What We Believe
The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has Truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
Scripture: II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter I:19-21
The True God
We believe there is one, and only ONE, living, and True GOD, an infinite and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly Glorious in Holiness, and Worthy of all possible Honor, Confidence, and Love; that in the Unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost – equal in every Divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Scripture: Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; I John 5:7
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person; Equal with God the Father and God the Son, and the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
Scripture: John 14: 16, 17; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; John 16:7-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:16, 26-27; John 3:5-6; Genesis 1:1-3
The Devil, or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 20:10
Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution.
Scripture: Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Psalm 33:6-9
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Scripture: Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:19; Romans 1:32
The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or ever can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son.
Scripture: Luke 1:27, 34-38; Matt. 1:18
The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatory offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing the sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with Divine perfection; He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior.
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; I John 4:10; Philippians 2:7; Isaiah 53:4-7; I Corinthians 15:3; Acts 15:11
Salvation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Scriptures: John 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; II Corinthians 5:17; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23
Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; (A) That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (B) That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.
Scriptures: Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1, 9; Isaiah 53:11
The Local Church
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by his word; that its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith, and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Scriptures: Acts 2:41-42; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:17; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; I Cor. 11:2
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until he come, and should be preceded always by solemn self examination.
Scriptures: John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Colossians 2:12; I Cor. 11:23
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this everlasting distinction hold among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved, in the everlasting conscience suffering of the lost.
Scriptures: Mal. 3:18; Rom. 6:17; I Jn. 5:19; Rom. 7:6; John 8:21; Luke 6:25; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:34-41; Gen. 18:23
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of Divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming prince and king of the kings of the earth.
Scriptures: Rom. 13:17; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:20; Dan. 3:17-18; Acts 4:19-20; II Sam. 23:3
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work that is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The sanctification of the believer will be complete at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures: I John 3:2; Jude 24; Heb. 9:28; Phil. 1:6; II Peter 1:3-12: II Cor. 7:1
The Resurrection
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-millennial return of Christ. Sequence of events: Christ comes in the clouds to resurrect the bodies of the dead saints and to catch the living saints to meet Him in the air (I Thess. 4:16-17). There will follow on the earth seven years of tribulation known as Jacob’s trouble, and the seventieth week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24). At this same time the judgment seat of Christ will take place in heaven, and the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place. Following the seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return with his saints to rule with a rod of iron for one thousand years of peace. During this time the judgment of nations will take place as well as the binding of Satan and all evil forces. Following the one thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed to deceive the nations. The final three events will be: 1. The great white throne judgment for all unbelievers; 2. The destruction of the earth and heavens; 3. The creation of the new heaven and the new earth.
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
Scriptures: Gen. 2:24; 19:5; 26:8-9; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4
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.
Scriptures: Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:24; Jer. 1:5
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has Truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
Scripture: II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter I:19-21
The True God
We believe there is one, and only ONE, living, and True GOD, an infinite and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly Glorious in Holiness, and Worthy of all possible Honor, Confidence, and Love; that in the Unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost – equal in every Divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Scripture: Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; I John 5:7
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person; Equal with God the Father and God the Son, and the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
Scripture: John 14: 16, 17; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; John 16:7-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:16, 26-27; John 3:5-6; Genesis 1:1-3
The Devil, or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 20:10
Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution.
Scripture: Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Psalm 33:6-9
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Scripture: Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:19; Romans 1:32
The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or ever can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son.
Scripture: Luke 1:27, 34-38; Matt. 1:18
The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatory offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing the sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with Divine perfection; He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior.
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; I John 4:10; Philippians 2:7; Isaiah 53:4-7; I Corinthians 15:3; Acts 15:11
Salvation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Scriptures: John 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; II Corinthians 5:17; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23
Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; (A) That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (B) That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.
Scriptures: Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1, 9; Isaiah 53:11
The Local Church
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by his word; that its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith, and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Scriptures: Acts 2:41-42; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:17; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; I Cor. 11:2
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until he come, and should be preceded always by solemn self examination.
Scriptures: John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Colossians 2:12; I Cor. 11:23
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this everlasting distinction hold among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved, in the everlasting conscience suffering of the lost.
Scriptures: Mal. 3:18; Rom. 6:17; I Jn. 5:19; Rom. 7:6; John 8:21; Luke 6:25; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:34-41; Gen. 18:23
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of Divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming prince and king of the kings of the earth.
Scriptures: Rom. 13:17; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:20; Dan. 3:17-18; Acts 4:19-20; II Sam. 23:3
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work that is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The sanctification of the believer will be complete at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures: I John 3:2; Jude 24; Heb. 9:28; Phil. 1:6; II Peter 1:3-12: II Cor. 7:1
The Resurrection
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-millennial return of Christ. Sequence of events: Christ comes in the clouds to resurrect the bodies of the dead saints and to catch the living saints to meet Him in the air (I Thess. 4:16-17). There will follow on the earth seven years of tribulation known as Jacob’s trouble, and the seventieth week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24). At this same time the judgment seat of Christ will take place in heaven, and the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place. Following the seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return with his saints to rule with a rod of iron for one thousand years of peace. During this time the judgment of nations will take place as well as the binding of Satan and all evil forces. Following the one thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed to deceive the nations. The final three events will be: 1. The great white throne judgment for all unbelievers; 2. The destruction of the earth and heavens; 3. The creation of the new heaven and the new earth.
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
Scriptures: Gen. 2:24; 19:5; 26:8-9; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4
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.
Scriptures: Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:24; Jer. 1:5
