what we believe

(A) The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God (Romans 16:25, 26); that the sixty-six books, as originally written, comprising the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by the Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:20, 21) and were free from error (Psalm 119:160); that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and the true basis of Christian union (2 Timothy 3:15-17); It is Living, Powerful, and Eternal (Hebrews 4:12; 1Peter 1:23-25). The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

(B) The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons­—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26)

1. God, the Father

We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 8:6) the Creator of all (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20), Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), Sovereign (Psalm 135:6), Self Existent and Eternal (Exodus 3:13, 14; Psalm 90:2). God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe (Hebrews 1:3); He is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient (Psalm 119), and unchangeable (Hebrews 1:10-12).

2. God, the Son

We Believe in the absolute deity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1; 10:30; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8), in His Eternal Existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory (John 17:5), in His Virgin birth (Matthew 1:21-25), Sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), Substitutionary death (John 19:30; 1Peter 2:24), bodily Resurrection (John 20:1-9; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), triumphant Ascension (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9), Mediatorial ministry (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25), and personal Return (Matthew 24:29-31; John 14:3).

3. God, the Holy Spirit

We Believe in the absolute deity (Matthew 28:19) and Personality (Romans 8:26, 27) of the Holy Spirit Who, convicts of sin, of righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11); who regenerates (John 3:6), sanctifies (2 Thessalonians 2:13), illuminates (Romans 8:14), and comforts (Romans 8:16) those who believe in Jesus Christ.

(C) Man

We Believe that man & woman were divinely created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27); that they sinned (Genesis 3:1-6), becoming guilty before God, resulting in total depravity (Romans 3:19), thereby incurring physical (Romans 5:12) and spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1-5), and bringing this curse upon all mankind (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12); thus bringing the importance to the substitutionary death of the sinless One, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 10:10). All people, in order to be saved, must believe in Christ’s death (Matthew 27:32-56), burial (Matthew 27: 57-66), and resurrection (Matthew 28: 1-10), and must “confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead”(Romans 10: 9, 10). Thus, mankind’s salvation is through faith alone, not by any works, “lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8, 9).

(D) Salvation

We Believe that salvation is by the sovereign (John 14:6) grace of God (Romans 9:15); that by the appointment of the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a vicarious and propitiatory death (Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:25; 1John 4:10); that justification is by faith alone in the sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:23-25; 5:1,2) and that those who’ve placed their faith in Christ are guaranteed a place in Heaven with Christ (Romans 8:28-39 Ephesians 1:12-14).

(E) The Local Church

We believe that all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are baptized by faith into one Universal Church (1Cor. 12:12-13; yet this eternal body is expressed thru the formation of smaller bodies known as “Local Churches (Acts, Paul’s Epistles, & Rev. 2 & 3). We believe that a church is a company of baptized believers (Acts 2:41), called out from the world (1 Corinthians 1:2), separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1Corinthians 1:2), the Great Head of the church (Colossians 1:18); a body voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word (Acts 2:42), for the mutual edification of its members (Ephesians 4:12, 13), for the propagation of the faith (Matthew 28:19), the observance of the ordinances (1 Corinthians 11:23, 24; Matthew 28:19), and for the exercise of divinely awarded gifts (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The local Church is to have a servant- filled congregation (Acts 2; Philippians 2:3-5) who are led by servant leaders called to exemplify spiritual accountability to the likeness of Christ (Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-12).

We Believe in the separation of church and state (Mark 12:17; Acts 5:29) and yet agree to encourage conformity and cooperation with government authorities where there is no conflict with our highest authority – the Word of God (Titus 1:3; 1 Peter 2:13-17). We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and the good order of society; and, that leaders are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed (Romans 13:1-7).

(F) 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 spread of the Gospel. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; 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)

(G) The Ordinances

We believe there are two ordinances that the church should regularly observe according to the New Testament:

1. Baptism (Matthew 28:19): the immersion of the believer in water (Mark 1:9,10) following repentance of sin unto salvation (Acts 2:38; 16:31,33), whereby one obeys the command of Christ and sets forth his or her identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:2-5);

2. The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26): a memorial, wherein the believer partakes of two elements: bread, and the fruit of the vine (Luke 22:19,20), which symbolize the Lord’s body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until He returns.

(H) The Lord’s Day

We Believe that the first day of the week is the Resurrection Day (John 20:1), and therefore, in a special sense, it is the divinely appointed day for worship and spiritual exercise (Acts 2:1 and early church tradition).

(I) Future Things

We Believe in the personal (1 Thessalonians 4:16), bodily (Acts 1:11), and glorious (Revelation 19:11-16) return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust (John 5:28, 29, 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:11-15). We believe the redeemed will spend a blessed eternity with Christ, while the unsaved & evil ones face inevitable righteous judgment by Christ and will be punished for eternity (2 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Revelation 19:20; Rev. 20:10-15).

(J) Satan

We Believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, the originator of sin (Isaiah 14:12-15), the arch-enemy of God and man (Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1Peter 5:8). While we believe Satan is active and powerful as the great liar, tempter, and deceiver, we believe his powerful existence does not excuse man from personal responsibility and consent (1 Corinthians 10:13). We believe the power of Satan is limited within the boundaries set by divine sovereignty (Job 1:12; 2:6), and that every believer has God’s armor of protection from the influence of Satan (Ephesians 6:11-18).

(K) Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained the husband to be the leader of the home, just as men are to be the leaders of the church. (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 5:22-24, Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

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 submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including 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; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7)

(L) Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God disapproves of divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies; however, we also believe that God is merciful and forgiving to repentant hearts. Although divorced and remarried persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, there may be circumstances whereby they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

(M) 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 or mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

(N) Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity 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. 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)

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

(O) Lawsuits between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against members of the local church or the local church itself to resolve personal disputes. We believe the local church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

Section 2.02—Authority Of 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 foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.