Our Beliefs

When it comes to the major issues of life, God provides clear answers and direction through the Bible. We believe the Bible doesn’t just “contain” the Word of God, but it is the Word of God. Therefore, everything we believe concerning life, purpose and eternity comes from this book.

STATEMENT OF FAITH (THE FINE PRINT OF “WHAT WE BELIEVE” AND “WHY WE BELIEVE IT”) :

WE BELIEVE in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of Scriptures as originally given. The Scriptures are infallible, inerrant, and the sole and final authority for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13)

WE BELIEVE in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as One God existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible. (Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

WE BELIEVE in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to Divine righteousness. (Romans 5:12, 18)

WE BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6)

WE BELIEVE Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared unto His disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)

WE BELIEVE in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church. (John 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

WE BELIEVE in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6)

WE BELIEVE in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a real experience at or subsequent to salvation, with the Scriptural evidence. (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15)

WE BELIEVE in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as expressing the true Christian faith. (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1)

WE BELIEVE in the healing of the body by Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church.(Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14)

WE BELIEVE in the table of the Lord, commonly called the Communion or the Lord’s Supper, for believers. (1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28)

WE BELIEVE in eternal life for believers (John 5:24; 3:16), and eternal punishment for the unbelievers. (Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1f:9; Revelation 20:10-15)

WE BELIEVE that there is one true Universal Church, made up of genuine believers, but this one Universal Church is also composed of many Local Churches in given localities. These Churches are under the sovereign Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the Gospel. (Acts 15:22; with Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20)

WE BELIEVE that 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. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14)

WE BELIEVE that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23)

WE BELIEVE that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local Church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that 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 Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the 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)

IN ADDITION TO THESE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS …

WE BELIEVE that the Biblical form of church government is a plural eldership with a governing (“senior”) minister who is qualified on the basis of Scripture in spiritual life, character, domestic life, rulership ability, and pastoral grace. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; 1 Peter 5:1-2)

WE BELIEVE that the church of Jesus Christ is the last instrument that God is using to extend His kingdom prior to the second coming of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8-11; Matthew 6:18; Ephesians 1:20-22)

WE BELIEVE that the local church is completely autonomous – that is, it is self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating in its mature state. (Acts 13:1-3)

WE BELIEVE that every believer in Christ must be subject to God’s authority in a specific church for spiritual protection and long-term fruitfulness. (Hebrews 13:17)