Statement of Faith

The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God; the final authority for life; inerrant in the original writings; infallible, and God-breathed.

We believe that the Bible is made up of the sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, and only those books are Scripture. God’s people have recognized them as the inspired Word of God.
The tests of canonicity include apostolic authority for New Testament works, widespread use in the church, and theological orthodoxy.

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(Psalm 19:7, John 5:39, I Timothy 5:18, II Timothy 3:16-17,
Hebrews 4:12, James 1:21, II Peter 1:20-21, Revelation 22:18).

The Godhead
We believe in One Triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory; having the same attributes and perfections. We believe He is unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

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(Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 48:16, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 139:8, John 1:1-2; 4:24; 10;30; 14:16; 15:26; 17:26, Acts 5:3-4, Isaiah 45:5-7, II Corinthians 4:3-4; 13:14, Philippians 2:5-7, Ephesians 4:30, Colossians 1:12-17, Hebrews 1:1-3).

The Person and Work of Christ
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was begotten in the flesh by the Holy Spirit, through the virgin Mary, being thus true God and true man, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe in Christ’s two natures, divine and human, are inseparably joined together in one person. Jesus acts according with, and not contrary to His divine and human natures. Each nature does that which is proper to itself within the one person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is completely God and completely man, yet one person.

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(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, John 1:1-2, Galatians 4:4-5, John 1:14, Hebrews 2:17, I Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:14-16).

We believe 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

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(Romans 1:3-4; 3:21-26; 4:25, I Corinthians 15:1-4, II Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:12-17, Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14&27-28, I Peter 1:3-5; 2:24).

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate

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(Acts 1:9-10, Romans 8:34, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 10:12, I John 2:1-2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers in to the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption

(John 14:16-17; 16:8-11, Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 12:12-13, II Corinthians 3:6, Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).

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We believe the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to be filled with the Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit is currently involved in the work of restraining lawlessness and convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgment. While His restraining work through the Church will cease when Christ raptures the Church.

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(John 14:26; 16:13-15, Ephesians 5:18, I John 2:20, II Peter 1:21).

The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, by direct Divine action and not through any evolutionary process; and that in Adam’s disobedience, man fell into sin and thereby brought to himself and his posterity, not only physical death but also that spiritual
death which is separation from God. We believe that this spiritual death or total depravity of human nature has been transmitted by birth to the entire human race of man. The Man, Christ Jesus, alone being excepted and hence that every person is born with a sinful nature and that
all who reach the age of moral responsibility; in thought, word, and action, are totally unable to remedy this depraved condition through human merit or effort.

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(Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5, Isaiah 64:6, Jeremiah 17:9, John 8:44, Romans 3:10-18, 23; 5:12-14; 8:6-8, Ephesians 2:1-3, 11-13, I John 3:8-10).

Salvation
We believe salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace, not of works; and that it is received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious and atoning blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins.

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(Isaiah 53:4-12, John 1:11-13; 3:1-21, Romans 10:8-13,
Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-7, I Peter 1:18-19).

We believe that once an unregenerate person exercises saving faith in Christ, passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life; and from the old creation; into the new; so that they are justified from all things; accepted into the Beloved; in possession of every spiritual
blessing; and absolutely complete in Christ; and that while the believer may have the occasion to grow in the realization of his blessings through the yielding of their life more fully to God, there is no need or instruction from God to seek a so-called “second blessing” or a “secret work of grace”

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(John 5:24; 17:23, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 5:1; 6:11-13, I Corinthians 3:21-23, Ephesians 1:3, Colossians 2:10, II Peter 3:18, I John 4:15-17; 5:11-12).

Eternal Security and Assurance of Salvation
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.

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(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:5)

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.

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(Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; 1 John 5:11-13)

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Election
We believe that God loves every soul which He has created; and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; and that God would have all men to come unto the knowledge of the truth

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(Isaiah 43:7, John 3:16, II Peter 3:9, I Timothy 2:4).

We believe that before the foundation of the world, God ordained a plan of salvation in which Jesus Christ would die on the cross, giving Himself a ransom for all mankind; and that He would be raised again the third day according to the scriptures.

