The Holy Scriptures
word-by-word inspiration
divine authority of the Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. No other writings, experiences or traditions, of any kind, are inspired in this sense. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. Where symbols and figures of speech are used, they are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with their use through the Bible as made obvious from the text in which they are contained. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).
The Godhead
One God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in one Triune, creator God, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Eternal in being, identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and having the same divine attributes and perfections, yet exercising them in varied offices. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:7-12; John 16:7; II Corinthians 13:14.)
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
the Lord Jesus Christ as true God and true Man; His virgin birth, sinless humanity, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, present advocacy, and His personal, imminent, bodily, visible, Pre-Tribulational, and Premillennial return for His Church.
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 through God’s grace. (Matthew 1:18-20; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; Luke 1:35).
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that His shed blood justifies all who believe on Him. (Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21, John 1:29, John 3:16,I John 2:1-2).
- We believe in the resurrection of the crucified Body of our Lord Jesus Christ and that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead, in His bodily ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Intercessor. (Matthew 28:5-6; I Corinthians 15:12-19; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2).
- We believe in “that blessed hope”, which is the personal, visible, Pre-Tribulational, Premillennial and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; Titus 2:13; I John 3:2-3).
- We believe in the rapture, the personal Pre-Tribulational, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His bride, the church, and in His subsequent personal Premillennial return, visibly to the earth, to establish His Kingdom and to reign for a thousand years over the entire earth from the throne of David. (Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:6).
- We believe that after the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ that there will then be the final judgement, known as the Great White Throne Judgment. The “dead, small and great” will face the judgment of God because they rejected Jesus Christ. Following this judgment, we will see a New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 20 and 21).
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that His shed blood justifies all who believe on Him. (Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21, John 1:29, John 3:16,I John 2:1-2).
- We believe in the resurrection of the crucified Body of our Lord Jesus Christ and that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead, in His bodily ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Intercessor. (Matthew 28:5-6; I Corinthians 15:12-19; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2).
- We believe in “that blessed hope”, which is the personal, visible, Pre-Tribulational, Premillennial and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; Titus 2:13; I John 3:2-3).
- We believe in the rapture, the personal Pre-Tribulational, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His bride, the church, and in His subsequent personal Premillennial return, visibly to the earth, to establish His Kingdom and to reign for a thousand years over the entire earth from the throne of David. (Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:6).
- We believe that after the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ that there will then be the final judgement, known as the Great White Throne Judgment. The “dead, small and great” will face the judgment of God because they rejected Jesus Christ. Following this judgment, we will see a New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 20 and 21).
Salvation, New Birth, Eternal Security, Eternal State
We believe that salvation is a free and everlasting gift of God, entirely apart from works; that every person is responsible to receive salvation by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that a soul once saved can never be lost. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
- We believe salvation is a gift of God given to the hopelessly lost sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is solely through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and being a gift, cannot be earned by any measure of good works. All who understand and believe that Christ died for them as their sacrifice are born again and become the Sons of God. (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; John 1:12; 3:5-7)
- We believe the Scriptures teach the new birth. At the time of the new birth, the Holy Spirit imparts the new nature and spiritual life. We believe one who is born again becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ and salvation is impossible without the new birth. (John 3:3-6; II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3: 5-7; I Peter 1:23)
- We believe the salvation of every believer is secure for all eternity from the moment of new birth. This security is guaranteed to each believer by the fact that the life received is eternal life, by the keeping power of God, by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit, and by the interceding ministry of Christ. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 29-30; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 7:25)
- 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)
- 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; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)
- We believe that after death the souls of unbelievers remain in constant punishment and torment until they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).
- We believe the Scriptures teach the new birth. At the time of the new birth, the Holy Spirit imparts the new nature and spiritual life. We believe one who is born again becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ and salvation is impossible without the new birth. (John 3:3-6; II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3: 5-7; I Peter 1:23)
- We believe the salvation of every believer is secure for all eternity from the moment of new birth. This security is guaranteed to each believer by the fact that the life received is eternal life, by the keeping power of God, by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit, and by the interceding ministry of Christ. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 29-30; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 7:25)
- 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)
- 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; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)
- We believe that after death the souls of unbelievers remain in constant punishment and torment until they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).
The Personality of satan
We believe that satan is a fallen angel, the author of sin and 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. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
The Total Depravity of Man
Man's fall resulted in his complete and universal separation from God and his need of salvation.
- We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all mankind have inherited a sinful nature, became willful sinners and with the expression of personal choice, are totally unable to regain their former position, and are without excuse before Almighty God. We do not believe that Total Depravity means Total Inability. Salvation is available to all those who repent and believe by faith through grace. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 1:20; 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-6, 12, Ephesians 2:8-9).
- While we believe in the Total Depravity of Man in that he can do nothing in and of himself to warrant acceptance by God, we do not believe that Total Depravity means Total Inability. Man is able to respond to the work of the Spirit of God to convict and draw him to repentance and faith.
- While we believe in the Total Depravity of Man in that he can do nothing in and of himself to warrant acceptance by God, we do not believe that Total Depravity means Total Inability. Man is able to respond to the work of the Spirit of God to convict and draw him to repentance and faith.
