Statement of Faith

We believe in a supernatural Bible, which tells of a supernatural Christ, Who had a supernatural birth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed supernatural miracles, Who lived a supernatural life, Who died a supernatural death, Who rose in supernatural splendor, Who intercedes as a supernatural priest and Who will one day return in supernatural glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible is supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried.

(1) By the “Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which not only contains and conveys the Word of God but IS the very Word of God.  All doctrine, policies, and foundation for our faith are based on the Kings James Version.

(2) By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.  (Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Prov. 30:5-6; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:31; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 5:45-47; John 5:39; John 12:48; John 17:17; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Rom. 3:4; Rom. 15:4; Eph. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Rev. 22:19.)

The Godhead

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the God head there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.  (Gen. 17:1; Exod. 15:11; Exod. 20:2-3; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 147:5; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; John 10:30; John 15:26; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:18; Eph. 4:6; Phil. 2:5-6; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 John 5:7; Rev. 4:11.)

The Person and Work of Christ

(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8).

(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:22-24).

(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2).

(4) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to rapture His saints, and to set up the throne of David and establish His Kingdom.  The rapture coming is imminent and will be personal, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial (Acts 15:16; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 2 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 2:6-8).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

(1)  We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father, God the Son, and of the same nature; who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14).

(2)  We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who bears witness of the truth of the Godhead and assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures, and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27).

(3)  We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer.  God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12).

(4) We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary.  We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).

Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation (i.e., one day equals 24 hours), and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was created by the direct act of God with His established law that they should bring forth only “after their kind”.  (Gen. 1:1, 11, 21-24, 26-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Ex. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; Jer. 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; Acts 17:23-26; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; Rev. 10:6). 

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that He is now the militant prince of power of the air, and the unholy god of this world.  We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all the powers of darkness; destined, however, to final defeat at the hand of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire, a place prepared for him and his angels.  (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Matt. 4:1-3; Matt. 13:25, 37-39; Matt. 25:41; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; 2 Cor. 11:13-14; Eph. 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:8-11; 1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 2:22; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7-10; Rev. 13:13-14; Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 20: 1-3, 10). 

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition and therefore under just condemnation, without defense or excuse.  (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19).
  

The Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.  (Gen. 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isa. 7:14; Matt.1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; 1 Cor. 15:47; Gal. 4:4; 1 John 5:20). 

The Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting for us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, and is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.  (Isa. 53:4-7; 11-12; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16; John 10:18; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Cor.15:3, Heb. 7:25; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 12:2; 1 Peter 2:24; 20; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10).

The Salvation of Man

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.  (Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; John 3:3, 6-7; Acts 2:41; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17, 19; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:1; Eph. 5:9; Col. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:1).

Freeness of Salvation

We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a humble, penitent, and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection continues him in an aggravated condemnation.  (Isa. 55:6-7, 11; Matt. 11:28; John 3:15-16, 18, 36; John 5:40; John 6:37; Acts 2:28; Rom. 8:29-30; Rom. 10:13; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4; 1 Tim. 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev. 22:17).

Justification

We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s sacrifice and shedding of His blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.  (Isa. 3:11; Hab. 2:4; Zech. 13:1; Acts 13:39; Rom. 1:7, 17; Rom. 4:1-8; Rom. 5:1, 9; Rom. 8:1; Gal. 2:17; Gal. 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Heb. 2:4; Heb. 10:38).

Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our soul by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn in our sin to God with genuine contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. (Psalm 51:1-4, 7; Isa. 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; Luke 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; Rom. 10:9-11, 13).

The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

(1)  We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Psalm 121:3; Matt. 6:20; Matt. 13:19-21; John 6:37-40; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 28, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:21-23; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; 1 John 2:19).

(2)  We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in 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; Titus 2:11-15).

The Church

(1) We believe that the church with Christ as its head, is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights and privileges in them by His Word; that its offices are Pastors (Elders, Bishops) and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 14:23; 1 Cor. 11:2; 1 Cor. 12:4, 8-11; 1 Cor. 16:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; Eph. 5:23-24; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

(2)  We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission:  first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded.  We do not believe in the reversal of this order (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 20:17-28).

(3) We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation.  On all matters of membership, of worship, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 15:22-23; 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 1 Cor. 6:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:23-24; Jude 3, 4).
 

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s supper in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the sacrificial death of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.  (Matt. 3:6, 16; Matt. 28:9-10, 19; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor.11:23-28; Col. 2:12).

Separation

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. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).
  

The Resurrection of Christ

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon this subject at its face and full value.  We believe that Christ rose bodily “the third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that he alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “That this same Jesus which was taken up from you into heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Matt. 28:6-7; Mark 16:6, 19; Luke 24:2-6, 39, 51; John 20:27-28; Acts 1:9; I Cor. 15:3-8; Gal. 1:1).
  

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in that “blessed hope”, 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 establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).

The Eternal State 

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

(2) 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 (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6).

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