. Genesis 1:26;II Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:16-18; I John 5:7

We believe in the deity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect man; that He is God manifested in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary; that He lived a sinless life on earth; that he died on Calvary’s cross, (shedding His blood as the only satisfactory sacrifice for sinners and payment for sin); that His body was buried and that He arose from the tomb; that He ascended to Heaven and is now seated at the Father’s right hand making intercession for us; and that He is coming again, first to take His children out of this world, and later establish His Kingdom on earth. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 14:62; 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Acts 4:10-12,5:30-31; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:25; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity and is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration; that He indwells all believers and seals them unto the day of redemption; and that He empowers, teaches, and guides believers. John 3:5-7; John 14:16-18, 26; John 16:7-8; Ephesians 1:13-14

We believe that at the moment of salvation, the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (and baptized into the body of Christ), and that it is the believer’s responsibility to seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:13; Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; 3:5-7; Romans 6:3-5; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18

Creation

We believe the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate, creative acts of God, in six, consecutive twenty-four hour days, without any evolutionary process; that man (spirit, soul and body) was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, the parents of the entire human race. Genesis 1 and 2; Isaiah 45:18; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, 17

Man

We believe that God created man in His own image, male and female, breathing into him the breath of life, and that He gave them dominion over the entirety of His earthly creation. God formed Eve to be Adam’s helper, to complement his character, and to be his companion for life. God joined one man and one woman together in marriage, establishing a monogamous pattern of spiritual, emotional, and physical union for all time. As the first institution ordained by God, marriage pictures the union of Christ and His Church. God specifically prohibits all sexual union between men and women outside the bond of marriage. God also forbids incest, bestiality, and same-sex relations between men or women. Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18; 2:22-24;Leviticus 18:6-18, 22; 20:15-16; Romans 1:26-27; 7:2-5; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10; 15-20; Ephesians 5:22-32; I Thessalonians 4:2-8

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy state, and that all men sinned in Adam; consequently all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam’s fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct; and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18, 32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19

Salvation

We believe that a person is saved when he repents of his sin and exercises faith by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior; that salvation is a gift of eternal life wholly by the grace of God apart from merit or works; and that all who believe on Him are justified (declared righteous) on the basis of His shed blood. John 3:16-18; Acts 16:31; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9, 10; I Corinthians 15:3.4; Ephesians 2:8, 9; II Peter 3:9

We believe that all the redeemed of God are kept by God’s power and are thus eternally secure in Christ forever, and that once a person is truly saved, he will show fruits of salvation. John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; I John 5:13

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner: first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior; second, a continuing process in the believer as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life; third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord’s return. John 17:17; I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25,26,27; I Thess. 4:3,4; 5:23,24; Hebrews 10:10-14; 13:12

The Church

We believe that the local New Testament church is the visible manifestation of the “universal church” (composed of all who have genuine faith in Christ as Savior), and that the local church is to be composed of regenerated, immersed believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, edification, baptism of believers, celebration of the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, and service; that the officers of the local church are pastors and deacons whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that the mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men in the local community and to the uttermost part of the earth; that the local church has the responsibility of self-government (apart from all external religious or political influences); that the one and only Head of the Church is Christ Himself.  We also believe that it is scriptural for churches of like faith and practice to voluntarily cooperate with each other in spiritual endeavors (with each individual local church as the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation). Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 20:28- 31; Romans 1:7; Colossians 1:2; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5

Baptism

We believe that the Biblical ordinance of baptism is by immersion, the symbol of the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; that every believer should be baptized because of the example and command of our Lord; and that while there is no saving power in water baptism, it is an act of obedience and public testimony by those who are already saved. Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ to remember and show forth the Lord’s death till He comes; that the Lord’s table should be open to all regenerated people walking in obedience to the Lord Jesus; and that the elements representing the body and blood of Christ are symbolic and render in themselves no means of grace. Luke22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:25-32

Satan

We believe that Satan is a supernatural being, a fallen angel, the author of sin, and that he was instrumental in the Fall of man; that he is the “god of this world,” the “prince of the power of the air,” and the open and declared enemy of God and man, and that his final destiny is eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Job 1:6-9; Ezekiel 28:1-19; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 20:10

Hell

We believe in a literal place called Hell, a place of torment, and that the Lake of Fire and Brimstone shall be the final destiny for the eternal punishment of Satan, fallen angels, demons, and unbelieving mankind. Luke 16:22-26; Revelation 20:12-15

Heaven

We believe in a literal place called Heaven where God’s immediate presence is manifested, and where the redeemed and angels dwell. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 21

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to everlasting life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery and torment until the second resurrection when, with spirit, soul, and body, they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated but to suffer everlasting punishment. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and a new body are united to be glorified forever with the Lord. I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:6-8; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the imminent, bodily, and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to catch away all believers unto Himself; and in the personal, visible, and glorious return of Christ to the earth, with believers, to judge the nations and to set up His millennial Kingdom on earth. Matthew 24:42-44; John 14:3;Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:4-6