1. THE SCRIPTURES:
We believe the Holy Bible, as originally (original autographs) written by Holy Spirit-controlled men, is inerrant in every respect, infallible, and verbally and plenarily inspired. We believe the Bible is the complete, final, and authoritative revelation of God's Will and Word, therefore being the absolute authority for Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conducts, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. By Scriptures we mean the 39 books of the Old Testament, and the 27 books of the New Testament, always accepted by historical fundamental Christian churches. 1 Cor. 2:11-14; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
2. THE TRIUNE GOD:
We believe there is only one living and True God, Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth, infinitely glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. We believe the True God, the Godhead, is composed of three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each having the same nature and attributes, being equal in divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious ministries in the great work of redemption. All three are coeternal, co preexistent, coessential.
We believe that God is revealed to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Creation, in the written Word, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Gen. 1:1, 26; Ex. 15:11; Isa. 7:14; 45:5,6,18,21,22; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Mk. 12:29,30; John 10:30,36; 14:6-10,16,17; Rom. 1:19,20; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:4-7;' Col. 2:9; 1 Cor. 8:6; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 4:11
3. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, truly man/truly God, and that He is the Son of God, the Son of man, and God the Son. He is the Eternal Living God. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:8-25; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 1:31-35 ; 2:7-11; 9:56; Jn. 1:1-4 , 18 ; 5:17-23 ; 8:58; 17:6; Acts 7:56; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:5-11; Col 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:9,14-16; Rev. 1:8
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe the person of the Holy Spirit is God, who is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service. He was active in creation. In His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the wicked one until God's purpose is fulfilled, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the agent in the new birth, indwells every true believer, and is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with ourselves or our experiences. He comforts, baptizes, anoints, seals, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, fills, distributes gifts to, sanctifies and helps the believer. Gen. 1:1,2; Job 33:4; Jn. 3:5,6; 4:23,24; 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7-11,13-35; Acts 1:8-2:18; 4:8,31; Rom. 8:9; 1 4 , 1 6 , 26 , 27 ; 15: 16,19 ; 1 Cor. 2:11-14; 3:16; 6:19,20; 12:7-11; Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30,31; 5:18; 2 Thess. 2:6,7; 1 Jn. 2:27
5. SATAN:
We believe in the person of Satan (Lucifer, the fallen angel, that old Serpent, the Devil, the author of sin and all the powers of darkness, the unholy god of this age, the prince of the kingdom of darkness, the prince of demons). He deceives the whole world and endeavors to keep souls from coming to the saving knowledge of Christ. He is the enmity with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. He is the accuser of the Brethren, destined to the judgment of eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Gen. 3:1-4; Job 1:6-12; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezk. 28:12-19; Matt. 4:1-11; 25:41; Lk. 13:16; 2 Cor. 4:3,4; Eph. 2:2; 6:11,12; Col. 1:13 ; Jas. 4:4,7; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Jn. 5:18; Rev. 12:9,10; 20:10
6. THE CREATION:
We believe the Genesis account of Creation is literal and historical. We believe man came by direct creation of God, created as full man, and not by evolution. Genesis Ch. 1 & 2; Col. 1:10-17; John 1:3
7. MAN:
We believe man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, and in innocence under the law of His creator. By voluntary transgression he fell from his sinless and happy state, making all mankind sinners, not only by nature, but also by choice. Therefore all are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6; Isa. 45:11-13; Jer. 7:9; Rom. 1:18-20; 5:9-19,23; Rom. 5:12,16,13,19; Eph. 2:1-3
8. ATONEMENT:
We believe in the voluntary, substitutionary, and propitiatory sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who partook of the nature of man, yet without sin. We believe by His personal obedience to the divine law, He was made a curse for the sinner, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. He was crucified, dead and buried, and rose again on the third day. He is the only means of salvation, for the sins of all mankind. We believe that no efforts or attitudes of man can add the least bit to the value of the precious blood or to the merit of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is ascended and enthroned in Heaven, sitting on the right hand of God as our high priest and advocate. Thus, He is the powerful and effectual Savior for all who accept Him by faith. Deut. 21:23; Isa. 53:4-7; Ps. 22: 1 8; Acts 4:12; 7:56; Rom. 3:24-26; 4:24, 25; 5:6-8; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Col. 1:13,14; 2:13,14; Eph. 2:8,9; Heb. 1:3; 2:9,14; 4:15; 7:25-27; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn. 2:1,2; 4:10
9. OF GRACE IN THE NEW BIRTH:
We believe, in order to be saved, sinners must be "born again." This new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus accomplished solely by the grace of God. It is an instantaneous act, not a process. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is born into the family of God and receives a new nature and eternal life freely from God. This new creation is brought about in a manner-above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth - the Word of God – so to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Jn. 3:3, 6, 8; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 6:4,23; 2 Cor. 5:17,19; Gal. 2:20; 5:22, 23; Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:13; 3:1-3,10; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Jn. 3; 5:1,11-13
10. SALVATION:
We believe salvation includes all the spiritual blessings of the gospel, justification, redemption, sanctification, and glorification which Christ secured by His death and resurrection. We believe it is received by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. Justification includes the pardon and forgiveness of sins on the basis of righteousness through faith. Sanctification is the position of the believer in union with Christ: Initially the believer is sanctified and set apart at salvation: Secondly he is sanctified through his growth in the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit; and finally he is glorified through his complete union in Christ when called to be with Him. Acts 13:39; 20:32; Rom. 5:1-9: 8:1, 29, 30; 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Eph. 4:1; Col. 3:1, 2; Titus 3:7; Heb. 10:10, 14; Jude 1
11. ASSURANCE OF THE BELIEVER'S SALVATION:
We believe once joined to Jesus Christ, the believer can never be separated from "the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The believer's salvation is eternally secure. Jn. 6:47, 10:28: Rom. 8:35-39; 1 Cor. 6:17; Phil. 1:6; 1 Jn. 5:13; Jude 1
12. THE CHURCH:
A. The Church of Jesus Christ:
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ was begun at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven, and is composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It is the body and bride of Christ, the building for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head and Lord of this total body. Acts 2:1-4, 41-47; Rom. 12:4,5; Cor. 1:2, 3:9; 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22,23; 2:19-22; 4:3-6, Col. 1:18 1 Peter 2:5
B. The Local Church:
We believe the local church is a body or congregation of true believers in Christ, gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, associated by love and fellowship, sharing the responsibilities and privileges as found in God's Word, obeying the commandments of Christ, meeting for worship, keeping the ordinances of Christ, the study of God's Word, fellowship and prayer. Its supreme mission is to preach the gospel, faithfully witnessing of Christ to all men (including children) as it has opportunity.
