Beliefs

The Bible

We believe in the verbal, plenary, inspiration of the scriptures which extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings as they appeared in the original manuscripts. The whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error, and for the purpose of learning truth it may be assumed that our present copies of the Bible are accurate reproductions of the original writings and our translations are inerrant to the degree that they represent the original manuscripts. Scriptural Basis: II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; Matthew 24:35; Luke 24:44; John 5:39; 14:15,21-26; 17:17; Acts 20:32

The Trinity

We believe that there is one God and only one, who is self-existent, eternal and infinite in every excellence, and has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. Scriptural Basis: Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:4; I Corinthians 10:4; John 1:1-13; I Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:8; John 14:8-9,26; 15:26; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-11; Matthew 28:19.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of Man, came into the world to save men from the guilt and condemnation of sin. He died on the cross, was buried and rose again. Offering His blood as the basis for our reconciliation to God, He made eternal life available to all who exercise faith in Him. He ever lives to make intercession for believers at the right hand of the throne of God. Scriptural Basis: John 1:1-14,29; Hebrews 1:3; Luke 1:26-35; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:20-26; John 3:14-16; Galatians 6:14; Matthew 26:28; Acts 16:31; John 6:53; Titus 2:11; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Galatians 1:8-9; Hebrews 7:25.

The Holy Spirit

In addition to the convicting and regenerating ministries of the Holy Spirit, we believe in the indwelling and anointing of all who are saved, thereby sealing them unto the day redemption in heaven. Every Christian is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ the moment the person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation. The continual filling ministry of the Holy Spirit for power, teaching, and service is conditional upon the believer’s yieldedness to Him and obedience to His will. We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues or being able to miraculously heal were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Spirit, and that the deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. Scriptural Basis: John 3:6; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; I John 2:20-27; Acts 4:8, 31; Romans 8:23; I Corinthians 13:8; John 16:7-11; I Corinthians 12:3; I John 4:1-3; I Corinthians 2:14.

The Fall

We believe that man was created innocent. By disobedience of the command of God he fell, thereby losing his innocence, becoming subject to death and to the eternal displeasure of God. Scriptural Basis: Genesis 1:27, 31; Genesis 3; Psalm 9:17; 14:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Matthew 25:46; Romans 1:18-2:16; I Corinthians 15:22; I John 1:8.

Salvation

We believe that trusting Jesus Christ alone and what He did on the cross of Calvary brings forgiveness of sins and justification, through which we are declared righteous, and are brought into a state of peace and favor with God. Scriptural Basis: Ephesians 1:3, 7; Romans 4:4-5; 5:1.

Faith

We believe that the human means by which salvation is secured in faith alone, whereby we turn unto God with a repentant contrite heart and receive Jesus Christ as the all-sufficient Savior. Scriptural Basis: Acts 3:19; Romans 2:4; II Peter 3:9; John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9.

God’s Plan

We believe God’s purpose in the salvation of men is that He may have a people of His own, a purchased possession, who are being conformed to the image of His Son and who are to be presented perfect before Him in the ages to come. This purpose is made effectual by the giving of His Son and the constraining and regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit upon all who have been chosen by Him. However, this purpose does not void the freedom of man’s will nor render inoperative the proclamation of the gospel to all. Scriptural Basis: Ephesians 1:4; John 3:6-8; 6:44; John 1:12-13; Colossians 1:27; I Peter 1:2; James 1:18; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12-13; John 5:40; Romans 10:13-16.

Security

We believe that the security of believers is resident in the person of Jesus Christ. Believers are “kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.” Thus they can never lose their salvation. The sure evidence of a believer’s salvation is his patient continuance and progress in righteousness and true holiness. Scriptural Basis: Romans 8:35-39; I Peter 1:5; John 10:27-29; Hebrews 3:14; I John 5:11-13; Matthew 24:13; I Peter 1:23.

The Ordinances

We believe that the ordinances of the gospel are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ. Baptism is done “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and symbolizes the fact of our death with Christ on the cross, and our resurrection with Him into newness of life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of His dying love and symbolizes the fact that the believer is continuously spiritually fed and nourished by Christ. Scriptural Basis: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:51-58,63; Acts 2:41-44;I Cor 11:23-29.

The Church

We believe the Spiritual Church includes the whole company of believers of this age of whatever race, and is known only to the eyes of God. The Visible Church is a local assembly of believers observing the ordinances, methods and principles of a local church laid down in the New Testament. Scriptural Basis: Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:27; 2:19-21; 1:22-23; I Corinthians 12:27-28; 1:2; 11:2; Romans 6:17; II Timothy 1:13.

Sunday

We believe that the first day of the week is to be observed as the Lord’s Day. It is a day for the local church to gather and worship the Lord. Scriptural Basis: Revelation 1:10; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:25; Galatians 4:9-10; 2:16-17; Romans 14:5.

Civil Government

We believe that Civil Government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. We believe that governmental officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed. Consequently civil disobedience is rebellion against God except when government requires things opposed to the will of Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Scriptural Basis: Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:18-20; Ephesians 1:20-22.

The Rapture

We believe the coming of the Lord to gather His saints to Himself will be the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy, and will be followed by the Tribulation during which time the church, the body of Christ, will be in Heaven. The period of great tribulation on the earth will be climaxed by the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His Millennial Kingdom. Scriptural Basis: John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 24:25-51; Acts 1:11; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 1:7; 20:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

The Resurrection

We believe there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust; the just for blessedness and reward; the unjust for judgment and eternal doom. Scriptural Basis: II Corinthians 5:10; I Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 20:10-15; Mark 9:44-48; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Luke 20:35-38; I Corinthians 15:22-24.

Angels

We believe that Angels are a spiritual order of created personal beings above man in God’s arrangement. Their office is to be ministering spirits in carrying out God’s plan. Lucifer was one of the highest ranking cherubim, but through pride fell and became Satan or the Devil. A great number of angels fell with him, now called demons who serve Satan in a very organized world system. Other fallen angels are imprisoned in darkness awaiting the final day of judgment. Satan is now the accuser of believers and the active enemy of God and His purposes. He is called the prince of the power of the air. He and his host of demons will be cast into the Lake of Fire before the judgment of the Great White Throne. Scriptural Basis: Luke 15:10; Hebrews 1:14; 2:6-7; Revelation 7:11-12; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; II Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-16; Ephesians 6:10-12; Revelation 20:1-3,10.