What we Believe

     The Church Doctrinal Statement is the root of the local Church.  Sound doctrine is basis for witness, protection against false teaching, and God's approval.  The first local church placed their first emphasis on doctrine.  (I Cor. 3:10,11; II Tim. 3:16).

GOD—We believe in one and only one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect, all-knowing, and eternally-existing in three persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Ex. 20:2, 3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; Jn. 1:1,2; 10:30; II Cor. 13:14; Matt. 28:19).

JESUS CHRIST AND THE ATONEMENT—We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins, according to the Scriptures.  Further, He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High He is our High Priest and Advocate.

     We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and become children of God (Isa. 7:14; 53:4-7; Matt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:14; 3:3,16; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:23,24; I Jn. 4:10).

THE HOLY SPIRIT—We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer daily for Godly living and service (Jn. 14:16; 16:7,8,13-15; Acts 5:3,4; Rom. 8:2; 1 Cor. 2:4,5; 3:16; 6:19; 1 Jn. 4:4).

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES—We believe the Holy Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, as originally written, is the inspired Word of God and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore is truth without error in the original writings.  We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union, the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of man, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Matt. 5:18; Rom. 10:17; 15:4; Heb. 4:12; I Thess. 2:13; Rev. 22:18,19).

CREATION—We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God (Gen. 1 & 2; Col. 1:15-17; Jn. 1:3,4).

THE FALL OF MAN—We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell through sin and is therefore spiritually dead and separated from God (Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 5:12,19; 3:10; Gen. 6:1-5; Ps. 14:1-3; 51:3; I Cor. 15:21,22).

REGENERATION AND JUSTIFICATION—We believe that only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit and salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ can spiritual life be obtained (Jn. 1:13; Jn. 3:3; Eph. 2:8-9).

     We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those that believe in Him is justification.  Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness, something bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemers' blood, whereby He becomes our righteousness (Is. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Ps. 51:7; Jn. 1:29; Rom. 3:23,24,28; 4:1-8,25; 5:1; 5:9; 6:23; Eph. 1:7; Tit. 3:5-7; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 8:12; 10:38; I Pet. 1:18-19).

SECURITY OF THE SAINTS—We believe that all true, authentic believers, once saved are eternally secure and kept saved forever, and that all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ, are assured of their salvation through the testimony of God in His written Word (Phil. 1:6; Jn. 3:16,36; 5:24; 6:37; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:31,35-39; Heb. 13:5,6; Jude 1; I Jn. 5:13).

SATAN—We believe in the personality and reality of Satan, that he is the originator of sin, and that he is ceaseless and ruthless in his efforts to thwart God's plan of salvation to all people.  Satan deceives, tempts and blinds the minds of the unbelieving so that they may not come to the light.  We believe that he is counterfeiting the works of God by fostering false teachings that deny the efficacy of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone (Gen. 3:1-19; Matt. 4:1-11; II Cor. 4:3,4; 11:13-15; Eph. 2:2; 6:10-12; II Thess. 2:3,4; I Tim. 4:1-3;  I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:9; 20:10).

PERSONAL SEPARATION—We believe that every believer should be separated unto Godly living.  We believe that every believer within the local church should be separated from all appearance of evil and all worldliness both personally and socially (I Jn. 2:15-17; II Cor. 6:14-18; I Thess. 5:22; 1:9b).

THE LOCAL CHURCH—We believe that a local church is a congregation of believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word.  We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all the world as we have opportunity.  We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel.  We recognize, however, that union in structure does not guarantee unity of spirit.  Our foremost concern, therefore, is unity of spirit with our Lord, with each other, and with other Christians.  On all matters of membership, of policy, or government, of discipline, and of benevolence the will of the local church is final (Acts 1:8; 2:41-42; 20:17-28; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11,12; 5:23-27; Col. 1:18; Heb. 10:25).

ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND LORD'S SUPPER—The Church holds to the practice of baptism by immersion of a believer in water, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our life.  We further believe baptism is not only an external symbol and witness, but an act of the heart, expressing our obedience to follow Christ's command to 'believe and be baptized'.  It is to be a meaningful expression of our faith.  We encourage those that have come to salvation in Christ through the Holy Spirit to follow in baptism.

     We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He returns, and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination, heeding the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

     These ordinances are not to be regarded as a means of salvation or church membership, but we strongly recommend, on the authority of the Word of God, that they be observed by every believer (Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; 10:47, 48; 16:31-34; 18:8; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19,20; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:26,27; I Cor. 11:23-28).

THE RAPTURE, RESURRECTION AND SECOND COMING—We believe in the rapture of the believers when Christ comes in the air, and in the bodily resurrection of the dead (I Thess. 4:16, 17); of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord in Heaven, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment in Hell.  We believe that the future establishment of God's rule involves the personal, second coming of Christ (Rev. 19:11-16), his millennial reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 20:1-6), judgment (John 5:24-30), and creation of the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1-5).  This "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-58; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:5-7; Phil. 3:20, 21; Jn. 14:1-4).

CHURCH SEPARATION—We believe in separation of the Church and State.  We also believe in complete separation of the Church from all forms of apostasy and worldliness (II Cor. 6:14-18; II Jn. 7-11; Matt. 22:21).