Statement of Faith

We recognize the clear teachings of the Scriptures, and trust in them as our only source of authority for all beliefs and practices.  We therefore subscribe to the following doctrinal statement:

1) The Holy Scriptures

We believe in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).  We believe that the WORD of GOD is eternal, unchanging and shall not pass away.  (Matthew 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25, Psalms 119:89).

2) The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19)

3) The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:1, 2, 12, 14; Luke 1:35)

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. (Romans 3:24-26; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

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 1:9,11; Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1,2)

4) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person 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; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18)

5) The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image of and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)

6) 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, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

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. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; Romans 6:1,2)

7) The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. (Romans 6:13; 8:12-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

8) 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. (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 14:13; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 1:9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:16-17)

9) Missions

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture, and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; Matthew 28:19-20)

10) The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

A. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today.

B. We do not practice the speaking of tongues as sign gifts to the edifying of believers. (1 Corinthians 14:1-28; 13:4-11; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12)

C. We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift and grace of God that is given to him (such as the gifts of helps, giving, and serving). (1 Peter 4:10-11)

D. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7l 1 John 5:14-15; James 5:14-16)

11) The Church

A. We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this age of Grace. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2)

B. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 28:31; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

C. We believe in the self government of the local church, free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1-4; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16; 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

D. We recognize the ordinances of water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper (Communion) as a Scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age.  These are privileges for believers only. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; Matthew 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

12) Dispensations

We believe that the Scriptures, understood in the natural literal sense, reveal divinely determined rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages.  These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. (John 1:17; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2 Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25; Hebrews 7:19; Revelation 20:2-6)

13) The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall.  He is the open and declared enemy of God and man.  He will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10)

14) The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in the “Blessed Hope”, the personal and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1:10; 5:9; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 3:10)

15) The Eternal State

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

B. 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; Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

C. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery 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. (Luke 16:19-28; Matthew 25:41-45; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 1:6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15)

16)  Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality.

We believe that God instituted marriage. Marriage is defined by God as the covenant relationship between one man and one woman in a life-long allegiance to each other—the exclusive union between a husband and a wife.  We believe that marriage is ordained by God, publicly acknowledged and permanently sealed.  The ultimate purpose of marriage is to display a picture of Christ and His relationship to the church, which He purchased at the cross.  Marriage is about Christ, and displays a beautiful picture of the Good News according to Ephesians 5:21-33.  ( Mark 10:6-9, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Hosea 2:19, Malachi 2:13-16, 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, Hebrews 13:4,  Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Timothy 3:2-3, Titus 1:6 ).

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other and has commanded abstinence outside of marriage.  (I Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4) We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20, I Corinthians 6:9-10,  Leviticus 18:22-23, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Revelation 21:7-8).