What We Believe
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures in their original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts to be the verbal plenary inspired Word of God. Those Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their literal, grammatical-historical meaning.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16, 28:25; Psalm 119:160, 119:105, 130; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; 5:39
The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite intelligent Spirit, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honors, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalms 147:5; 83:18, 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30, 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; II Corinthians 13:14
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or will ever be born of woman, and that he is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. “That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (I Corinthians 15:3-4) That He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God;” that He alone is our “merciful and high priest in things pertaining to God;” “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven,” bodily, personally, and visibly; that His coming is composed of two aspects . . . His coming in the air for His saints prior to the Day of the Lord in which the “dead in Christ shall rise first” and the living saints “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” and later He shall come with His saints to the earth to set up the throne of David; that He shall reign upon earth a thousand years in righteousness until He shall put all enemies under His feet.
Matthew 1:18-25; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47; Matthew 28:5-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2, 4-6; Acts 1:11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:1; 12:2, 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17, 5:9-10; John 14:3; Acts 9:29-30; I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 25:13; James 5:8; Matthew 24:42; Hebrews 9:28; I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:42-44; I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 3:20-21; Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; I Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1, 11:4-5; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:1-4, 6
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the 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, or righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that His is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; I Peter 1:2 and Romans 8
The Devil, or Satan
We believe that Satan is a literal personality; that he was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world; that he is man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the Lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all the powers of darkness; that he is limited in his activity by the wisdom and power of God; that he is destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter 5:8; Zechariah 3:1; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4; Revelation 12:10; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Revelation 13:13-14; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11,16,20; 12:7-9, 20:10; Matthew 25:41
Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation; that it is to be accepted literal and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that Man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly by God and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind”.
Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:24; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; 2:21-23; 1:11,24
Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Creator, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12,19, 3:10-19; Ephesians 2:1,3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32, 20,28; Galatians 3:22
Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; throughout the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinners place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.
Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24, 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; I Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12:15, 7:25; I John 2:2
Grace
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; Luke 5:27; I John 5:1, 3:6-7; Acts 2:41, 16:30-33; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8, 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, relying on Him alone as the Only and all-sufficient Savior.
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; I John 5:1; Acts 20:21; II Timothy 2:25-26; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; II Corinthians 7:10; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38, 16:30-31; Psalm 38:4; Acts 24:25; I Corinthians 14:25; Job 33:27-28; Luke 18:13, 15:18,24; James 4:7,10; Romans 10:12-13; Acts 20:21, 5:31; Revelation 11:15; Hebrews 5:6, 4:14,16
Sanctification
We believe that it is that work whereby the believing sinner is set apart to God from sin; that it involves three aspects which may be termed positional, progressive and final.
- Positional sanctification is the setting apart once and for all, by means of the blood of Christ, the believing sinner as God’s own possession, so that in his standing he is reckoned holy;
- Progressive sanctification is the present work of God whereby the believer in his experience, is progressively set apart from sin and brought toward perfection by the work of the Holy Spirit through the continual use of the appointed means . . . especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer; This is not a second work of Grace.
- Final sanctification is the work in the future wherein God will wholly finish the process of perfection at the coming or descent of Christ with His saints.
Hebrews 13:12; Acts 26:18; I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:14; I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:4; I Thessalonians 4:3; Romans 6:22; John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; II Corinthians 3:18, 7:1; Colossians 1:10-12; Ephesians 4:11-13; Philippians 3:12-16; Romans 12:1-3; I Peter 2:1-3; Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18, 4:30-32; Philippians 1:6; I Thessalonians 5:23; I John 3:2; I Thessalonians 3:12-13
Perseverance and Security of the Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 9:31; Psalm 37:2,29; I John 3:9, 2:27-28; 5:18; Hebrews 3:14; I John 2:19; John 17:12; Job 17:9; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30; Psalm 121:3-5, 125:1-2, 73:24; Psalm 138:8; Jeremiah 32:40; Luke 10:42, 22:31-32; John 6:37-39, 10:28-29; Romans 8:33-34; Romans 11:29; I Corinthians 1:8-9; II Corinthians 1:21-22; Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; II Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; I John 4:4; II Timothy 1:12, 4:18; I Peter 1:4-5; John 4:14, 5:24
The Church
We believe that the true New Testament Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated together in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ; following the pattern of daily living and church practice as set forth in the Scriptures; and carrying out the responsibilities contained in the commission of our Lord as recorded in His last days upon the earth.
We believe that the church is an independent, sovereign, local body, with the right of self-government, entirely free from direction or interference by individuals or organizations; that Christ is our sole superintendent through the leadership of the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for such churches to fellowship together in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its fellowship.
We believe that the Scriptures also refer to the Church which is His Body; that this body includes all the redeemed of this present age; that it makes no decisions, exercises no discipline, administers no ordinances, never meets and preaches any Gospel corporately. It is, in a sense, an embryo, awaiting completion when it will finally be gathered in Glory as the general assembly and church of the firstborn.
Matthew 18:17; I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 5:11, 11:22, 8:1; I Corinthians 1:13; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Romans 16:1, 5, 23; I Corinthians 4:17, 14:23; III John 9; I Timothy 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; Philippians 1:5; I Corinthians 11:2; II Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:17-20; Matthew 18:15-18; Matthew 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12, 14:21; I Thessalonians 1:1 (Cf. I Thessalonians 4:2); II John 6; Galatians 6:2; I John 2:4; I Corinthians 14:12; Philippians 1:27; I Corinthians 12:1,12; 1:4,8; Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; I Timothy 3:1,8; Titus 1:5-7; Hebrews 12:23
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, by the authority of a true New Testament Church; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation, and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the New Testament church, by the emblems of the bread and fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ until He comes and should be preceded always by self-examination.
Mark 1:5,9; Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6; John 4:1-2; 3:22-23; Mark 16:16; Acts 1:21-22; 2:41; 16:32-34; 18:8; 8:12; Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Galatians 3:26-28; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:5; Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:28, 5:8; I Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:17-29
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.
Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Romans 6:16, 2:2,11; Proverbs 10:6, 16:25, 12:7, 13:21, 21:15; Romans 1:16-17; I John 2:28-29, 3:3,8; