Statement of Faith
Sec. 1. Verbal Inspiration. We believe that all Scripture of the Old and New Testament is God-Breathed, is inerrant in the original writings and is the supreme and final authority in all matters of life, faith, and practice. (2 Tim 3:16; Matt. 4:4; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Rom. 15:4)
Sec. 2. The Trinity. We believe in the eternal Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each Person being equal, yet there being not three gods, but One. (Gen. 1:26a; John 10:30; John 1:1,2; John 14:16; Deut. 6:4; John 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 5:3,4)
Sec. 3 The Virgin Birth. We believe in the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus Christ the Lord, who, being very God, took upon Himself the form of man, being begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary. (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:22,23)
Sec. 4 The Atonement. (Reconciliation) We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was crucified, died, and was buried as planned by God before the foundation of the world. By the shedding of His blood, His sacrificial death upon the cross became and is the only ground of atonement for sin whereby man, by personal faith, is redeemed from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin. (Rom. 3:24,25; Rom. 5:6-11; I Cor. 15:3,4; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 1 John 4:10; Heb. 9:22)
Sec. 5 Resurrection and Ascension. We believe in the bodily resurrection and Lordship of Jesus Christ, his ascension into heaven and His present advocacy and priesthood in the presence of God for us. (Acts 2:32; I Cor. 15:20,23; Acts 1:9; I John 2:1; Heb. 7:25, 8:1,2)
Sec. 6 Phases of the Lord's Second Coming. We believe in the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial, bodily coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church; and in His subsequent return to Earth with His saints to establish His Millennial kingdom. (John 1:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-16; Zech. 14:4-11)
Sec. 7 Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third Person of the Triune God, the divine Agent in nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, regenerates those who believe; and indwells, baptizes, seals, empowers, guides, teaches and sanctifies all who become children of God through Christ. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3; Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104.30; 1 Cor. 2:10;2 Cor. 3:18; John 16:8-11; John 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:3; Eph. 3:16; Rom. 8:14; John 14:26)
Sec.8 Personality of Satan. We believe that Satan is a real personality, created by God, given power, but through pride fell and became the father of sin. He is the arch-enemy of our souls. We believe that he will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6,7; Ezek. 28:14-15; Isa. 14:12-14;
1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 20:10)
Sec. 9 Creation. We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be taken literally. God spoke into being the heaven and the earth and all that is in them in six literal days and then rested on the seventh. Man was created perfect in the image of God, by a special act of God, and wholly apart from any process of evolution. (Gen. 1 & 2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6,9; Mark 10:6; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:3)
Sec.10 Total Depravity of Man. We believe that as a result of the transgression of Adam and Eve, our first parents, all men are alienated from God, universally sinful in both nature and practice, having within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation. Consequently, they are alienated from the life and family of God, and are under the righteous judgment and wrath of God. (Eph. 2:3, Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 4:18; John 8:42-44; Rom. 3:19, 1:18; Mark 7:21-23; Matt. 19:26; Rom. 7:18)
Sec. 11 Salvation. We believe in salvation by grace through faith; that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, and every
spiritual resource needed for life and godliness; that his salvation includes the whole man, spirit and soul and body; and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation. (John 3:16, 6:28,29; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:24, 4:4,5,11-16; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:23,24; 1 John 5:11-13)
Sec. 12 Everlasting Safety of Believers. We believe that all, once born again by the Spirit of God, are kept by God's power alone and are thus secure in Christ forever, sealed by the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance. (l John 5:24; Eph. 1:13,14; John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 35-39; Jude 1:24,25; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; John 3:15,16)
We believe that it is the privilege of the believer to rejoice in the assurance of his salvation through the testimony of God's Word. However, God's word also clearly does not allow the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for careless living and states that rewards will be lost from such living. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:1; 1 John 2:1,2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:5; John 8:31,34; Heb. 10:26-31; 1 John 3:3,6-10)
Sec. 13 Good Works. We believe that it should be the desire of all believers to practice good works in obedience to the revealed will of God, who will richly reward for those good works. It is the believer's way of expressing his love to God and showing to the world that outward fruit of the inward change of heart. These good works do not add to our salvation but are evidence of our salvation. (I Cor. 3:11-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; I Cor. 6:12-20; Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 12:31; Matt 5:16; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; Phil. 2:12,13)