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(I Timothy 2:6, II Corinthians 5:15, Matthew 16:21).

We believe that God elected to draw all men unto Himself; and offer the gift of eternal life to those who would respond by faith in Jesus Christ

(Hebrews 4:3, II Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, I Peter 1:20, I John 5:11-13).

The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures. In various ways, the temptations of Satan and of the world, the striving of indwelling sin and the neglect of the means appointed for their preservation and tempt saints to fall into fearful sins. In this way, they incur God’s displeasure, grieve His Holy Spirit, do injury to their graces, diminish their comforts, experience hardness of heart and accusations of conscience and bring God’s chastisement on themselves. However, if they confess their sins, provision is made by God for forgiveness.

(2 Sam. 12:14; Ps. 32:3-4; 51:10, 12; Is. 64:5, 9; Rom. 7:21-23; Eph. 4:30; 1 John 1:9)

Sanctification
We believe that every Christian has the duty and obligation to witness to the world of their new life in Christ by living a life which is committed to the Lord and separated from all ungodliness and worldly activities and associations.

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(Romans 6:11-13; 12:1-2; 14:13, I Corinthians 6:19-20, II Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 2:6-8; 3:1-17, II Timothy 3:1-7, I Peter 1:14-16, I John 2:15-17; 3:5-9, II John 9-11).

We believe that those who are justified are sanctified. We believe that sanctification refers to the position that believers obtain in the sight of God. Sanctification can also refer to the process of growth in believers as they depart from sin and live for God.

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(Romans 13:13-14)

The Church
We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God, through faith in His atoning sacrifice, are born again members of the church; which is the body and bride of Christ; which began at Pentecost and will continue until the rapture and is completely distinct from Israel.

(Matthew 16:17-18, I Corinthians 12:12-27, II Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:22-27, I Thessalonians 5:15-18 ).

We believe that the local church consists of a fellowship of believers in Christ Jesus, who by the direction of the Holy Spirit, have voluntarily joined together as a local manifestation of the body of Christ, for the purpose of worship, spiritual fellowship, Christian instruction and growth; and the propagation of the Gospel; and that every child of God should be an active member of such a church

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(Acts 9:31; 15:3-2,22; 20:17,28-32, I Corinthians 4:17; 16:1-2, I Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-11, Hebrews 10:25).

We believe that the local church is an autonomous body and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority; and that the church and state must be kept separate, as having different functions, with each fulfilling its duties free from the dictates or patronage of the other.

(Mark 12:13-17, Acts 4:19-20; 5:29, Romans 13:1-14, I Timothy 2:1-3, I Peter 2:13-20).

The Ordinances of the Church
We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances of the church; and that, while they convey no saving merit, they are a scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age.

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(Matthew 28:19, Luke 22:19-21, Acts 10:47-48; 16:32-22; 18:7-8, I Corinthians 11:23-32).

Missions
We believe that it is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ; to those whom He has saved, that they are sent forth by Him into the world to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind, even as He was sent into the world by His Father. It is the purpose and responsibility of the church to support and send out missionaries as God has commanded.

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(Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, II Corinthians 5:19-20).

Spiritual Gifts
We believe that every Christian receives, by God’s sovereign will, one or more spiritual gift(s), which are divine enablement for service; and are to be used in service and the church for the edifying of the body of Christ

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(Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:4-21, Ephesians 4:7; 11-13).

We believe some gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues were given to proclaim and validate the gospel as a known and spoken language and that miraculous healings and divine revelation were temporary manifestations of the Spirit, and gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and the authority of the scriptures was established.

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(Acts 4:8,31, I Corinthians 13:8-13).

We believe that, while the final deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. We affirm that God does hear and answers the prayer of faith according to His own will, for the sick and afflicted

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(Romans 8:18-19, James 5:13-16, II Timothy 4:19-20, Philippians 2:5-27)

Dispensationalism
We believe, in the dispensational view of Biblical interpretation, supported through a historical, literal, and grammatical interpretation of scripture. In theology, a dispensation is the divine administration of a period of time; each dispensation is a divinely appointed age. Dispensationalism is a theological system that recognizes these ages ordained by God to order

the affairs of the world. Dispensationalism has two primary distinctives:

1) a consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and

2) a view of the uniqueness of Israel
as separate from the Church in God’s program and the firm belief in the promises and purposes of God for the nation of Israel, many of which are yet to be realized. Classical dispensationalism identifies seven dispensations in God’s plan for humanity.