We believe the local church has the absolute right to self government free from the interference and influence of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only head is Christ, who directs the church through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Mt. 18:20, 28:19; Mk. 10:13-16; 16:15; Jn. 14:15; Acts 1:8; 2:41,42, 6:1-5; 15:13-18; 20:17-35;1 Cor. 11:2, 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 1:1, 4:11 5:23, 24; Phil. 1:1 ; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-1 3 ; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:5; 1 Peter 5:1-4
13. ORDINANCES:
We believe water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. They are not to be regarded as means of salvation.
A. Baptism:
We believe Christian baptism is the total immersion of the believer's burial with Christ and being in effect resurrected into a new life for Christ. This act of commitment is a public testimony of the believer’s faith. Mt. 3:16; 28:19; Jn. 3:23; Acts 2:41; 8:26-39; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12
B. The Lord's Supper:
Partaking of the Lord's Supper is open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no prerequisite to being a member of this church body. It is designated as a solemn time of remembrance, self-examination, rededication, as well as a renewal of looking for His coming. Mt. 26:26-30; Mk. 14: 22-26; Lk. 22:19, 20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Cor. 11:23-34, On self-examination: Mt. 5:21-26
14. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT:
We believe civil governments are 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 who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. Ex. 18:21, 22; 2 Sam. 23:3; Dan. 3:17, 18; Mt. 22:21; Acts 4:19, 5:20, 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1, 2
15. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED:
We believe there is a radical difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those who through faith obey the gospel by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior are truly righteous in God's sight, in that He looks at them only through the death of His Son. All who in rejection, rebellion, and unbelief are wicked in His sight, are lost, and under the curse. The souls of the lost remain after death in misery and torment until the final judgment of the Great White Throne, when soul and body, reunited at the resurrection, shall be cast "into the Lake of Fire" which is "the second death", to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power". The souls of the righteous immediately pass into Christ's presence at death, to remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body reunited shall be with Him forever in Glory. Prov. 14:32; Mal. 3:18; Mt. 22:11-13, 25:24-41; Lk. 16:23-31; Jn. 5:28,29, 3:21,24, 14:2,3; Rom. 6:6-20; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:23, 3:20,21; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 2 Thess. 1:8,9; Heb. 9:27,28; 1 Jn. 3:1-3; Rev. 20:5,15, 21:8, 22:11
16. THE RESURRECTION AND RELATED EVENTS:
A. We believe in Bodily Resurrection. Mt. 28:6, 7; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:2-6; Jn. 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4
B. We believe in the Resurrection of the Righteous Dead. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18
C. We believe in the Ascension of Christ. Mk. 16:19; Lk. 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21
D. We believe in the change of those living in Christ. 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18
E. We believe in the High Priesthood. 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:1; 5:9, 10; 1 Jn. 2: l
F. We believe in the Return of Christ the bodily, personal, premillennial Return of Jesus Christ. He will come before the seven year tribulation period to catch away His Church, coming only into the air. He will come with His Church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His Kingdom on earth. Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thes. 4:13-18 Heb. 9:28; Jas. 5:8; Rev. 19:11-21
G. We believe in the Judgment Seat of Christ. Mt. 12:36; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:10
H. We believe in the Millennial Reign. Ps. 72:8; Isa. 11:4, 5; 32:1; 1 Cor. 15:25; Rev. 20:4, 6
I. We believe in the Great White Throne Judgment. Rev.20:11-15
J. We believe in the new heaven and the new earth. Rev. 21:1-5, 17
17. THE MATTER OF TONGUES
We believe that the gift of tongues was, like the gifts of apostleship and prophecy, given for the founding of the church and is therefore not likely being given today. Believers should base their experiences on the written Word of God and seek to use the more important gifts and cultivate Christ-likeness, none of which requires the use of tongues. 1 Cor. 12:23, 13:8, 14:21, 22; Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph. 2:20
