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 faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (Exodus 20:1; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12,13; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20, 21).
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, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 36, 38; II Corinthians 13:14).
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 men (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-18).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that the sufficiency of this atoning sacrifice to accomplish the redemption and justification of all who trust in Him is assured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24, 25; 4:25; 5:8, 9; I Corinthians 15:3, 4; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; I Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 9:22; I Peter 1:3-5; 2:24; II Peter 2:1).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9,11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1,2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person Who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the Day of Redemption (John 3:3-6; 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13,14).
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; Acts 4:29-31; Ephesians 5:18; I John 2:20,27).
Creation
We believe in the direct creation by God of the physical universe, all spirit beings, man, and lower forms of life, without the process of evolution, and also that the early chapters of Genesis are literal and accurate history, God sustains all creation but exists in no necessary relationship to it (Genesis 1, 2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17).
Spirit Beings
We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless spirit beings. One of these, though created holy by God, sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan, the Devil, the enemy of his Creator, leading a host of angels in rebellion against God.
The Total Depravity Of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, positively inclined to evil, and therefore, under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:1-19; Psalm 58:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; John 2:25-3:21; Romans 1:20; 3:9-23; 5:12-21; I Corinthians 2:14; II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man 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, 13; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Hebrews 12:6-8; I Peter 1:18,19).
The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with the provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12, 13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9).
The Eternal Security of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. It is the privilege of the saved to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word (John 3:16; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 6:23; 8:1, 38, 39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5).
Separation
We believe that all believers should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (I Thessalonians 5:22; II Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:11-15; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11). These include but are not limited to:
Membership in oath bound religious or social secret organizations, or other entangling alliances with unbelievers (I Corinthians 6:15; I Thessalonians 5:22).
Moral conduct beyond reproach and freedom from carnal indulgence, such as homosexual behavior, the use of intoxicating liquors, tobacco in all its forms, and narcotic drugs, all of which are harmful, a stumbling block, and out of harmony with a dedicated life (Romans 1:24-28; 8:12, 13; 12:1, 2; 13:14; 14:21; I Corinthians 6:19, 20; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-17; I Peter 1:14-16;
I John 3:5-9).
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Matthew 28: 18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 26:17, 18; II Corinthians 5:19, 20).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelist, pastor and teacher are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and, that speaking in tongues and working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. We also believe that every Christian is given at least one spiritual gift (divine enablement) by God to edify the body of Christ (John 15:7; Romans 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12).
The Church
We believe that the Church, which is the Body and the espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age, from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the ages to come this Body of believers will bear testimony to the exceeding riches of God’s grace (I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:7; 5:25-27).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4).
We believe in the ordinances of Believers’ Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church age (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:41, 42; 18:8; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
We believe that holy matrimony was instituted of God and sanctioned by our Lord Jesus Christ and should be held in honor by all. This relationship should be between one man and one woman until separated by death. This church does not advocate divorce or the remarriage of divorced persons (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:21-25; Mark 10:9; I Corinthians 7:39; Hebrews 13:4).
We believe that Sunday is to be set aside for special worship in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. This day should, therefore, be observed in a manner that calls the world to remembrance of Him (Acts 20:7).
Dispensationalism
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life that define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these – The Dispensations of Law, Grace and the Millennial Rule of Christ – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (John 1:17; I Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18; Galations 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:24, 25; Hebrews 7:19; Revelation 20:2-6).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in the “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth following the Tribulation, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Zechariah 14:4-11; Matthew 24:27-30; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; I Corinthians 15:26, 51-54; Revelation 20:5, 6, 11-15).
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:7-9; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 20:4-6).
We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with the soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6, 7; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
Church Covenant
Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and personal devotions; to train our children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to submit to those placed in authority; to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, and always, mindful of the rules of the Savior, ready for reconciliation without delay.
We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