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(Habakkuk 2:4, John 1:17, Romans 1_17-18; 4:1-25, I Corinthians 9:17, Galatians 3:13-25, Ephesians 2:8-9; 3:2-12, Hebrews 7:19; Revelation 20:2-6)

Angels, Fallen and Unfallen
We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings known as angels and are God’s “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”

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(Psalm 91:11; 104:4, Matthew 18:10; 22:20; 26:53, Luke 22:443, Hebrews 1:4,13,14, Revelation 5:11; 7:11)

We believe that one named Lucifer, who was among the highest rank, sinned through pride; thereby, becoming Satan, the author of sin; the tempter of our first parents; and the open and declared enemy of God and the people of God. We believe that a great company of angels
followed Lucifer in his rebellious pride and subsequent fall; some whom became demons and are active as his agents and associates in the perpetration of his diabolical schemes, while others who fell are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day”

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(Genesis 3:2-4, Job 1:6-7, Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-17, Matthew 4:2-11, John 8:44, II Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 2:2; 4:27, I Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:7-12; 20:10, Ephesians 6:12-17, II Peter 2:4, Jude 6)

The Return of Christ
We believe, that the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the imminent, personal return of the Lord in the air to receive unto Himself all the saints of this present church age, whether they are alive and remaining at His coming, or whether they have died in Christ

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(John 14:1-3, I Corinthians 15:51-52, Philippians 3:20, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Titus 2:11-14).

We believe, that following the rapture, or translation of the Church, a seven-year period of great worldwide judgment known as the great tribulation, will be consummated on the earth; and that the primary purpose of this tribulation is to prepare the nation of Israel for her
Messiah

(Jeremiah 30:1-7, Daniel 9:20-27; 12:1, Matthew 24:4-28, Revelation 7:9-17).

We believe, that the period of tribulation on the earth will be climaxed by the visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints; and with great power and glory to introduce the millennial kingdom; to bind Satan; and to cast him into the abyss; to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation; to restore Israel to her own land; and to give her the realization of God’s covenant promises; and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God

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(Genesis 15:18-21; 17:6-8; Deuteronomy 30:1-10, II Samuel 7:1-17, Jeremiah 31:31-34; 33:1-16, Ezekiel 37:2-18, Zephaniah 14:1-11, Matthew 24:29-31, Acts 15:16-17, Romans 8:19-23; 11:25-27, Revelation 20:1-6, Zechariah 14:3-5).

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The Eternal State
We believe, that at death, the spirits of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence; and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body. When Christ comes for His own, whereupon spirit and body shall be reunited and associated with Him forever in glory. And that the spirits of the unbelieving remain after death, conscious of condemnation and in misery until the second resurrection and the final judgment of the great white throne. At the close of the millennium, when spirit and body shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but, there to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. We believe subsequent to the eternal binding of Satan, his angels, and unbelievers for eternal punishment God will create a new heaven and a new earth where believers will spend eternity with God.

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(Luke 16:19-26; 23:42-43, II Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23,
II Thessalonians 1:7-10, Jude 6-7, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-2).
 

Creation

We believe the triune God, by a free act and for His own glory, without the use of existing materials or secondary causes, brought into being immediately and instantaneously in six literal days by the word of His mouth—the whole visible and invisible universe.

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(Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 104:24-26; Isaiah 40:21-31; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:16-17)

The Institution of Marriage
We believe that Matrimony is a divine institution between a man and a woman as defined by God, to be entered into reverently; that believers are to marry only believers; that the two,
distinctly male and female, are joined together by divine decree and shall become one flesh. And that God expects us to be faithful until separated by death; and that what God has joined together man should not separate.

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(Genesis 2:18, 23, 24; Matthew 19:5-9; Ephesians 5:31-33)