Sec. 14 Spiritual Gifts. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. He has given gifts, talents, abilities, skills and graces to each believer for the building up of the Church. He has given specifically gifted men to the Church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers—for the edifying of the saints and the building up of the Body of Christ. We believe that the office of apostle and prophet no longer exist but were limited to the first-century Church; and that some of the gifts which were intended for authenticating signs, such as speaking or praying in tongues and public miraculous healings, are not operative today because the Scriptures are complete and the believer is to walk by faith, not by sight. (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-13; 1 Cor. 13:9-10; Heb. 2:3,4; 1 Cor. 14:21,22)
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with his own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7; I John 5:14,15; James 5:13-16)
Sec. 15 The Church. We believe that all those who are born again of the Holy Spirit during this dispensation of grace are members of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He began to build on the day of Pentecost and will be complete at the rapture of the Church; and into which all true believers of the present age are baptized immediately by the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:4,5:25-32; Matt. 16:18; Acts. 2:4-7; I Cor. 12:12,13, 1:2)
Sec. 16 Ordinances. We believe in two Scriptural ordinances: water baptism and the Lord's supper. Christian baptism shall be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon the profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. We administer water baptism if at all possible by immersion recognizing, however, that not the water but the shed blood of Jesus washes away sins. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-39, 10:47,48; Acts 16:32-35, 18:18, 22:16; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20,21)
The Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and the cup by which believers commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination. (I Cor. 11:23-28; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20)
Sec. 17 Separation from the world. We believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to abstain from all appearances of evil. (Rom. 12:2; James 4:4; I John 2:16; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
Sec 18 The Eternal State. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and ever-lasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; John 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5,6,12-15)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord. There, 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; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil 1:23,3:21; 1 Thess. 5:16-18)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection. Then, with soul and body reunited, they shall all 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. (Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-14)
Sec. 19 Missions. We believe that, in view of the doctrines of total depravity and the lost condition of all who are unregenerate, the absolute obligation of the saved is to testify by life, word, and sound witness to the whole world the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:1la)
Sec. 2. The Trinity. We believe in the eternal Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each Person being equal, yet there being not three gods, but One. (Gen. 1:26a; John 10:30; John 1:1,2; John 14:16; Deut. 6:4; John 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 5:3,4)
Sec. 3 The Virgin Birth. We believe in the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus Christ the Lord, who, being very God, took upon Himself the form of man, being begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary. (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:22,23)
Sec. 4 The Atonement. (Reconciliation) We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was crucified, died, and was buried as planned by God before the foundation of the world. By the shedding of His blood, His sacrificial death upon the cross became and is the only ground of atonement for sin whereby man, by personal faith, is redeemed from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin. (Rom. 3:24,25; Rom. 5:6-11; I Cor. 15:3,4; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 1 John 4:10; Heb. 9:22)
Sec. 5 Resurrection and Ascension. We believe in the bodily resurrection and Lordship of Jesus Christ, his ascension into heaven and His present advocacy and priesthood in the presence of God for us. (Acts 2:32; I Cor. 15:20,23; Acts 1:9; I John 2:1; Heb. 7:25, 8:1,2)
Sec. 6 Phases of the Lord's Second Coming. We believe in the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial, bodily coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church; and in His subsequent return to Earth with His saints to establish His Millennial kingdom. (John 1:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-16; Zech. 14:4-11)
Sec. 7 Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third Person of the Triune God, the divine Agent in nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, regenerates those who believe; and indwells, baptizes, seals, empowers, guides, teaches and sanctifies all who become children of God through Christ. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3; Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104.30; 1 Cor. 2:10;2 Cor. 3:18; John 16:8-11; John 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:3; Eph. 3:16; Rom. 8:14; John 14:26)
Sec.8 Personality of Satan. We believe that Satan is a real personality, created by God, given power, but through pride fell and became the father of sin. He is the arch-enemy of our souls. We believe that he will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6,7; Ezek. 28:14-15; Isa. 14:12-14;
1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 20:10)
Sec. 9 Creation. We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be taken literally. God spoke into being the heaven and the earth and all that is in them in six literal days and then rested on the seventh. Man was created perfect in the image of God, by a special act of God, and wholly apart from any process of evolution. (Gen. 1 & 2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6,9; Mark 10:6; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:3)
