Doctrinal Statement

Scriptures

We believe in the complete inspiration of the Bible (the sixty-six books of our Bible) as originally written by godly men of biblical times as they were directed by the Holy Spirit. These holy writings were without error. The Bible is the trustworthy completed revelation of God’s will for today. It is the standard for human thoughts, words and deeds. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

The Triune Godhead

We believe that there is only one true God. He is a Spirit being who is limitless in His power, knowledge and presence. He has always existed and always will. He is perfect in His holiness, justice and love. He is worthy of our unreserved honor, allegiance, and love. We believe that while there is only one God, He exists in a Godhead of three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) each equal in power, authority and glory. While these three exist in perfect unity, they have distinct personalities and functions within the realms of creation, ministry and redemption. (Genesis 1:1, 2:1; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Revelation 4:11)

The Lord Jesus Christ, His Deity, Birth, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Return

We believe in the eternal existence of Jesus Christ as God the Son. All things were made by Him. He took on humanity and was born of a virgin. His life was without sin as He perfectly kept the law of God. His death on the cross was in our place as the penalty for our sins. He physically arose from the dead and ascended to sit at the place of authority and honor beside God the Father. He presently acts as our High Priest and Advocate. He is returning in the air to take believers, both dead and living, to be with Himself. This event, the Rapture of the Church, could happen at any time and will precede a seven year period of great judgment upon the earth called the Tribulation. Following the Tribulation, He will return to the earth to establish His kingdom, and reign for 1,000 years. (Matthew 28:6,7; Luke 24:26,27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 John 2:1; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:4-6)

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Holy Spirit

We believe that He is divine, a member of the Godhead and that He is equal in all aspects with the Father and the Son. He works to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He works to regenerate all who believe in Christ. He baptizes, seals, indwells, teaches and bestows one or more spiritual gifts on every believer. We believe that some spiritual gifts with supernatural manifestations (i.e. tongues, healings, and miracles) were given especially as signs to confirm the message being shared during the time of the apostles before the completion of the New Testament. (Matthew 28:19; John 3:5,6; 15:26,27; 16:7-11; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 12:4-11, 13; 14:22; 2 Corinthians 12:11,12; Ephesians 1:13,14; 5:18; Hebrews 2:3,4; 1 Peter 4:10,11)

Satan

We believe Satan is a created spirit being. He carried the rank and authority to lead the angels of God. Through pride and ambition he fell and led other angels to follow him. He exists as the evil “prince of the power of the air” and the unholy “god of this age.” He is the committed enemy of God and the work of our Redeemer—Jesus Christ. He seeks to make accusations against believers. His destiny lies in defeat before the power of Jesus Christ. He will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire created for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12; Revelation 12:9,10;20:10)

Atonement for sin and Security of the Believer

We believe that all men are sinners by nature as well as in their thoughts and actions. Because of this, it was necessary for God to provide salvation totally by His grace through Christ’s death on our behalf on the cross. Mankind as sinners can do nothing to earn salvation. Only those who place their trust by faith in Christ as their personal Savior have eternal life. Having been saved by the grace of God (through faith) we are kept by God, awaiting the completion of salvation at the resurrection, when our bodies will be like Christ’s glorified body. (John 10:28, 29; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:23-26, 5:12; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

Position of the Believer in Christ

We believe that Christians (those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ), have a unique position and relationship to God. Before salvation they were lost in sin and enemies of God. After salvation they have been reconciled to God. They have become children of God, with Him as their Heavenly Father. In this new relationship, they have direct access by prayer to talk with God. Because of the completed work of Christ, they are joint heirs with Him of the riches of God’s grace, and have a heavenly home being prepared for them. (John 1:12, 14:1-4; Romans 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 1:7-8, 15-19, 2:4-7; Colossians 1:19-22).

Heaven and Hell

We believe that Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for all those who are His (saved) and that we will spend all eternity with Him in the New Jerusalem He is preparing. We believe that those who die without Christ as Savior are lost and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Hell) created for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:34-46; John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15)

The Church, the Ordinances, the Great Commission, the Autonomy of the Church

A. We believe the church as created by God in the New Testament to be a congregation of baptized believers, following the Word of God as their standard for faith and practices.
B. We believe that the church is to practice the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion) in obedience to the commands and examples of the New Testament. Baptism is by immersion (in water) of the believer as a picture of his faith in the death, burial and resurrection of His Savior and a commitment to live as a new creation in Christ. The Lord’s Supper is celebrated in memory of Christ’s sacrificial death, with the bread representing His body given for us and the cup representing His life blood shed for our sins. It is for all who know Christ as Savior.
C. We believe that God called the church to glorify Him in its worship, ministry, and outreach as commanded in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19,20; John 4:23,24; Ephesians 4:11-16)
D. We believe that the local church was created by God for this age to be accountable to Jesus Christ our Head. God is presently working through the Church to accomplish His purposes and to call out a people for His name. When the church (all believers of this age) is taken out of this world (at the rapture), God will once again work through His chosen people, the nation of Israel. As a local church, we carry the responsibility to be self-governing in matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, finance, and benevolence. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23,24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

Creation

We believe that in the beginning God through the person of the Son (2nd person of the Godhead), acted directly to bring into existence all of creation, including all living things, with a special creation of the first man (Adam), and the first woman (Eve). He then proclaimed that it was good and that all living creatures were to reproduce according to their kind. He continues to sustain all of His creation. (Genesis 1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)

Marriage

We believe that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bonds of a Biblically defined marriage. This reflects God’s timeless creation design and pictures Christ’s love for the church. Any other form of marriage or sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gracious will. (Genesis 1-3; John 1:2-3; Galatians 3:28; Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27, 7:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4)

Separation

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God and that sin contaminated that moral image. In regeneration we are restored to fellowship with God and therefore we are to commit ourselves to all that will build our fellowship with God. We need to refrain from all that would harm us or keep us from that fellowship. We are to love God and reject all in this life that would keep us from loving Him as we ought. (Romans 12:1,2; Colossians 3:1,2; 1 John 2:15-17)