Doctrinal Statement
We believe that all Scripture of the Old and New Testaments is verbally inspired by God, and inerrant in the original writings; and that it is of supreme and final authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:21). The Scripture is given to man that he might know God, and that he might know God’s will for man.
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – and these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of the same confidence and obedience (Matthew 28:18, 19; II Corinthians 13:14).
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:30-35). He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). He died on the cross as the substitute for man for the sin penalty (Romans 5:8). He arose bodily from the dead (John 20:20). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). He is presently ministering for the believer as the intercessor (Hebrews 7:25). He will return personally and visibly, first to receive the believer to Himself (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17), and then to establish His kingdom on earth (Matthew 25:31, 32).
We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Man fell because of sin, and, as a consequence, lost his spiritual life (Genesis 3). Man, therefore, in his natural state, is condemned to an eternal death (Romans 6:23).
We believe that man may have salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin through personal trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for man’s sin (I Peter 2:24). Through faith in Jesus Christ, man is born again (John 3:3), possesses a new nature (II Corinthians 5:17), and has the promise of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Salvation cannot come through works, but only through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19). He is active in the regeneration of the believer (Titus 3:5). He indwells every believer (Romans 8:9). He is the source of power whereby the believer may live a Godly life (Galatians 5:16). His present ministry is, in part, to convince the world of the reality of sin, of righteousness through Christ, and of the judgment to come (John 16:7-11).
We believe that those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation have the promise of eternal life as a present possession (John 5:24), and therefore they are guaranteed eternal life (Ephesians 4:30). It is the privilege of the believer to have a present and continuing assurance that he possesses salvation (I John 5:13).
We believe that Satan is a created being of God, and that he fell because of sin to his present state (Isaiah 14:12-17). He is the author of sin (Genesis 3:1-19). He has been judged through the death of Christ on the cross (John 12:31). He will be eternally judged in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Sin is unrighteousness in the sight of God (I John 5:17).
We believe that all who are born again through faith in Christ are members of the Church which is the body and bride of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-27). The Church has been given the commission to reach the world for Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20). The local church is an organized body of believers in one locality (Revelation 2). The ordinances of the Church are water baptism (Matthew 28:19), and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19, 20).
We believe that Christ has gone to prepare a place for the believers, and that He will come again to receive them (John 14:2, 3). The Blessed Hope of the believer is the rapture, when Christ returns to call from the grave and from this life those who have put their faith in Him (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). The rapture will be followed by the tribulation years (Matthew 25:31-42). He shall reign upon the earth for one thousand years (Revelation 20:4). He shall finally judge all those who have rejected God’s salvation through faith (Revelation 20:11-15).
We believe that at death the souls of those who have trusted in Christ for salvation pass immediately into the presence of Christ (Philippians 1:23). Those who have died will rise again from the graves, and those who are living at the time of the rapture will with them be translated into an immortal state (I Corinthians 15:51-53), and they shall be forever with Christ (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Eternal life in heaven awaits all believers (Revelation 21, 22). Eternal punishment in the lake of fire is for all who have rejected Christ (Revelation 20:14, 15).
We believe that the Christian is challenged in the Word of God to live a life separated from the sin of the world (Romans 6:1, 2; I Corinthians 6:18, 19; II Corinthians 6:17, 18) which can only be accomplished by his living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit so as to reveal the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23). The life of the believer should be fruitful in spiritual service and lived for the glory of God (John 15:1-8).