The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates with divine life and personally indwells the believer upon his faith in Christ for salvation.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; bears witness to the truth; is the agent of the new birth; and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and enables the believer. We believe that He baptizes believers into the Church, the Body of Christ, and He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, and bestows spiritual gifts upon each one at the moment of salvation. He also enables for service those yielded to Him. We believe that the Holy Spirit testifies concerning Jesus Christ and never leads any person, at any time, contrary to the teaching of the Bible. (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-15; I Corinthians 12:4-13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
The "Church"
- We believe that the local Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. The Church is not a building but a gathering together of believers. (I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
- 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, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
- We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4)
- We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. These are not required for salvation. (Mathew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
- We do not believe that the church today has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. Because the Jews rejected the Messiah, the Gospel has come to the Gentiles and Jesus established His Church during this dispensation. God’s plan for Israel has not yet been completed.
- 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, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
- We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4)
- We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. These are not required for salvation. (Mathew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
- We do not believe that the church today has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. Because the Jews rejected the Messiah, the Gospel has come to the Gentiles and Jesus established His Church during this dispensation. God’s plan for Israel has not yet been completed.
The Ordinances
Spiritual Gifts and the Ministry
- We believe Baptism is the immersion, one time, in water, of a believer pronounced in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to show by solemn symbolism, the believer’s identification with Christ bound by His death, burial, and resurrection. We believe Baptism is an act of obedience and a prerequisite to local church membership. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36; Romans 6:3-5; I Peter 3:21)
- We believe the Lord’s Supper is partaking of bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ’s body and blood, commemorating His suffering and death for us, that participation is for all those who are believers and have examined themselves for sin and are in fellowship with the Lord and others. (I Corinthians 11:23-29)
- We believe the Lord’s Supper is partaking of bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ’s body and blood, commemorating His suffering and death for us, that participation is for all those who are believers and have examined themselves for sin and are in fellowship with the Lord and others. (I Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe for the purpose of winning the lost and strengthening believers, the Holy Spirit bestows His Spiritual gifts on members of the body at salvation according to His own will. Initially, some of these gifts were for use as signs for confirmation of the spoken word of the disciples. We believe, with the completion of the written Word of God in the New Testament Scriptures, these miraculous gifts, such as tongues, prophecy, and healing were no longer necessary and were replaced by permanently bestowed gifts as outlined in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12. We believe, however, that God by His almighty power, still answers prayer in miraculous ways, in accordance with His own will to show His sovereignty and might.
(I Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; Mark 16:20; Hebrew 2:4; Revelation 22:18-19)
(I Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; Mark 16:20; Hebrew 2:4; Revelation 22:18-19)
Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the Government and 3) the Church. 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 their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)
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 and for the relief of those in need, and to spread the Gospel. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; I John 3:17)
Missions
We believe in the responsibility of each believer, motivated by the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to witness for Christ and to live sacrificially for the proclamation of the Gospel into all the world.
We believe that God has given the church a great privilege and mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe and ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go locally and globally not waiting for any to come to us. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20; Revelations 5:9)
Marriage, Family, and Sexual Conduct
- We believe that God created male and female as distinct acts of creation and that being male and female was an aspect of how they were created in His own image (Genesis 1:27 and 2:7; 18-19). Marriage is the joining of these two distinct genders into one flesh. Thus we believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, in a lifetime commitment to each other, and that marriage and the family constitute the foundation of civil society. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-8, I Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:31, 33) Marriage provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression (Genesis 2:25; Ephesians 5:31-33), procreation, and reflects the relationship of Christ and His Church (Genesis 1:28; Proverbs 5:15-19; I Corinthians 7:1-5).
- Because God has created a man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife thus setting the very foundation of marriage between a man and woman, we believe that God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself. Since marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, the Church will only recognize marriages between one biological man and one biological woman. The mystery and miracle of a man and a woman becoming one in marriage is a celebration. Therefore, because marriage is a picture of Christ and His Church, marriage is a worship service as we honor God and His Word.
- We believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. Thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception. (Psalm 127 and 128; Psalm 139:13-16)
- We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Exodus 20:14, 17, 19; Leviticus 18:1-30; Deuteronomy 22:15; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9, 15-20; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; I Timothy 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:4). Such sinful patterns, if not repented, will be a barrier to membership, employment, and leadership in this church.
- Because God has created a man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife thus setting the very foundation of marriage between a man and woman, we believe that God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself. Since marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, the Church will only recognize marriages between one biological man and one biological woman. The mystery and miracle of a man and a woman becoming one in marriage is a celebration. Therefore, because marriage is a picture of Christ and His Church, marriage is a worship service as we honor God and His Word.
- We believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. Thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception. (Psalm 127 and 128; Psalm 139:13-16)
- We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Exodus 20:14, 17, 19; Leviticus 18:1-30; Deuteronomy 22:15; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9, 15-20; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; I Timothy 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:4). Such sinful patterns, if not repented, will be a barrier to membership, employment, and leadership in this church.