Holy Scriptures

We Believe the Bible comprised of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments only, is verbally and plenarily inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts, is the infallible and authoritative Word of God, and has been accurately preserved throughout the centuries (Matt. 5:18). We further believe that God’s infallible and authoritative Word, as stated above, has been accurately preserved in the Authorized King James Version of the Bible and shall be the official translation used by the Church (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20- 21; I Pet. 1:23). The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning.

Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each equal in every divine perfection, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth (1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Jn. 14:8-17; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:11, 18, 21; 1 Jn. 5:7).

Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died vicariously, shed His blood as man’s substitutionary sacrifice, rose bodily, and ascended to heaven where He is presently exalted at the Fathers right hand (Jn. 10:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:18-25; 1 Jn. 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Col. 3:10).

Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is God, a divine person, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He regenerates, baptizes, indwells, and seals all who believe, into the Body of Christ until the day of redemption, teaching and guiding believers in truth making it their duty and privilege to be controlled by Him (Jn. 16:8-11; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13,14; Jn. 16:13; Eph. 5:18; Tit. 3:4).

Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six literal 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap theory, the Day-Age theory, Theistic Evolution and the Big Bang theory as unscriptural theories of origin (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Col. 1:16, 17).

Total Depravity of Man

We believe that Adam was created in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression fell, causing man to inherit a sinful nature, being totally depraved and unable to redeem himself (Gen. 2:17; 3:6; 1:26, 27; Rom. 3:23; 5:12, 19).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ apart from works, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Rom 11:6; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:23; 5:12,19; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 1:14).

Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

We believe that all redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8: 1, 38, 39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5).

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15).

Church

We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, consists only of those who are born again: and thus are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ in this present age (Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14).

We believe that the local church and its establishments is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures.

We believe the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from any hierarchy of individuals or organizations and that the one and only head is the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 14:27; 20:28-32; 1 Tim. 3: 1-13; Tit. 1:5-11; 1 Cor. 6:4-5).

We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the Church in this age (Mt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:41, 42; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Believer’s Responsibility

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (Rom. 12:1, 2; 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:11; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 Jn. 9-11).

We believe it is the responsibility and privilege of every believer to make clear God’s plan of salvation by word and by deed, to everyone he comes in contact with (Mk. 16:15; Mt. 28:19-20; Act& 1:8; 2 Cor. 6:4-5).

Second Advent of Christ

We believe in the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to judge the nations and establish His earthly kingdom which was promised to the Nation of Israel (Ps. 89:3, 4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; Mt. 25:31-46; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).

Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28,29; 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12, 13).

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 body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 20: 4-6).

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection when soul and body reunited shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast in the Lake of Fire; not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6, 7; Rev. 20:11-15).

Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and was instrumental in the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Gen. 3:1-7; Job 1:6, 7; Isa. 14:12-17; Mt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

Angelical Host

We believe all Angelical Host are spirit beings created by God and Lucifer’s (Satan’s) pride caused him to rebel against God. This rebellion resulted in one third of the angels following Satan (Neh. 9:6; Col. 1:16, 17; Rev. 12:3, 4).

Angels are messengers of God and are in constant spiritual warfare with fallen angels (demons) (Gen. 19:1, 15; Ps. 103:20; Lk. 1:26,27; Heb, 1:7, 14; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-9).

Fallen angels (demons) are Satan’s followers and shall meet the same punishment as Satan (Mt. 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4).

Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions:

1.) the home 2.) the Church 3.) the state.

Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church and the state are equal and sovereign in the respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13, 14).

Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of Gods gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8, 9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29, 32; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess- 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).

Divorce and Marriage

We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one spouse dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the office of pastor or deacon (Mal. 2:14-17; Mt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:6).

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified unexcused taking of human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa- 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Lk. 1:44).

Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31, 32).

Giving

We believe that every Christian as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9,10; Mal. 3:8-10; Acts 4:34-37; 2 Cor. 9:6,7; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17,18: 1 Jn. 3:17).

Gift of Tongues

We believe the Biblical gift of tongues (language) was given to believers for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and establishing the New Testament Scriptures. It was always in a language that was in use and any spurious utterances (unknown tongues) shall be considered a violation of scripture. (1 Cor. 14:22, 32, 42; 13:8-11; Acts 2).

Authority of Statement of Faith

The statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement at Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.