Our Biblical Foundation

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, life; and practice; inerrant in the original manuscripts; infallible; and to be interpreted in their normal, literal sense. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13.)

The Godhead

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; these three being coequal in all attributes, e.g., self-existence, infinity, eternity, immutability, wisdom, holiness, righteousness, justice, power, love, goodness, truth, and sovereignty. (Deut. 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; 14:6; Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:8; 2:4-5; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; Rev. 19:6.)

The Person and Work of the Father

We believe in the Fatherhood of God over creation as one of measureless extent. "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things" (1 Cor. 8:6). The Scripture teaches this Fatherhood is a relationship of intimacy and love, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). The Father instituted the plan of redemption whereby He would give the Eternal Son. It is the Father who secures the salvation of all who believe in Jesus Christ. It is the Father who keeps all who believe eternally secure. (Eph. 3:15; Heb. 12:9; James 1:17; Mal. 2:10; Acts 17:29; Ps. 103:13; Matt. 26:36-46; John 17:21, 24-25; 6:39; 10:29.)

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 of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgments against sin. He verified that redemption by His miraculous, bodily resurrection from the grave and He ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of those who have received Him as Savior. (John 1:1-2,14; Luke 1:34-35; Rom. 3:24-26; 8:34; 1 Pet. 3:18.)

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the personal, imminent and pre-tribulation return of Christ for His Church, and in His subsequent (pre-millennial) return to earth with His saints to establish His universal kingdom. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9.)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin; that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (places) all believers into the one true Church which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently; that He seals (secures) them unto the day of redemption; that He bestows spiritual gifts upon them; and that He fills (controls) those who yield to Him. (John 16:7-11; 3:3-8; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; John 14:16-17; Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Eph. 5:18.)

The Condition of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence and without sin. But in Adam's sin all humanity fell, inherited a sinful nature, became spiritually dead and are therefore separated from God. We believe all members of the human race are incapable of freeing themselves from their lost and depraved condition. (Gen. 1:26; 3:1- 24; Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3,12.)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the free gift of God to humanity. It cannot be gained by any meritorious work, but it is freely given to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who so trust the Lord Jesus Christ are instantaneously forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2:8-9; 1:7; John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; Rom. 4:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19.)

The Believer's Security, Assurance, and Responsibility

We believe that all the saved, those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace, are forever kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ. It is the believers' privilege to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation. However, this assurance must not be the occasion for sin, for God in holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love He disciplines them. Faith in Christ is to be expressed by a fruitful, God-pleasing life and ministry. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-29; Rom. 8:1,29-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Heb. 12:6; Tit. 2:11-15; Matt. 7:20; Jam. 2:20; Eph. 2:10.)

The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with 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. (Rom. 6:13; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9.)

The Eternal State

We believe that at death the souls of those who have placed their faith in Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the Church when soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. We believe that (after death) the soul of unbelievers pass immediately into Hades, a place of conscious misery, until the final judgment (the great white throne) at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be separated from the love of God forever in conscious punishment. (Luke 16:19-26; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15.)

Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their normal, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships (periods of time) in which God directs His people according to His purpose. For example, three of these dispensations are: the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the millennial kingdom. These are the subjects of detailed revelation in the Scriptures. (John 1:17; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-15; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25; Heb. 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6.)

The Church

We believe that the true Church, which is called the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism into which every person who has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation in this present age has been baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures also clearly teach the establishment and continuance of local churches — groups of believers joined together for worship, instruction, fellowship, service, and outreach. (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:42; 13:1-2; 14:27; 20:17,28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 1:8.)

Ordinances

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted two special ordinances to be observed by all believers until His return_water baptism and the Lord's Supper. These are acts of worship only and not to be regarded as a means of salvation nor as sources of divine grace by which special merit is obtained. (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26.)

Practice of Water Baptism

Since baptism is the outward testimony of an inward spiritual new birth and transformation, it shall be administered only to those who give evidence of having been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. The church shall accept as valid any form of believer's water baptism if it is in agreement with the considered convictions of the individual believer, but the church shall normally practice believer's baptism by immersion, a mode portraying the believer's death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. (Rom. 6:1-7; Col. 2:12-13.)

Practice of the Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper shall be administered as a commemoration of His death, the elements being used as emblems of His body and blood sacrificed for us. It shall be observed as frequently as shall be deemed desirable by the Board of Elders (preferably no less than twelve (12) times a year). It shall be open to all self-examined believers regardless of church affiliation. (1 Cor. 11:23-34.)

Home