STATEMENT OF FAITH
We Believe...
The Scriptures
We believe in the Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. We believe the Bible to be verbally (in every word) and plenarily (equally in all its parts) inspired by God, and to be inerrant (without error) in its original documents. This Word from God was communicated through the prophets and apostles and has been preserved through the combined witness of the thousands of ancient, hand-copied manuscripts of the Scripture now discovered and available for our study. The Scriptures are now complete, and thus, all revelatory and sign gifts have ceased. The Scriptures are the sole authority of our faith and practice.
We use the King James or the New King James Versions of the Bible in our services and studies. These versions are based on the Received Text of the Greek New Testament. We do not discourage the use of other versions, most of which are based on the Alexandrian Texts of the Greek New Testament. We do not oppose a thorough study of the textual evidence, and emphasize a literal(word for word), transparent (true to the original) translation of the texts preserved in the original language.
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God
We believe in the one, true, and living God who has existed from all eternity in the triune persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is the creator of the universe, the giver of revelation, the judge of all the earth, and the redeemer of His people. He is know by His name, I AM, pronounced in Hebrew as YAWEH, and transliterated as JEHOVAH.
The Trinity
We believe that the Godhead is one, containing three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are not manifestations of the one God, but actual persons within the personhood of God, each bearing the name of Jehovah.
The Father
We believe that all of the purposes and prerogatives of the Godhead originate with and proceed from the Father. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has ordained all things according to the good pleasure of His will. He has chosen a people in Christ before the world began.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternally begotten Son of God who was born of a virgin without sin. He is fully divine, sharing equality with the Father, and is also fully human, being born of the seed of David. In fulfillment of the prophecies, the Lord Jesus lived a righteous life, died a substitutionary death for us on the cross, rose again from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand acting as our priest and intercessor, and is coming again to be revealed in power and glory.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that The Holy Spirit is the fully divine Spirit sent of the Father and the Son to permanently indwell all believers. The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles and prophets to record the truth concerning Jesus Christ. He regenerates the believer unto faith and spiritual life. He baptizes every believer into the body of Jesus Christ. He indwells every believer illuminating their mind to the Holy Scriptures, gifting them with spiritual graces, sanctifying them unto holiness, and empowering them for service.
Creation
We believe that God created all things that are made, both visible and invisible, according to the literal rendering of the first two chapters of Genesis. This creation included the angelic realm of invisible spirits, the material universe, the earth with all of its creatures, and man who alone was made in the image of God.
Man
We believe that Man was created in the image of God, perfect in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. The first man, Adam, as a moral creature, chose to disobey the express command of God. Upon sinning, Adam and all of his posterity were plunged into spiritual death and separation from God. Every man or woman is therefore born bearing Adam’s guilt and sharing Adam’s nature. We will likewise choose sin, as did our first father, and thus stand in need of salvation from a gracious God.
Salvation
We believe that God, the Father, has chosen a people unto salvation through the work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His death on the cross, the Son of God provides an atonement which can cover our sin, and pay the judicial punishment which our sins have merited. In His righteous obedience, the Son of God provides a perfect righteousness which is laid to the account of all who believe, in which we can stand before God as accepted, holy, and without blame. This work of redemption in Jesus Christ is freely offered to all, and is received through faith alone.
Faith
We believe that faith is the receiving of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of the soul. Faith rests solely on the work and merit of Jesus Christ, apart from any personal works of obedience. Faith is our response to the written revelation of God , as contained in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is a gracious gift of God and is wrought in the heart through the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Assurance
We believe that every true believer has been united to Christ and has been justified before the presence of God. This state of justification can never be altered due to our weakness of faith or our struggles against indwelling sin. Every believer may have the confidence that God, who began the work of grace in our hearts, will also finish that work according to His promise. Having such assurance, we exhort one another to hold fast the profession of our faith and to ever continue in the grace of God.
The Church
We believe that the church is the spiritual body of Jesus Christ on earth composed of all born-again believers, and is represented through local assemblies. The head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. His revealed will to the church is contained in the Holy Scriptures. His presence within the church is in the person of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. The local church exercises the right to be free from any ecclesiastical hierarchy or denomination; to set forth her leaders, both elders and deacons, as they fulfill the Biblical requirements and prove their giftedness to that calling; to baptize converts in the name of the triune God and to administer the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper; to ordain gifted ministers of the gospel and to send them forth with the laying on of hands. All of these rights are granted by our Lord to His church, and are defined and controlled by the clear teachings of the Word of God.
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God grants unto every believer a measure of spiritual gifts through which one might minister to the body of Christ. These gifts are for the edification of the body and are to encourage fellow believers in their pursuit of a Christ-like life. Since the completion of divine revelation contained in the Scriptures, the apostolic and prophetical offices are no longer needed, and the revelatory (tongues, prophesies, and visions) and sign (miracles) gifts have ceased. Although these miracle-working offices are fulfilled, God still does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord to his own will, for the raising of the sick and the performance of that which is humanly impossible.
Dispensationalism
We believe that God’s plan and purpose for the ages is only understood properly when dispensational distinctions are recognized. Clear distinctions must be made between Israel and the New Testament Church. In every age, regardless of God’s dispensational program, men have always been saved by grace through faith.
Doctrinal Error
We believe it to be the duty of a local assembly to clearly mark and identify false doctrine. We cannot support nor participate with any ministries or groups which either teach or condone any doctrine which is not in accordance with God’s Word.
Marriage
We affirm that Scripture highlights marriage as the initial and foundational institution ordained of God. Biblical marriage is between one man and one woman, and is a permanent covenant. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mark 10:9 [added by amendment January 27, 2013]
Ordinances
We believe that Christian ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs and seals of the facts and realities of salvation. Baptism with water is commanded of our Lord, typically represents our union with Christ, and that immersion is the Scriptural mode. The Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers in obedience to the command, “This do in remembrance of Me.” It consists of partaking of bread, representing Christ’s body, and of the fruit of the vine, representing Christ’s blood.
The Future
We believe in a pre-tribulation return of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the church. Then, after the rule of Antichrist, the tribulation judgments, and the salvation of the nation of Israel, the Lord Jesus will return with His saints and establish a literal, millennial reign on earth. This concludes the first resurrection. After a final rebellion, the unbelieving world will be resurrected to judgment. This will be followed by a new heaven and earth, and the descending of the heavenly city known as heaven and paradise.
Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Destiny
We believe the souls of every man and woman are eternal. After death, the body will know corruption, and the soul will enter a discarnate state. In the last days, the bodies of all will be resurrected by the voice of the Son of God. Believers in Christ, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, will enter heaven and live in the presence of God forever. Those outside of Christ, and not written in the Lamb’s book of life, will be cast into the Lake of Fire, or Hell, where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.