Statement of Faith

Infallible Word of God
We believe that both Old and New Testaments constitute the divinely inspired word of God, inerrant in the originals.
 

We believe that the Holy Scriptures, both Old, and New Testaments, were written by holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit and are God’s revealed word to man.  They are the sufficient, infallible rule and guide to salvation and all Christian worship and service (II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13).  The Bible is the inspired Word of God, equally in all parts and in the whole; it is totally inerrant in the original manuscripts.  It is the supreme revelation from God and of God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to them; and it is, therefore, our infallible rule in all manners.  All the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ and hence, no portion is properly read nor understood until it leads to Him.

One God
We believe in one God existing eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a man without ceasing to be God so that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men.
 

We believe that Scripture teaches there is one and only one true and living God, who is self-existent, and the eternal “I AM,” the creator of heaven and earth, and the redeemer of mankind.  We believe that He has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the same in essence, though distinct in personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 3:22).  These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and perfection and are worthy of the same homage and obedience (Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-6).  The mode of His existence, however, is a subject far above the understanding of man.  He is the fountain of all perfection and happiness.  He is glorified by the whole of creation and is worthy to be loved and served by all intelligence.  He, therefore, is the only proper object of worship (Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 3:14; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19, 20; Job 11:7; Psalms 19:1, 2; 145:10; 150:6; Exodus 34:14).
 

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify, comfort and seal those who believe in Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures ascribe to the Holy Spirit the acts and attributes of an intelligent being.  He guides, knows, moves, gives information, commands, forbids, sends forth, reproves, as the instrumental segment of the God Head in the liberal dispersion of spiritual gifts, and can be sinned against (John 16:13; I Corinthians 2:11; Genesis 1:2; Acts 10:19; 13:2; 16:6; 13:4; John 16:8; Mark 3:29; Acts 7:51; Ephesians 4:30; I Corinthians 12).

The works of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit; creation; inspiration, giving of life, and sanctification (Job 33:4; II Peter 1:21; I Peter 3:18; I Corinthians 6:11).

Salvation of Man

We believe that salvation is the gift of God who brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose atoning blood shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

We believe that man is totally depraved in that of himself he is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.

Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God.  Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.  By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life.  The inward evidence of salvation is direct witness of the Spirit and the outward evidence to all men of a life of righteousness and true holiness (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-l5; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

Salvation is an inclusive word, which gathers into itself all the redemptive acts and processes, i.e., justification, redemption, deliverance, imputation, sanctification, glorification, etc.  The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness.  Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without human works (Romans 3:27-28, 4:1-8, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8).  Salvation is in these three tenses:

1. Condition of Salvation - The grace of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and, being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. Evidence of Salvation - The inward evidence to the believer, of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).  The outward evidence to all men is a life of unconditional love, righteousness, and true holiness, demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit (John 13:35; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:24). 
3. Final Result of Salvation - The spirit of the believer who dies in Christ immediately goes to be with the Lord (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:42-43; II Corinthians 5:8).
   
    

Baptism - Ordinance

We believe in the water baptism of believers, symbolizing the believer's union in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

Baptism by immersion shall be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have repented of their sins and have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).  Those who have become partakers of Christ by faith in His shed blood are commanded to be water baptized (by immersion) into Christ.  In this act of faith we participate in Christ’s burial and resurrection and receive a circumcision of the heart (Genesis 17:1-4; John 3:1-6; Romans 2:28-29; I Peter 3:18-22; I John 5:8).
 

Lord’s Supper
We believe in the observance of the Lord's Supper commemorating the sacrifice of our Savior for all humanity.

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the covenant made with God through the blood of Christ.  It is a continuation of the Passover Feast, which God commanded His covenant people to observe.  Those who have made covenant with God through the blood of Christ and have been water baptized are instructed to participate.  The church participates in the Lord’s Supper as a body or family, with each covenant partner in fellowship adding to the blessedness of the experience (Exodus 11, 12; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26).

Responsibility of the Believer

We believe the life of the believer is to be separated from the world by consistent conduct before God and man and is to be in the world as a life-giving light.
 

We believe that it is essential that each believer lay a foundation of Biblical truth and experience upon which he/she builds his/her life.  These foundation stones are repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, all of which are prerequisites to going on to perfection (spiritual maturity) (Hebrews 6:1-2). 

We believe each Christian is called and chosen in God to be a priest unto God to offer up the sacrifice of praise (the fruit of the lips), to give of their time, strength, and material possessions to the service of the Lord.  All believers have been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ and are no longer their own, but belong to the Father to be used for His glory; and as possessions of the Lord, must give themselves to serving Him, finding their place in the church, His body, and making themselves available by being present when the church comes together, that they might be able to minister their gifts and talents for the building up of the Body of Christ (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:4-5; I Corinthians 6:20; 12:18; Hebrews 13:15; I Peter 2:5,9).  We believe that the whole purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.  Therefore, we believe in the act of praising and worshipping God with one’s total being as set forth in the Holy Scriptures.  We also believe that praising God is a form of spiritual warfare (Psalms 149; 150; Mark 12:29-31; Ephesians 5:18-21).

Millennial Reign of Christ/Of the World to Come
We believe in the personal and visible and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, and is followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).  This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-22; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Romans 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-7; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4).

We believe that the end of this age is rapidly approaching (I Peter 4:7).  We believe in “That Blessed Hope” -the personal, imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost without Christ (Acts 24:15; Matthew 24:31-46; Revelation 22:11).