Statement of Faith
The basic doctrines of this church are: inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the virgin birth, the deity and full humanity of Christ, the substitutionary and atoning death of Christ, the bodily resurrection of Christ, justification by faith in Christ alone, the physical return of Christ, the resurrection of all people–saved to eternal life or lost to eternal separation from God.
It is recognized that differences of opinion could exist within the membership on doctrines that are not basic doctrines. The following statement reflects the official position of the church.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible consisting of the 39 Old Testament books and the 27 New Testament books, is the verbally and plenary inspired or God-breathed Word of God. It is His written revelation to man, recorded by selected men without error in the original writings, and is therefore, the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith, and life. (II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Pet. 1:20,21; John 16:12, 13; Luke 24:27, 44; Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 2:12-13, 16)
The Godhead (Trinity)
We believe in one Triune God, Who reveals Himself in a person way, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three Persons, although revealed as having differeing roles, are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; II Cor. 13:14; I Pet. 1:2)
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful mankind. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14, 18, 3:16-18; Acts 4:10-12; Rom. 4:25; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:1-3)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as the vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice by means of His shed blood on the cross; and that our redemption is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24-25, 5:8; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:21-22; I Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24)
We beleive that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representattive, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 8:34; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:24-25, 9:24, 10:12; I John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is that Person of the Trinity Who restrains evil in the world and convicts mankind of sin. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizing them at the moment of salvation into the Church (the Body of Christ), indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows on them spiritual gifts, and empowers those yielded to Him. It is the Spirit’s ministry to lead, instruct, and fill (or control) believers as they are yielded to Him and are steadfast in the study of Scripture and in prayer.
This church takes no doctrinal position as to either the continuance or cessation of certain spiritual gifts. It is not our desire to exclude or to break fellowship with anyone who can agree with our above doctrinal framework on the Holy Spirit, which shall remain firm, while wishing to remain open on the matter of spiritual gifts (charisma), it shall be the policy of this church to avoid the extremes commonly associated with the charismatic movement. The elders of this church shall have the judgment over what is considered extreme in the exercise of spiritual gifts, and shall regulate their use in any public meeting in accordance with Scripture. (I Cor. 12:14; James 5:14-16)
The Nature of Man
We believe that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam’s willful sin, mankind fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Psa. 14; Rom. 1:18-32, 2:14-16, 3:9-19, 22, 23, 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the free unmerited gift of God brought to mankind by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (John 1:12; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:17)
We believe that the atoning work of Christ is the only basis for our redemption and that entrance into the Kingdom of God is by new birth alone. This new birth is evidenced by a repentant and changed life, and a desire to follow Christ as His disciple. (John 3:5; II Cor. 5:17; I Thess. 1:9)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all true believers (those who have been truly regenerated and indwelt with the Holy Spirit and who demonstrate the evidence of this experience by a repentant and changed life) are kept secure forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38-39; I Pet. 1:4-5; I John 5:10-11)
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God Word. Nevertheless, Christians sin even after salvation. When they do, they lose fellowship with God (not salvation) and must confess their sins to God to be restored to fellowship with God. (I John 1:5-10, 2:1-2)
Spiritual Life
We believe that it is the privilege, responsibility, and a commandment to all the saved to live in such a manner so that Christ is exalted as Savior and Lord. This life is a Spirit-filled life, which means continuous submission to the control of the Holy Spirit. We believe that separation from all religious apostasy, worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God. (II Cor. 6:14, 7:1; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 5:18; II Tim 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a real, created being, a fallen angel, the author of sin, and the cause of man’s fall, and further, he is the open and declared enemy of God and mankind and shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. We believe that when Satan fell, he retained all of his power, and he uses demons (fallen angels), the unsaved, and carnal Christians to implement his power. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Eze. 28:12-19; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Eph. 6:11-12; James 4:7; I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 20:10)
The Church
The Universal Church: We believe that the Church which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations. (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14)
The Local Church: We Believe that God’s basic organizational plan for the training, worship, and ministry of believers is the local church, made up of born-again individuals called out to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known. (Acts 2:42, 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13)
Church Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by His church until His return. These ordinances are signs only with no saving grace in them. The practice of this church is baptism by immersion. (Matthew 28:19-20; Rom. 6:3,4; I Cor. 11:23-26)
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the physical return of Jesus Christ, the gathering together of the saints unto Him and His victory over all non-believing world forces. (I Thess. 4:13-17; I Cor. 15:51-52; Rev. 19:11-16; I Thess. 1:10, 3:13; II Thess. 1:7-10; Zech. 14:1-5)
The Eternal State
We believe in eternal (never-ending) judgment for those who do not believe, eternal life and freedom from the great judgment for those who believe the gospel with saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 5:22-30; Rev. 20:11-15)