What We Believe

The Scripture

We believe that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, verbal, and plenary inspired Word of God in the original manuscripts.  That it is the supreme and final authority for all human conduct, creeds, and opinions.  We believe that men wrote the Bible as they were divinely inspired by God.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for dictrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of god may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" 2 Timothy 3:16.  Also, 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; Proverbs 30:5, 6; Hebrews 1:1, 2.

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons - God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit.  They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.  They execute distinct but harmonious functions in the great work of redemption.   See Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2.

God The Son

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God; was born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; died vicariously; was resurrected from the dead; and ascended into heaven where He is presently seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for believers, and will return according to the promise given in Acts 1:10, 11. 

God The Holy Spirit

We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit, Who convicts the world of sin, and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and empowering them, sealing them until the day of redemption.  John 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19, 20; 12:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30.

Creation

We believe God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, each after its own kind, by direct act and not by the process of evolution.  Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:16, 17; John 1:3.

The Redemption of Man

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, through the grace of God; died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood. 
All who receive Him by faith are born of the Holy Spirit, thereby becoming children of God and joint heirs with Christ.  Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 3:22-26; 5:6-8; 8:14-17; 1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:26.

The Second Coming of Christ 

We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, pre-tribulational return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will come in the air to call out His church unto Himself.  He will return at the close of the Great Tribulation to judge the living nations and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth.  John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

The Church - Universal and Local

We believe that the true church, the universal church, is the Body of Christ.  It was established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole Head.  It was revealed through the apostles and is empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 16:12; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; 1 Corinthians 12-28.

We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers joined together for the purpose of public worship and identification with and testimony for Christ.  They are associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word, the Bible.  Acts 2:41, 42; 20:17-32; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 4:11; 5:23-33.

The Ordinances

We believe that the ordinances of a New Testament church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Baptism.  We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, showing his faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is a pre-requisite to the privilege of local church membership.  Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5, 6, 16; 28:19; John 3:22, 23; 4:1, 2; Mark 16:16.

The Lord's Supper.  We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord's Supper is a provision of bread and wine, as symbols of Christ's body and blood.  It is primarily celebrated for the purpose of remembering Christ's atonement for sinners.  It is to be celebrated only by members of the Body of Christ.  1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Luke 22:19, 20; Mark 14:20-26; Matthew 26:26-30.