About the Bible

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to all mankind. It entirely originated with God and was given through chosen men using their personalities, backgrounds and languages by a process called inspiration. Since it is inspired by God, it is without mixture of error. The Bible is the final authority of truth for Christian beliefs and living. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalms 12:6, 119:105)

About God

We believe there is only one true, holy and living God, who alone is worthy of our worship. He has eternally existed in three coequal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the beginning God created out of nothing all that is, thus manifesting His power, wisdom and goodness. In sovereignty, He continues to rule and maintain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 1:17-19; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 4:11)

About Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin, thus became man without ceasing to be God. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven where now, as Great High Priest, He acts as intercessor and advocate for His own. He will come again and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Matthew 1:18; John 1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Hebrews 7:24-25; Revelation 19-20)

About the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, is coequal with the Father and the Son. He was sent into the world to restrain the Evil One and to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, convicts them of sin, and awakens them to their need of a Savior. At salvation He gives new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ, indwells and seals for eternity. The Holy Spirit is a source of assurance, strength and wisdom for the believer. He uniquely distributes gifts for the building-up of the church. His power and control are made possible by faith and make it possible for the believer to live a Christ-like life that bears fruit and brings glory to the Father. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:11-13; Ephesians 1:13)

We believe that Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers. However, some that were present in the early church are no longer in use. Sign gifts were given so that the Word of God could be proclaimed and its message validated before the completion of the canon of Scripture. They were not tests of spirituality or superiority. With the completion of Scripture these gifts were no longer needed. (1 Corinthians 12:4:11, 28-13:2; Acts 2:4-13; Hebrews 2:3-4)

About Mankind

We believe in a literal six-day account of creation. The Genesis account is to be accepted literally, not allegorically or figuratively. Creation was not through the process of evolution. We believe human beings were created in the image of God. The first man, Adam, willfully chose to disobey God; subsequently, all men are sinners by nature and by choice. Therefore, all men are sinners, spiritually dead and in need of a Savior. As a result of man’s sin, he is without excuse, and apart from salvation, he is condemned to death, separated from God in eternal punishment. (Genesis 1, 2:7-3:19; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:12-21)

About Salvation

We believe salvation is a gift from God to mankind. It is received only through faith in Jesus Christ and is based on the sovereign grace of God. It was accomplished by the sinless, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross, who alone could meet God’s righteous demands. Only by trusting in God’s offer of forgiveness through Christ, can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Salvation is received by faith apart from any human merit or ritual and provides forgiveness of sin from God and an eternal relationship with Him. Because salvation is on the basis of the grace and power of God and not human effort, the believer’s relationship and position with God is eternally secure. (John 1:12, 3:16, 10:28-29, 14:6; Romans 5:1, 6:23-26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

About The Church

We believe that the Church universal is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. It is made up of all persons who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It began at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the rapture. We believe that the Church expresses itself in local assemblies of believers who have been baptized upon profession of faith, and who gather together for worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, service, and the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. The two offices of the local church are pastors and deacons. We believe the local church has the absolute right to self-government, free from the hierarchy of individuals and organizations, that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. The mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of the Great Commission. Believers then, are to work together in love and unity, bringing glory to Christ. The church has God-imposed boundaries that prohibit entanglements with unbelievers that would compromise its purity or testimony. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Hebrews 10:24-25)

About Angels

We believe that a vast number of sinless spirit beings known as angels were created by God. Most angels continue in their original state and serve God and worship Him. These beings have much power and carry out the will of God. Other angels, led by Lucifer (who was filled with pride and sought to be as God) rebelled and are subject to God’s final judgment. They are tempters and accusers of mankind, but they can be resisted through the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-13; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1; Revelation 20:10)

About Things To Come

We believe in the grammatical, historical method of interpretation. We interpret the Bible literally, according to the normal and customary usage of its language. Therefore, we believe in a dispensational, premillennial and pre-tribulation view of future events. We believe in a bodily resurrection of Christ and His believers. We believe in the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous dead. We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. We believe in an eternal, conscious existence of all men, either in heaven or hell, and in divine judgments, rewards and punishments. (Daniel 9:7; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 15:3-8, 51-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19-20)

About Christian Conduct

We believe Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The supreme task of every believer is to glorify God with his life. The believer should live blamelessly before the world, be a faithful steward of the possessions God has given him and seek to realize for himself the full stature of maturity in Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 1:28; 1 Peter 1:14-15)

Civil government was divinely appointed for the interest and good order of human society. Leaders are to be prayed for, consciously honored and obeyed; except in those things that oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God has ordained the marital relationship between a man and a woman and that this relationship is to be protected. We believe that sexual relationships outside the context of marriage including though not limited to fornication, adultery and homosexuality are sin. (Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 13:1-7 Ephesians 5:22-6:1 Romans 1:26-32)