WHAT WE BELIEVE

IN REGARD TO THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that all the words of the sixty-six books of the Bible  are the inspired words of God and were written by holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; that Scriptures are the supreme authority and standard by which all men should conduct their thoughts, words and deeds, and by which all men shall be judged (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12-13).


IN REGARD TO GOD

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, 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 Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious functions in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-3; Isaiah 48:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11).


IN REGARD TO JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Creator in the flesh; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; that His birth was of a virgin; that His earthly life was sinless; that His death was an atoning, substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of man; that His burial and resurrection were literal; that His ascension to the Father was real, visible and glorious, that His advocacy at the right-hand of God is now effective; and that His return in power and great glory is imminent (John 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:16; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-16).


IN REGARD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is a Divine person of the Trinity equal with the Father and the Son and of the same essence; that He was active in 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 His works in the life of the believer include regeneration, baptism into the Body of Christ, indwelling, sealing, filling, gifting, guiding, teaching, illuminating, witnessing; and that His sole mission is to glorify Jesus Christ (Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; Genesis 1:1-3; Genesis 6:3; John 16:7-11; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:11; John 14:26; John 16:13-15).


IN REGARD TO MAN

We believe that man was created by God and in the image of God; that man was originally sinless, was tempted by Satan, gave into temptation and sinned, was separated from God, and was condemned to physical and spiritual death; that as a result of the original sin of man, all mankind inherited a sinful nature, and all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God; and that apart from Jesus Christ all men are condemned to an eternal hell where there is no hope of eternal life in heaven with the Lord (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-23; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:9).


IN REGARD TO SALVATION

We believe that Christ's death, burial and resurrection is man's only means of salvation; that man is not saved by personal works, but by faith in the personal works, but by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ; that the saved are justified by faith which is the judicial act of God, whereby those who put their faith in Christ are declared righteous in His eyes and are free from guilt and punishment of sin; and that the saved are sanctified (set apart) at conversion by God to be developed and perfected unto the day of Christ's return (John 14:6; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 10:9-14).



IN REGARD TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS

We believe that those whom God has saved by faith in Jesus have been sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption and will never fall away from the grace of Jesus and will be preserved until the end; that though they may fall into sore trials and temptations and even into sin, whereby they grieve the Holy Spirit, impair their fellowship with the Father, and lose the joy of their salvation, they shall be kept by the power of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9 and 4:30; John 10:28; Romans 8:1; Philippians 1:6).


IN REGARD TO THE CHURCH

We believe the church (an organism) is the body of Christ of which He is the living Head, and regenerate believers are its members; that the church is also an organization consisting of baptized believers professing Christ as their Savior, working together to accomplish the work of Christ on the earth; and that the church should practice two ordinances: baptism by immersion which is a prerequisite to church membership and the Lord's Supper which should be done until Christ's return. (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Acts 8:26-39; Matthew 28:19-20).


IN REGARD TO PRAYER

We believe that prevailing prayer is important in the life of every believer and its goal is the ear of God (Luke 18:1; James 5:16; John 14:13-14).


IN REGARD TO ANGELS

We believe that angels are created and finite, personal, spirit beings who are supernaturally empowered by God to be used by God; and that there are two categories of angels: good angels who obey God and fallen angels who follow Satan in his rebellion against God (Psalm 148:2 and 5; Jude 6; Colossians 1:16; Daniel 10:12; Hebrews 1:13-14; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7-9).


IN REGARD TO SATAN

We believe there is a fallen angel called Satan, or the Devil, who was created by God as an angel of light, who fell from his position as a good angel because of pride, who attempts to frustrate the purpose of God, allures humanity to do evil and will continue to do so until his final doom which is the lake of fire (1 Peter 5:8; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 20:10).


IN REGARD TO LAST THINGS

We believe in the physical, imminent return of Jesus Christ and that His return will be in two stages; the rapture of the church prior to the tribulation and His return with the saints at the end of the tribulation (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 12:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19:11-16).  We believe the resurrection of believers is to take place at Christ's second coming and that of unbelievers at the close of the millennium.  Believers will be resurrected unto eternal life to a place called heaven and unbelievers will be resurrected unto eternal damnation to a place called hell (1 Thessalonians 4:1-17; Revelation 20:12-13; John 5:29; Revelation 20:10 and 21:8).  We believe that the tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel begins at the rapture of the saints, lasts for seven years, and closes with Christ's return to set up His thousand year Kingdom of peace on the earth (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 20:4).


IN REGARD TO 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 is supreme over the rulers of the earth (Matthew 22:21 and 23:10; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7).