Beliefs

The Bible

We believe the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the verbally and

plenarily inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed and,

therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New

Testaments are God's complete and divine revelation to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted

according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and

meaning shall be determined by the pastor. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the

official and only translation used by the church. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21,

1 Corinthians 14:40)

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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 are divinely ordered

stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these

dispensations—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in

Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2 Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25;

Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25, 27; Hebrews 1:1-2; Revelation 20:2-6)

III. The Godhead. We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and

glory; each having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy. 6:4; Matt. 28:19;

John 14:10, 26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

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The Person and Work of Christ.

A. We believe 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. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6;

Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8)

B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death

on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our

justification is ensured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36;

Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Peter 2:24)

C. 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 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25;

1 John 2:1-2)

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The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

A. We believe the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of

righteousness, and of judgment, and He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration,

baptizing all believers into Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of

redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12- 14; 2 Corinthians 3:6;

Ephesians 1:13-14)

B. We believe He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and

appropriate the Scriptures, and it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with

the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27)

C. We believe God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer for the

edification of the church. God uniquely uses the positional gifts of evangelists, pastors,

and teachers to equip believers in the church to do the work of the ministry.

(Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)

D. We believe the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift

of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary

sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from

sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, although

God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing.

(1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

 

The Fallen State of Man

We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam’s sin, the human

race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally sinful and, of

himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12;

6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

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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. (Matthew 12:31-32; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9)

 

The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

A. We believe that once a person is saved, he is kept by God’s power and remains

secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians

1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:4-5)

B. We believe it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their

salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which clearly forbids the use of

Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus

2:11-15)

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The Church

A. We believe the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is

solely made up of born-again believers who have identified with Christ and His church

by believer’s baptism. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23;

5:25-27)

B. We believe the establishment and continuance of local churches are clearly taught

and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13;

Titus 1:5-11)

C. We believe in the autonomy (free of any external authority or controls) of the local

church, and any affiliations, societies, organizations, associations, or agencies this

church affiliates with to further the objectives stated in the Purpose Statement are not

authoritative in matters of church practice or belief. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19- 31; 20:28;

Romans 16:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

D. We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as the scriptural

ordinances to be observed by the church in this age. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42;

8:36-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

E. Separation. We believe that believers should maintain a godly testimony and live

in such a way that their lives do not bring reproach upon their Savior. God commands His

people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices,

and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances. We

stand against any and all worldly philosophies that seek to destroy or undermine the truth

of Biblical Christianity. (Leviticus 19:28; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20;

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17;

2 John 9-11)

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The Rapture of the Saints

We believe in the blessed hope —the personal, imminent return of Christ — Who will rapture

His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period when God will be dealing with His people,

Israel, and the nations of the earth. (Jeremiah 30:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13;

Revelation 4:1)

 

The Second Coming of Christ

At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish

His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalms 89:3-4;

Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

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The Eternal State

A. 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;

611:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)

B. 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;

2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)

C. We believe the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment

and torment until the second resurrection, when with 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 and torment. (Matthew

25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation

20:11-15)

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The Personality of Satan

We believe Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; he is the open

and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job

1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10) XIV. Creation. We believe

that the Genesis account of creation is neither allegory nor myth but a literal, historical account

of God’s creation of the universe in six 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory,

the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis 1-2;

Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3)

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Civil Government

We believe God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1)

the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all,

including the authorities themselves, are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has

given each institution specific biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with

the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the

church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective biblically assigned spheres of

responsibility under God. We believe we must obey the state unless it requires us to act contrary

to our faith, at which time we must obey God rather than the state. (Matthew 22:15-22; Acts

5:29; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Titus 3:1-2; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14)

 

Human Sexuality

A. We believe God has commanded that no sexual activity is to be engaged

in outside of a marriage between one naturally-born man and one naturally-born

woman. We believe any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality,

incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of

sex. We believe God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by

surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans

1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

7B. We believe the only scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally-born man

and one naturally-born woman separated only by death. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2;

Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23)

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Family Relationships

A. We believe men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but

God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the

home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the

leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for

licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-

15; 3:4-5, 12)

B. We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human

society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit

herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship

of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their

children spiritual and moral values through consistent lifestyle examples, instruction, and

appropriate discipline. (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm

127:3- 5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16;

Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

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Divorce and Remarriage

We believe God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the

spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery. Although divorced and remarried

persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used by

God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon.

(Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

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Abortion

We believe human life begins at conception and the unborn child is a living human being.

Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder.

We reject any teaching that abortion is justified due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender

selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother. (Job

3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

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Euthanasia

We believe the direct taking of innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention.

Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus, we believe

that an act or omission that, by it or by intention, causes death to eliminate suffering constitutes

murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or

disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment.

(Exodus 20:13, 23:7; Matthew 5:21; Acts 17:28)

 

Love

We believe we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers but also

toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful

actions. We are to deal graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly with those who oppose us. God

forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence to resolve

personal conflict or obtain personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions,

we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Leviticus 19:18;

Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Philippians 2:2-

4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)

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Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe Christians are discouraged from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or

churches to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources

necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. However, we believe a Christian may

seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim

is pursued without malice or slander. The church holds no legal authority in criminal cases. (1

Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 13:1-7)

 

Missions

We believe God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations so

there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who

believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to

go to all nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke

24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20)

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Giving

As a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, we believe every Christian is

obligated to support his local church financially. Giving is by grace, as each individual purposes

in his heart. We believe God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but every Christian

should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief

of those in need, and the spread of the gospel. We believe that a giver relinquishes all rights to

direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-

10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1

Timothy 5:17- 18; 1 John 3:17)