Our Beliefs

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Authority of the Statement of Faith

The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the following Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible.

The following comprise the Scriptural beliefs of this church and its members.

  1. The Holy Scriptures. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the plenary, verbally-inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and practice. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are complete and divine revelation of God to man. We believe God has providentially preserved His Word for all generations. Being a literal and accurate translation of the Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts (Old Testament) and the Greek Textus Receptus (New Testament), we believe the King James Version to be the superior translation of the Bible for the English-speaking world. The Scriptures are to be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by comparing Scripture with Scripture. The Scriptures are eternal in content and existence. The Word of God liveth and abideth forever. (Ps. 119:89; Isa. 28:9-10, 59:21; I Peter 1:23-25; II Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
  2. Dispensationalism. We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which 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 the seven dispensations – the law, the church, and the kingdom – are subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-27; Rev. 20:2-6)
  3. The Godhead. We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons – the 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. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30-33; 14:10, 16, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14; I John 5:7)
  4. The Person and Work of God the Father. We believe in God the Father, a perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end. He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, everywhere present, never changing, and ever loving. He hears and answers prayer, and accepts those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Rev. 4:11; Malachi 3:6; John 4:24; Psalm 99:9, 147:5, 139:7-12; Isaiah 44:24; Mal. 3:6; Matt. 5:48; John 4:24; 6:40; 14:6; I Tim. 2:4; I John 4:8)
  5. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
    1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
    2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ atoned for our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, and substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. We believe Jesus Christ to be the only mediator between God and men. (Matt. 28:5-6; Acts 2:23-24, 30-32; Rom. 1:4; 3:24-25; 4:25; Eph. 1:7; I Tim. 2:5; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 1:3-5)
    3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended 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. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:11, 24; 7:25; I John 2:1-2)
    4. We believe in that “Blessed Hope”, the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to the earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom. (I Thess 1:10, 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16, 20:1-6; I Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10; Titus 2:13)
  6. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
    1. We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:7-11; Rom 2:13-15; 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 3:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; Tit. 3:5)
    2. We believe that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers in understanding and appropriating the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. We further believe that the Holy Spirit always glorifies Christ and not Himself. (John 16:13-14; 14:26; Eph. 1:17-18, 5:18; I John 2:20, 27)
    3. We believe that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they might do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-14, 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. 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, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (I Cor. 1:22, 13:8; 14:21-22; James 5:16)
  7. The Depravity of Man. We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God; but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is depraved, separated from God, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. We believe that all mankind, by the grace of God and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is able to respond to the gospel and by faith receive Christ, and thus receive salvation from sin and condemnation. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom.1:17-32; 3:22-23, 5:12, 14; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19)
  8. Salvation. We believe that man is totally unable to save himself because of his nature and his guilt in the original sin of Adam. All men, therefore, deserve eternal punishment. We further believe that God, who is rich in mercy, sent His only Son to be our Savior; for the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and all who receive Him by faith are justified on the basis of His shed blood; and furthermore, are eternally saved, in light of the perfect, finished work of Christ. (Rom 3:23-25; 5:12, 6:23; John 3:36; I Cor. 15:3-4; Romans 4:5, 12, 24-25; 5:9-12, 15, 21; John 1:12, 10:28-29; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 2:12; Tit. 1:2; 3:7; I Pet. 5:10)
    1. Free Agency (Free Will). We believe that God has given all men the ability to know right from wrong by their conscience, and the free will to either accept or reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 1:11-13; 3:16-18; Rom. 2:13-15, 10:9-13; Acts 26:28; Gal. 3:23; Rev. 22:17)
    2. Repentance. We believe that true salvation requires Biblical repentance, which is manifested by a change of mind and heart toward the sinful practices of the past and an endeavor to have victory over them by the power of Christ who strengthens us to do so. (Acts 17:30; II Cor. 5:17, 7:10; Rom 6:1-4; Phil. 4:13)
    3. Eternal Security. We believe that, once saved, all the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 16-17, 38-39; I Cor. 1:7-8; I Pet. 1:3-5)
    4. The Priesthood of All Believers. We believe that Christ is our Great High Priest and that through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest. We believe that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and apply the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit. (Heb. 5:5-10, 7:25, 10:19-22; II Tim. 2:15; I Pet. 2:5-9; II Peter 1:19-21)
    5. Bible Study. We believe that all members should strive conscientiously to live according to the Scriptures by reading and diligently studying God’s Word daily. We believe that the Holy Spirit assists the Christian in understanding God’s Word and applying it to their manner of living. (Rom. 16:1; I Tim. 3:15; II Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17; II Peter 3:18; John 16:13)
    6. Prayer. We believe that all members should be praying people, both in private and family prayer, because God honors the prayers of those who are ready to obey Him and who pray in accordance with His will. (Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; James 5:16; I Thess. 5:17; I Timothy 2:8; I John 5:14-16)
    7. Separation. We believe that all members should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful practices and associations, and to refrain from all ungodliness. (Rom 12:1-2, 14:13; I Cor. 6:19-20; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
  9. The Church.
    1. The Body and Bride of Christ. We believe that all born-again believers collectively make up a spiritual body identified in Scripture to be the Body of Christ, Jesus Christ being the Head of His body. This company of believers, also identified as the Bride of Christ, will be gathered and perfected at the Rapture. (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:21-21; I Cor. 12:4-31; Matt. 3:11; Heb 12:23, Rev. 19:9; 21:9; 22:17)
