What we believe and teach

What we believe concerning the Bible

   The Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, written by holy men who were moved along by the Spirit of God. Consequently, the Bible is both God inspired, inerrant (free of error), and infallible (incapable of error) in all of its parts. It is the supreme standard by which we should live and by which we will be judged. It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness and is our rule of faith and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19,20

What We Believe concerning Creation   

    We believe in the literal biblical account of creation, affirmed by all of Scripture, that God created the universe and everything it contains from nothing for His own glory, that He sustains all things by the Word of His power, that He is separate and above His creation. We reject the theory of evolution that the universe and life itself happened by random chance and with no purpose, that species evolved one to other, that humans are part of the animal kingdom, nothing more than material beings. 

What we believe concerning the Trinity

    We believe in the Trinity, the perfect unity of the Godhead, that there are three distinct persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each equal in every divine perfection. There is one true, living God who is eternal in His existence, glorious in His Holiness, omnipresence (is everywhere), omniscience (all knowing), omnipotence (all powerful), and worthy of our praise.  Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Deuternomy 6:4-5

1.  God the Father, the first person of the Trinity is sovereign, creator, and sustainer of the universe. He is merciful, gracious, and His love of humankind was demonstrated through the giving of His Son.

2.  We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, (who is perfectly God and perfectly human) and in His miracles, His substitutionary death on the cross through His shed blood for mankind which paid for the sins of the world. He rose bodily from the grave, ascended into Heaven where He is our mediator for us forever. He will one day return to earth in power and glory to judge the world and establish His Kingdom on earth.

3.  We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit. In His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled, He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He seals, enlightens, instructs, and guides each believer. He bestows spiritual gifts upon each believer and empowers them for service. We believe that some gifts mentioned in Scripture are permanent, and others were used temporarily during the apostolic age. Speaking in tongues ceased at the completion of the New Testament.

What we believe concerning Salvation

    We believe that individual sinners can be saved by God’s free gift of grace, through faith in the substitutionary blood atonement of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary, and that having risen from the dead He is the only mediator between God and man who is the adequate propitiation and Savior.

Justification. The declaration of God upon those who believe that they are righteous through Christ, though they are guilty. The righteousness and pardon for sin that is imputed to the believer is not on the basis of works, but by grace through faith.  Romans 3:23-26; 4:23-25; 5:1-2 

Freeness of Salvation. The blessings of salvation are for all humanity, but it is the duty of man to believe and accept the Gospel.  Romans 10:9-10, 13; Revelation 22:17 

Regeneration. The power of the Holy Spirit brings about, in a fashion above our comprehension an enlightening of our minds in order that we can respond in a voluntary way to the Gospel in faith and repentance and be born again. John 3:5-8; Titus 3:4-5 

Repentance and Faith. Being deeply convicted of our guilt, sinfulness and helplessness by a work of God’s grace in our heart, we turn from our sin and in faith, accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.  Luke 24:45-48; Acts 20:21 

Sanctification. Initially, at regeneration, we are separated from the world and called to be children of God. Progressively, the Holy Spirit brings about continual change as we conform more perfectly to the image of Christ. Eventually we will be free from the presence of sin and will be glorified in the presence of God.  1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 5:23-24; John 17:17 

Perseverance of the Saints. True believers in Jesus Christ are kept by the power of God and will endure in that faith to the end; they are eternally secure.  John 10:27-29; 1 John 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 3:12-1

What we believe concerning Angels and Satan

    We believe that God created a vast multitude of angels to serve and worship Him. One-third of the angels, led by the high angel Lucifer, rebelled against God and were cast out of Heaven. This happened before God created the physical world. Lucifer, also called Satan and the Devil in Scripture, is a real person . . . . Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 20:10.

What we believe concerning the Church

     The supreme authority for the church is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18. The order, discipline, and worship of His church are through His sovereignty.   Elders (also called pastors and overseers in the New Testament) serve and lead the church under the headship of Christ (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-15). Biblically this role is to be held by men only. Deacons and deaconesses are recognized servants in the church, a role in which men and women can practically and effectively serve the Body under the shepherding ministry of the Elders.    

What we believe concerning Ordinances

     We believe in baptism by immersion following salvation as an expression of obedience and identification with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and that it is a prerequisite for local church membership. We further believe in the Lord’s Supper as a regular memorial of the Lord’s death on Calvary, through partaking of the bread and the juice; which symbolizes Jesus’ body and His shed blood. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 16:30-33; Matthew 26:26-29. 

What we believe concerning Separation

     We believe that true spiritual fellowship is the result of common faith and practice. There are several aspects of biblical separation. God places Christians in the world as a witness. They are to be salt and light, without becoming contaminated by the world. This is accomplished by:

Political separation – The church is to be separate from the state (Luke 20:25), not a state religion. However believers should participate in the freedom to elect government officials.

 Personal separation – the separation of the believer from the world and sin in order to serve God. Joshua 24:15; Romans 12:1,2; 14:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Ephesians 5:15-18; Titus 3:10; 1 John 2:15-17, 4:1; 2 John 10-11.

Ecclesiastical separation – the separation of the church from apostasy. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11-15; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 John 10,11.

Familial separation – the separation of the believer from an unrepentant or erring brother, when doctrinal or ethical compromises creep into his life or ministry. Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15.

What we believe concerning Last Things (Eschatology)

   We believe in the blessed hope – the personal, imminent, premillennial and pretribulational return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52). With the rapture, the Holy Spirit as the restrainer and indweller will be removed from the earth paving the way for the seven-year tribulation, Christ’s second coming and 1000-year reign on earth, then final judgment and eternity. God will vindicate His grace and holiness in the final judgment, welcoming believers to dwell forever with Him and assigning unbelievers to conscious everlasting punishment in the Lake of Fire (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 20:1-15).