BIBLE:
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God and infallible in their original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOD:
We believe there is one God, Who is self-existent, eternal, and infinite in every excellence, and Who has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. Deuteronomy 6:4, 32:4; Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; John 1:1-13, 14:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:11; 1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:8; Matthew 18:19
MAN:
We believe that man was created innocent and that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5
SAVIOR:
We believe in Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and man. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5
(1) That His personal manifestation or incarnation was by means of the Virgin birth, the sinless life, the vicarious death, the bodily resurrection and the glorious ascension. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 20:27-28; Romans 3:14-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19
(2) That His heavenly ministry continues throughout this age as High Priest and Intercessor. Hebrews 4:15, 7:25; 1 John 2:1
SALVATION:
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith and in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
To those who accept the gospel by sincere repentance and obedient faith, such believers are saved and are also eternally secure. Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 7:22-23; John 10:28-29; Acts 17:30, 20:21, 26:20, Romans 1:15-17, 8:28; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:16; 1 John 2:19;
HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe also in the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit.
(1) As the One who convicts the human heart of sin by the Word of Truth, and brings about the divine work of regeneration. John 3:1-21, 16:7-11; Titus 3:5-6
(2) As the One who indwells and fills the believer’s life for holiness and service unto God. Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:18
(3) And as the One who continually assures the believer of his relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:9-17, 26-27
SATAN:
We believe that Satan is a created being; that he adorned a lofty position in God’s creation, but fell from that position when he sinned against God. 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, that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28; Matthew 4:2-11; Revelation 20:10
THE CHURCH:
We believe in the church as the body of Christ.
(1) It is an autonomous congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. Matthew 18:15-18; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-13, 5:12-13;
(2) That its Spiritual ordinances are believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 3:15-16; Acts 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
(3) That its Scriptural function is to build up the local church body of believers in the faith and to extend that gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:7-16
SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
(1) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts. To each Christian is given a spiritual enablement. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
(2) That the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for today for the equipping of the saints. Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10
(3) That sign-gifts such as speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. We believe that God is not giving new and added revelation through dreams, prophecy or visions during this latter phase of the Church Age. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4
ORDINANCES:
(1) Baptism: We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of the believer, in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit; to show forth symbolically our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior.
(2) The Lord’s Supper: The memorial in which the believer commemorates the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ until He comes. The elements used are bread and grape juice. 1 Corinthians 11:26
ESCHATOLOGY:
We believe in the consummation of this present spiritual conflict in the personal, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, and imminent return of our Lord in His rapture for the saints, and in His revelation with His saints; in the eternal punishment of the sinner and Satan in the Lake of Fire; and in the eternal happiness of the redeemed.
Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1-2; Revelation 20:7-15; Revelation 21:1-8
INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
The Bible must be interpreted literally, which is the way language is normally and naturally understood. We recognize that the Bible writers frequently used figurative language, which is a normal and picturesque way of portraying literal truth. The Bible must be understood in the light of the normal use of language, the usage of words, the historical and cultural background, the context of the passage, and the overall teaching of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15).
MISCELLANEOUS:
We believe that:
(1) The Lord’s Day is the first day of the week and should be kept sacred for spiritual purposes. Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14; John 20:19-21; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10-11
(2) The Church and State should be separately maintained as they have been ordained by God, in order to prohibit the growth of either ecclesiastical or political totalitarianism. Daniel 3:15-18, 6:7-10; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-7
