Statement of Faith
Trinity
We believe in one true God who is manifest in three eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1 John 5:7, Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19
Adam and Eve
We believe the Genesis account of creation is historical, not allegorical or figurative. We believe Adam was a historical person, created by the direct act of God and in his image (Genesis 1-2). Adam chose to sin against God through the free will God gave him and reaped the wages of death. As the originator of the human race, Adam passed his sinful nature to all mankind (Romans 5:12). All men are sinners by birth and become sinners in experience (Romans 3) for which the wages are death (Romans 6:23).
Salvation
We believe salvation is by God’s grace alone on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in his resurrection, appropriated by the faith of anyone who will recognize that their sin separates them from God, turn from their sin to God by personally believing in their heart that Jesus is risen, and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10). We believe the act of salvation is just as definite and decisive as physical birth (John 3:1-7). We believe this salvation cannot be reversed or lost and that believers are kept by the power of God (John 10:28-29, 1 John 2:19, Romans 8:35-39, 1 Peter 1:5).
Satan
Satan is a real, created, historical being, not allegorical or figurative. Satan is God’s enemy and seeks to keep unbelievers lost (II Corinthians 4:3-4; Acts 26:18) and Christians defeated (I Peter 5:8; Daniel 7:25). Satan is a fallen cherub who was lifted up in pride and rebelled against God, leading an army of angelic beings with him (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-18; II Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:4). His defeat was sealed by the work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 2:14). His final destiny is the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10).
The Bible
The Bible is God’s word. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16) and God has promised to preserve every jot and tittle of what He inspired (Matthew 5:18). The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit and is therefore the truth of God without any mixture of error (II Peter 1:20-21). We hold to the Authorized Version (King James Bible) as the inerrant standard for English speaking people and believe we find within it the certainty of the words of truth (Psalm12:6-7; Proverbs 22:20-21).
The Church
The local assembly of believers (the church) is God’s instrument in this age. While all genuine, born-again believers in Christ share an organic, family relationship, the overwhelming number of references of the word “church” in the Bible apply to a local, visible assembly of believers (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16). At the second coming of Christ, all genuine believers from the time of Christ’s ascension will be united together as the body of Christ (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Until then, it is the responsibility of each local church to continue in evangelism, discipleship and missions both independently and interdependently (Matthew 28:18-20). Each local assembly should be as self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating as possible, practicing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper and operating under the leadership of those who hold the office of pastor (also known as bishop or elder) and assisted by those who hold the office of deacon (Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-34; I Timothy 3:1-13; I Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17). Every member of the local church has the responsibility to minister the word of God and support the ministry through prayer, holy living, tithes, and offerings (I Corinthians 16:2; Malachi 3:10; Acts 4:34-37; II Corinthians 8:7; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-4).
The Return of Christ
We believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and great glory to judge the world and reign (Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). We believe that shortly before Christ’s Second Coming, all genuine believers will be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52) followed by a seven-year period of tribulation on earth during which time God will judge his people Israel and all without Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:1-11, Matthew 24). That period of tribulation will be ended by Christ’s personal return to rule for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6, Matthew 25:31-46).
Historic and Fundamental Doctrines of the Faith
We believe in the historic and fundamental doctrines of the Faith with regard to:
A. The Deity of Christ (1 Timothy 3:16)
B. The Virgin Birth (Matthew 1:18-25)
C. Christ’s Blood Atonement for Our Sin (Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14,22)
D. The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus (Romans 10-9; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20)
E. The Second Coming of Christ (Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-16; Isaiah 66:15-18)
Judgment
All mankind will spend eternity either with Christ or eternally separated from Him. The lost who die wait in a literal hell for the day of final judgment where they will be punished for their sin in a literal lake of fire. This is an event known as the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Those who have accepted Christ as Savior will immediately be with the Lord when they die physically (II Corinthians 5:6-8) and one day experience a bodily resurrection to everlasting life (Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-58). The saved will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive either rewards or loss of rewards based upon their stewardship of faithful service to the Lord (Romans 14:10; II Corinthians 5:10).
Dispensations
We subscribe to a moderate dispensationalism, which means we “rightly divide the word of truth” in acknowledging God has dispensed eternal life by grace through faith in different ways at different times in human history. (Colossians 1:25-27; Ephesians 3:1-10).
Discipleship
We believe in the responsibility of the local church to disciple Christians in the Word of God and its doctrines. Our pattern of discipleship is based on the example of Christ’s earthly ministry and the life of the Apostle Paul. We are a disciple-making church. (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:1-3; Acts 18:8-11; Acts 20:19-20).
Marriage
We believe that the only legitimate, scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally born man and one naturally born woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23).