    2. The Local Assembly. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local independent churches is clearly taught in the New Testament; that they are the manifestations of the living body until the rapture; that they are organized for the purpose of ministering Christ to the lost world and for the purposes of worship, edification, and fellowship of the believers. We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church; that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is the responsibility of the church to follow the pattern of the New Testament, and is directly accountable to God. (Acts 2:41-42; 11:26; 14:23-27; Galatians 1:2; I Tim. 3:15; Titus 1:5-11; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 12:27; Heb. 10:24-25)
    3. Two Ordinances of the New Testament Church.
      1. Baptism. We believe that baptism is the immersion of a true believer into water in the name of the Triune God; that it is in obedience to Christ following conversion; that it is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior, and likewise of the believer in his regeneration experience as passing from death unto life; and that water baptism is not an automatic means of obtaining membership into the local church (see Section 3.01 for qualifications for membership); and that baptism has no saving merit. (Romans 6:1-5; Matt. 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-38, 2:41; I Peter 3:21; Acts 9:18, 16:14-15, 31-33)
      2. The Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an observance commemorating the death of our Lord on Calvary; that the provision of bread and the fruit of the vine are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood; that the partaking is only for believers; and that faithful self-examination should precede its observance; and that the ordinance has no saving merit. (Matt. 26:21-30; I Cor. 11:17-34)
    4. Missions. We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we should strive to use all available means to go to foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20)
    5. Giving. We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to financially support his local church. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (For designated contributions, see Section 7.01.) (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Mal. 3:8; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17-18; I John 3:17)
    6. Music in the Church. We believe that our music must be in harmony with the Word and character of God. Our praise and worship of God through music, consisting of hymns and spiritual songs, must therefore be acceptable to a Holy God and must not be tainted nor polluted with any of the characteristics of carnal, worldly music, which appeal to and stimulate carnal reactions. We therefore oppose the philosophy of the Contemporary Christian Music movement. (Ex. 15:1; I Chr. 16:9, 23; II Chr. 15:14; Ps. 9:11; 13:6; 18:49; 30:4; 40:1-3, 47:6, 66:2, 4; 89:5; 118:14; 119:1; 147:1; Rom. 15:9; I Cor. 10:31; Eph 4:29, 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Rev. 5:9-10, 15:3-4)
    7. The Second Coming of Christ. We believe that Christ may at any time return in the air to rapture the saints and that there shall be a seven year tribulation period, after which He will come to the earth with His saints, and rule for a thousand years. After this, will follow the Great White Throne Judgment, where all the wicked will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. We believe in “that blessed hope”; the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation, and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Dan. 12:1-2; Rev. 20:1-6; I Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9-10; Acts 1:1-11; Phil. 3:20-21; Rev. 3:10; I Cor. 15:51-57; Matt 24:15-31)
  10. Satan. We believe in the existence of Satan, the Devil, who was created as a perfect angelic being; who willfully led a host of other angels in rebellion against God; who is the father of sin and wickedness; who is the accuser of saints and tempter of all men; and who shall be eternally punished in the “lake of fire” with his followers at the end of time. We further believe that he is the deceiver and god of this present world; that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God. He was defeated in Christ’s work of redemption, and, therefore, his final doom is certain. We believe that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Isa. 14:12-27; Ezek. 28:12-19; Rev. 12:10, 20:10-15; Matt. 4:1-11; I John 3:8; Heb. 2:14; Eph. 2:2; 6:10-18; II Cor. 4:4; Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7; John 8:44; I Thess. 3:5)
  11. Creation. We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
  12. Civil Government. We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and are to be governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and has balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom 13:1-7, Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14)
  13. The Final Judgment and Our Eternal State.We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting, conscious blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost. (John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:46; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23)
    1. The Saved We believe that the souls of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the judgment seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own; and that a man regenerated through Jesus Christ has the blessed hope and joy of eternal life with God in Heaven and in the new Heaven and earth to be established at the end of time. (Eccl. 12:7; I Cor. 3:11-15; II Cor. 5:10; John 3:16, I Thess. 4:13-18; Tit. 2:13; II Peter 1:4; Rev. 21:1-21)
    2. The Unsaved We believe that the soul of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell (Hades), where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, judged, and cast into the Great Lake of Fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment. We believe that a man rejecting Christ as his Savior is doomed to this just and eternal punishment. (Dan. 12:2; Heb. 9:27; Luke 16:19-31; Rom. 2:8-9; Rev. 20:10-15; John 3:17-20, 3:35-36)
  14. Human Sexuality.
    1. We believe that God has forbidden intimate sexual activity outside of scriptural marriage. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
    2. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
  15. Family Relationships
    1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate roles and responsibilities for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the head of the home, having Christ as the Head of the man. (I Cor. 11:3; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 5:23-28; Col. 3:18)
    2. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to scripturally submit herself to the leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, by means of a consistent lifestyle, godly example, and appropriate discipline, which includes scriptural, corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
  16. Divorce and Remarriage. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:12-16; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
  17. Abortion. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical convenience or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
  18. Euthanasia. We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission, which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering, constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. However, discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)
  19. Love. We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
  20. Lawsuits Between Believers. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)