WHAT WE BELIEVE

(A) The Holy Scriptures:
 
We believe the 66 books of Old and New Testament Scriptures are the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God- breathed and are, therefore, the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end and truth without any mixture of error for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore, is, and shall remain the only center of truth. It shall be the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. The Bible not only contains the words of God but is the very Word of God. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the pastor. The Authorized King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used in the church for authoritative teaching. (Psalm 12:6-7, 119:89, 105,130, 160; Isaiah 8:20; 1 Thes. 2:13, 5:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16, 28:25; Luke 245-27; Roman 3:4; Ephesians 6:17)
 
(B) Dispensationalism:
 
We believe that the Scriptures are to be interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations (rules of life, periods of revelation) that define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28; Math 16:13-19; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 20:2-6)
 
(C) The Godhead:
 
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. He is the supreme ruler of Heaven and Earth. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14)
 
(D) 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, he is 100% God in 100% the body of Man. Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men, all of whom will have the ability to choose him. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 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; that the salvation of sinners is of grace though personal faith; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, that His atonement consisted not in setting 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. Our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
 
     (3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended after his death and resurrection 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. (Math. 28:19-20; Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)
 
(E) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
 
     (1) We believe that the Holy Spirit (also referred to as the Holy Ghost, Matthew 1:18) is the person of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, while magnifying the Lord Jesus Christ; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into family of God, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption, and edifying the body of Christ (the local church). (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 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, deacons, and teachers to equip believers in the church to 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 and have ceased. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, although God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)
 
(F) The Depravity of Man:
 
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, a triune being: body, soul, and spirit; but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, as he willfully sins thereby becoming alienated from God and incurred spiritual and physical death. Man is depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. All mankind has the need of the salvation offered to them in faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)
 
(G) Salvation:
 
     (1) 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. Justifying them by pardoning of their sin and the promise of eternal life with Christ. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable, and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own voluntary rejection of the Gospel, by which they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Salvation must be a personal choice made by every human being. Salvation is given and not inherited by birth, baptism, force, church membership, or title. Each person must choose whether to accept the free gift of salvation according to scripture or reject that gift, rejection is sure condemnation. We reject all forms of Calvinism and salvation by works. (Isaiah 1:18, 53; Matt. 12:31-32; Luke 5:27; John 1:12, 3:3,18-19, 5:40; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:15-21, 8:33-39, 16:25-26, Eph. 1:7,13, 2:8-10; 2 Cor. 1:22, 5:17; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Tim 2:5; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9)
 
     (2) We believe every believer after salvation is commanded to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12). This process is called sanctification and is not the process of working for or earning salvation as the goal. Sanctification is the process by which we are made partakers of the holiness of God. It is a progressive work that begins when we are born again and is carried out in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is accomplished by the reading and application of the Word of God, self-examination in the Spirit, and a prayer-walk with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:3; 1 John 2:29)
 
(H) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers:

     (1) We believe that Salvation cannot be lost once it is obtained. We believe that all those who have accepted Christ as Savior are kept by God’s power and not of our own, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are thus secure in Christ forever. We reject all teachings of annihilation, figurative/allegorical punishment, and intermediary/purgatory/temporary punishment. (Ephesians 4:30; John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5)
 
    (2) 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. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
 
(I) The Local Church:
 
    (1) We believe that the local church is the visible church of Christ on Earth, which is the body, and the espoused bride of Christ, solely made up of born-again, baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and the fellowship of the Gospel. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
 
     (2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and   defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
 
     (3) We believe the local church is independent and thus an autonomous local church free of any external authority or controls, and any affiliations, societies, organizations, associations, or agencies this church affiliates with to further the objectives stated in the Purpose Statement are not authoritative in matters of church practice or belief. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)
 
     (4) Scriptural Church Ordinances of obedience for the Local Church in this age
          4a. We recognize water baptism by complete immersion in water as the first Ordinance given to the local church. Done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to show forth the emblem of faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior with its effect on our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
          4b. We believe the second and last Ordinance given to the local church is the Lord’s Supper, consisting of two elements: unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice. This is a time of remembrance given to the Local Church Body to be observed by the Local Church Body. It is preceded by self-examination and can only be administered under the authority of the New Testament Church. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-38; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
 
     (5) The two offices of the Church
          5a. We believe that Christ is the head of the church the shepherd of the flock. We believe that the Holy Spirit calls, enables, and positions the Pastor (also referenced in scripture as elder and bishop) as the under-shepherd of the local church under Christ’s leadership, and this is the first office of the Church.
          5b. We believe that the second and final office given to the local church in scripture is the office of Deacon. We believe a Deacon must first meet all Biblical qualifications as set forth in scripture and then called by the local assembly. The calling and Ordination of deacon must be from this local church (Acts 6).
 
(J) Separation:
 
We believe that believers should maintain a godly testimony and live in such a way that that their lives do not bring reproach upon their Savior. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, and permanently marring the body in any way. We stand against any and all worldly philosophies that seek to destroy or undermine the truth of Biblical Christianity. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
 
(K) The Return 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 (the second coming), 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, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
 
(L) The Eternal State:
     (1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all mankind, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 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)

(M) The Personality of Satan:
 
We believe that Satan is a literal created Angel of God, who because of his pride was cast out of Heaven. He is the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man. We believe Satan, is called the evil one, devil, deceiver, old serpent, the price of the power of the air, but he is not all powerful, all knowing, nor is he everywhere at all times. He and his false trinity shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
 
(N) Creation:
 
We believe in the Genesis account of the origin of the universe, it is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of God’s creation of the universe and everything contained in it from Creation till the present, in six literal, 24-hour days. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution, and any teaching that does not agree with the above statement as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)