The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbal and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and Divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal literal, grammatical-historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
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 these dispensations – the age of law, the age of the church, and the age of the kingdom are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; 2:2-6)
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each Co-eternal in being, Co-identical in nature, Co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26). The Father is God- John 6:27; Rom. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2. The Son is God – Is. 44:6; John 1:1; John 20:28. Heb. 1:8; Jude 1:17, 24. The Holy Spirit is God – Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16.
The Person and Work of 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; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; John 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 9:26).
(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:1-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 13:12; 1 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; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; Acts 1:3; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:4; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
(1) We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8- 11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:13-14).
(2) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and interpret the Scriptures (Eph. 1:17-18; 1 John 2:20, 27).
(3) We believe that through the power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit, God bestows spiritual gifts to every believer in accordance to Scripture (Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet 4:10, 11; 1 Cor. 13:13-14). Also, that God, through His Holy Spirit, Uniquely uses the ministry of evangelists, pastors, and teachers to; edify, teach, exhort, and challenge believers to do the work of the ministry.
The Total 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; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26-27; John 3:18; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Titus 3:5).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Eph 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
(1) We believe that all redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5).
(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:18; Titus 2:11-15).
The Church
(1) We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again baptized believers (Mat. 28:19; Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27).
(2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42; 14:27; 16:4; Acts 20:17; 28:32; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
(3) We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority of control (Mat. 18:17; Acts 1:23; 6:3; 13:14; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1,4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 12:25, 26, 27; 1 Peter 5:14).
(4) We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are the only 2 Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the Church in this age (Mat. 26:26-28; 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all ecumenical religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (Rom. 6:13-14; 12:1-2; Rom. 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9:11).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ, who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. The Glorious Appearing at the end of the Tribulation when Christ personally and visibly returns with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom was promised to the Nation of Israel (Ps. 89:34; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; Mat. 25:31-46; Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1; Chapters 21 & 22).
The Eternal State
(1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2, 13; Mat. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13; 21:1-9, 11-15).
(2) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where consciously in Heaven they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4- 6).
(3) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious punishment and torment in Hell until the second resurrection. Then with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Mat. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15).
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a created being, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (The person of Satan is an angelic creation of God, a cherub, (Isa. 14:14, created as Lucifer, the anointed cherub who fell in pride and sinful rebellion to become Satan, the Devil. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:13-17; Mat. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
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. Chapters 1-2; Ex. 20:11).
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 governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and 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; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:2, 29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses’ dies. Divorce and remarriage after divorce is regarded as adultery. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and their service will be greatly appreciated. However, they may not be considered for the offices of Pastor, Assistant Pastor or Deacon (Mal. 2:14-17; Mat. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1- 3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6).
(R) The Family
(1) The Bible states that God created Adam and Eve and instituted them as the first family (Gen. 2:18-24, Matt. 19:4-6). Therefore we believe that the foundation of the family, consists of one man and one woman (both without gender transformation) who have been legally married in accordance with local law and church doctrine.
(2) God also stated the governing order of the family. We believe God places the man at the head of the home, the wife is to guide the home under the headship of her husband, and that the children are to be in subjection unto their parents. We believe that any compromise of this hierarchy will hinder the spiritual growth and God’s blessings on that family (Gen. 3:16; Eph. 5:22-30, 6:1-3; 1 Tim. 5:14; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
Child Rearing
We believe that God, by His Grace, grants us the privilege of parenthood. When children are granted to us biologically or legally, God commands us to “train up a child in the way he should go.” We believe that God also commands parents to love their children. With this love comes discipline and correction. Corporal punishment is the method of discipline instructed by God’s Word. We do not condone or approve of beating children, since they are a gift of God (Ps. 127:3; Prov. 3:12, 13:24, 22:6-15, 23:13-14, 29:15; Heb. 12).
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, mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:15; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Lk. 1:44).
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 and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Mat. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:46-48; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20).
Lawsuits Between Believers
We believe that God’s Word prohibits Christians from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church 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 (Ex. 22:1-12; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. 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, the relief of those in need, and the spreading of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all right to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).