Our Beliefs
The Word of God
We believe that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." (2 Timothy 3:16). "All Scripture" is defined as the entire Bible. The Spirit of God communicated the words of Scripture to holy men who that same Spirit chose to record in-errantly the Divine Revelation (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21). Divine Inspiration applies to the entire body of the Holy Scriptures - the thirty-nine Old Testament books and the twenty-seven New Testament books as they appear in the original manuscripts.
The God-Head
We believe there is only one living and true God - an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. Furthermore, in the unity of the God-head, there are three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2,3; 1 Corinthians 8:5-7; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
The Saving Work of Christ
We believe the eternally existent Son of God came into the world expressly for the redemption of mankind, which was proposed and purposed in the eternal counsels of God. This saving work required His miraculous birth into this world through the conception of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. His human nature was sinless and perfect. Even though being incarnate, He retained His absolute Deity being at the very same time God and man, yet one person. (John 1:1,2; John 1:18; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Peter 1:20). We further believe that the Son of God lived a perfect and sinless life on this earth. Having pledged Himself to the perfect performance of the will of the heavenly Father, He became the divinely appointed sacrificial lamb to take away the world's sins. His death on behalf of sinners and for sin was substitutionary in an absolute sense - the Just for the unjust - that He might be the Savior of the lost. (John 1:29; Romans 3:25,26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:5-14).Nevertheless, according to the Scripture, on the third day after His death, He was raised from the dead by the power of God in the same body He possessed before His death, though glorified. We believe His incorruptible resurrection body is the form that, at the return of Christ, will be given to all believers. (John 20:23; 1 Corinthians 15:2-7,20; Philippians 3:20-21).Furthermore, we believe that forty days after His resurrection, He ascended into heaven. His saving work having been perfectly and completely accomplished, He sat down at the Father's right hand, where He constantly performs His work as intercessor and advocate for all believers. (Ephesians 1:22,23; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person - equal to God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation, and in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrained the evil one until God's purpose was fulfilled. He convicts of sin, righteousness, and of judgment. He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent of the new birth. He seals, indwells, equips, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16,17; Matthew 1:18; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:16,26,27).
The Personality and Work of Satan
We believe that Satan has a personality and is the unholy god of this age. He is the author of all powers of darkness and is destined for judgment in the eternal lake of fire.(Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:20; Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17).
The Natural State of Man
We believe that man was created without sin in God's image and likeness but, by voluntary transgression, fell from his innocent state. Therefore, all men are now conceived in sin, and sin, not by constraint, but by choice. They are, therefore, under just condemnation without defense or excuse. We believe mankind is depraved and without divine life. Every portion of his being has been affected by the fall, with his spiritual relationship to God destroyed. (Genesis 3:1-6,24 and 5:10-19; Romans 1:18,22; Psalm 14:1-4; Isaiah 1:6; Jeremiah 17:9).
The Appropriation of Salvation
We believe that due to the universality of sin and the depravity of mankind, there is no entrance into the kingdom of God except by the new birth. A believer is granted the new birth through the simple and single condition of faith in the person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that no other action on the part of the believing sinner, such as baptism, prayer, or faithful service, is necessary as a condition of salvation. (John 1:12,13; Acts 16:31; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5).
The Eternal Security of the Believer
We believe Scripture teaches that any man who, through faith in Christ and repentance from sin, is once and forever delivered from his lost estate to be kept eternally by the power of God.(John 5:24, 10:27-30; Romans 8:33-39; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1,2; 1 Peter 1:5).
The Responsibilities of the Believer
We think believers should conduct themselves so as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior, and God mandates that separation from worldly pleasures and practices. It is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to declare the truths of the Holy Scripture to the world through their lifestyle and conversations. (Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:20 and 6:14-7:1; John 17:18; Acts 1:8). Furthermore, Scripture clearly states that a believer is to support the local church through prayer, continual attendance, financial gifts, and obedience to those in authority. (Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13).