Sec.10 Total Depravity of Man. We believe that as a result of the transgression of Adam and Eve, our first parents, all men are alienated from God, universally sinful in both nature and practice, having within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation. Consequently, they are alienated from the life and family of God, and are under the righteous judgment and wrath of God. (Eph. 2:3, Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 4:18; John 8:42-44; Rom. 3:19, 1:18; Mark 7:21-23; Matt. 19:26; Rom. 7:18)
Sec. 11 Salvation. We believe in salvation by grace through faith; that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, and every
spiritual resource needed for life and godliness; that his salvation includes the whole man, spirit and soul and body; and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation. (John 3:16, 6:28,29; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:24, 4:4,5,11-16; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:23,24; 1 John 5:11-13)
Sec. 12 Everlasting Safety of Believers. We believe that all, once born again by the Spirit of God, are kept by God's power alone and are thus secure in Christ forever, sealed by the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance. (l John 5:24; Eph. 1:13,14; John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 35-39; Jude 1:24,25; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; John 3:15,16)
We believe that it is the privilege of the believer to rejoice in the assurance of his salvation through the testimony of God's Word. However, God's word also clearly does not allow the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for careless living and states that rewards will be lost from such living. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:1; 1 John 2:1,2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:5; John 8:31,34; Heb. 10:26-31; 1 John 3:3,6-10)
Sec. 13 Good Works. We believe that it should be the desire of all believers to practice good works in obedience to the revealed will of God, who will richly reward for those good works. It is the believer's way of expressing his love to God and showing to the world that outward fruit of the inward change of heart. These good works do not add to our salvation but are evidence of our salvation. (I Cor. 3:11-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; I Cor. 6:12-20; Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 12:31; Matt 5:16; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; Phil. 2:12,13)
Sec. 14 Spiritual Gifts. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. He has given gifts, talents, abilities, skills and graces to each believer for the building up of the Church. He has given specifically gifted men to the Church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers—for the edifying of the saints and the building up of the Body of Christ. We believe that the office of apostle and prophet no longer exist but were limited to the first-century Church; and that some of the gifts which were intended for authenticating signs, such as speaking or praying in tongues and public miraculous healings, are not operative today because the Scriptures are complete and the believer is to walk by faith, not by sight. (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-13; 1 Cor. 13:9-10; Heb. 2:3,4; 1 Cor. 14:21,22)
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with his own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7; I John 5:14,15; James 5:13-16)
Sec. 15 The Church. We believe that all those who are born again of the Holy Spirit during this dispensation of grace are members of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He began to build on the day of Pentecost and will be complete at the rapture of the Church; and into which all true believers of the present age are baptized immediately by the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:4,5:25-32; Matt. 16:18; Acts. 2:4-7; I Cor. 12:12,13, 1:2)
Sec. 16 Ordinances. We believe in two Scriptural ordinances: water baptism and the Lord's supper. Christian baptism shall be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon the profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. We administer water baptism if at all possible by immersion recognizing, however, that not the water but the shed blood of Jesus washes away sins. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-39, 10:47,48; Acts 16:32-35, 18:18, 22:16; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20,21)
The Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and the cup by which believers commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination. (I Cor. 11:23-28; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20)
Sec. 17 Separation from the world. We believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to abstain from all appearances of evil. (Rom. 12:2; James 4:4; I John 2:16; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
Sec 18 The Eternal State. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and ever-lasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; John 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5,6,12-15)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord. There, 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; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil 1:23,3:21; 1 Thess. 5:16-18)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection. Then, with soul and body reunited, they shall all 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. (Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-14)
Sec. 19 Missions. We believe that, in view of the doctrines of total depravity and the lost condition of all who are unregenerate, the absolute obligation of the saved is to testify by life, word, and sound witness to the whole world the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:1la)