Statement of Faith

(1) The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the first and final authority for faith and life, and inerrant in the original writings. We believe that the Bible is the first and final rule on all matters of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

(2) The Godhead

We believe that there is one living and true God: an infinite, intelligent Spirit (BEING); the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who are equal in every divine perfection, and execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-7; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

(3) The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ became incarnate (in the flesh) without ceasing to be God, having been begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. He died for our sins, according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. All who believe in Him as personal Savior are "Born Again" and are justified on the ground of His shed blood alone. Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the third day in the body in which He had been crucified and He ascended into Heaven in the same body glorified, where He now lives to intercede for the believer. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-14; Romans 3:23-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:10-11; Hebrews 7:25)

(4) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature. In His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel. He is the Agent of the New Birth. He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16-17; 16:7-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5)

(5) The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God in innocence under the law of his Maker, but that he voluntarily sinned. Thereby, man incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and are, by birth and choice, sinners in thought, word and deed. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-6; Romans 5:10-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

(6) Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God. In order to be saved, sinners must be born again. The new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature, receives a pardon for sins, and receives eternal life. Eternal life is the free gift of God, bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. The evidence of salvation is seen in repentance, faith, and newness of life. (Romans 3:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:12; 3:16)

(7) Eternal Security & Assurance of the Believer

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 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 (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

(8) The Church

We believe that THE CHURCH (as contrasted to the local church organization) is comprised of the elect (chosen) company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. This company of believers is those who have, of their own free will, accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The mission of the CHURCH is to witness concerning the Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations.

We believe that a local visible church is a local organized congregation of believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, right and privileges invested in them by the Word of God; that its officers, pastors, and elders whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; and that it has absolute right of self-government under Christ as Superintendent through the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4-6; 5:23)

(9) The Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just to everlasting blessedness in heaven and the unjust to everlasting separation from God in hell. (Matthew 25:44-46; Revelation 20:14-15; 1:8; John 5:28-29; Mark 9:42-46)

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; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are 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 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15)

(10) The Second Coming of our Jesus Christ

We believe in the "Blessed Hope", the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. All believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, before He appears in visible form to set up His Kingdom on this earth. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Zechariah 14:4; Micah 4:1-7; Revelation 19:11, 20:6)

(11) The Lord's Supper

We believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine (juice) remind us of the love of God in Jesus Christ, "Who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all." This ordinance is to be observed in anticipation of his coming and is to be preceded always by solemn self-examination. All believers who are living a consistent Christian life may participate. (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

(12) Baptism

We believe that Christian baptism is the believer's baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is to show forth in a solemn and beautiful testimony our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12-13)

(13) Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. Magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. We stand for the separation of Church and State and for full religious liberty. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:3-17)

(14) The Foregoing Doctrines

We believe that these doctrines are essential to real Christian fellowship. While they do not constitute the entire Scriptures, they compose the main doctrines of the Gospel which this church shall propagate. Any attempt to compromise, change, add or detract from these major doctrines shall not be condoned.