The Church
We believe in the church universal, which comprises Jews and Gentiles who have received Jesus Christ as Savior. The church universal is the body and bride of Christ. Christ has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God and placed them into one spiritual body by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the spiritual body's head. The church universal is a Holy Temple, an invisible, spiritual organism, and consists of all who are saved from Pentecost until the Rapture (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:14-16, 19-22; Col. 1:18). We believe in the primacy of the local church, which is God's ordained institution to fulfill His plans and purposes for the welfare of mankind. We believe that local churches are a manifestation of the universal church. A local church is distinguished from other Christian organizations by the fact that it is a fellowship of baptized believers who are organized, among other reasons, to observe the ordinances of Christ, are governed by His laws, and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its biblically based offices consist of elders and deacons, whose qualifications, rights, and duties are outlined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the local church is to bring glory to God through Christ-honoring worship, fellowship, discipleship, and worldwide proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government without interfering or influencing any hierarchy of individuals, associations, or organizations. It is scriptural for local churches that are biblically based and operated to cooperate in contending for the faith and furthering the spread of the Gospel. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation as dictated by the Word of God (Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:3-6, 12, 22-23; 4:11, 5:23-24; 1 Tim. 3:1-13).
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that only two ordinances are supported by Scripture: baptism of the believer and communion. We believe that Christian baptism is a believer being immersed into the water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to show in a symbol our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Furthermore, it symbolizes the believer's death to sin and resurrection to a new life. The second ordinance, communion or the Lord's Supper, commemorates the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. After self-examination and using the bread and the fruit of the vine, the believer remembers Christ and what He has done in death and resurrection for him.
Evangelism
We believe obedience to Christ includes the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel. Evangelism is consistent with God's sovereignty in salvation and is the biblical means of reaching the lost. We believe biblical evangelism must be followed by the discipleship of converts and the encouragement that they be baptized and added to a local church of sound doctrine and practice (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 3:5-9).
The Blessed Hope (The Rapture)
According to the Word of God, we believe that the next successive event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be Christ's coming in the air to receive His own: those who are alive and remain and those who have already died. The Holy Scriptures teach that the return of Christ is imminent, and believers are instructed to look for this blessed hope constantly. We further believe that following this Rapture of believers, the period of Tribulation on the earth will begin, which was predicted in the Scriptures. Finally, afterward, He will end that time of judgment on the earth with His return in power and glory. (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 19:11-21).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe, according to the Scriptures, that Christ will return to rule the earth after the seven-year Tribulation, eternally banishing Satan and his fallen angels to the lake of fire. The world will not be converted before the second coming of Christ, but rather, this present age will terminate with a fearful apostasy in the professing church. Following the period of Tribulation on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ will return again to this earth as He went, in the clouds of heaven, and with power and great glory. This will inaugurate the millennial age, establishing peace on the earth. This return also grants Israel the fulfillment of all her covenant promises, and binds Satan in the bottomless pit or abyss. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Ezekiel 23:21-28; Revelation 20:1-6; Romans 8:10-23).
The Eternal State
We believe that at death, the soul of those who have received Christ pass immediately into His presence, and the soul of those who have rejected Christ pass immediately into condemnation and misery in hell. When the soul of those who have received Christ pass immediately into His presence, they will there rest in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes to receive His own. The soul, Spirit, and body reunited will dwell with Him forever in glory. We further believe that after death, the soul of those who have rejected Christ remain conscious of condemnation and misery in hell until the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium. Then soul, Spirit, and body will be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, there to suffer in agony forever. (Luke 16:-19-26; 2 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God the Holy Spirit has and does bestow spiritual gifts during the Church age; however, not all gifts listed in the Bible function today. During the first century, the Holy Spirit bestowed temporary gifts that functioned till the completion of the New Testament Canon. These gifts are apostleship, prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, and working of miracles. Any member of this church who begins to practice the above gifts, which hinder the unity of the body of Christ, is subject to church discipline. The permanent gifts remain for the rest of the church age. They are Evangelist, Pastor-Teacher, administrations, helps, giving, and showing of mercy. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
Spirituality
We believe that spirituality is attained in this dispensation by a believer walking in fellowship with the Lord. Through constant fellowship, study of the Word, and obedience to the Word, spiritual maturity will develop in time. We also believe that one sin removes a believer from fellowship but NOT salvation. Confession and forsaking of that sin is imperative for restoration to fellowship. It is the responsibility of every believer to be constantly Spirit controlled. (1 John1:3-10; 2 Peter 3:18; Proverbs 28:13; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1; Ephesians 5:18).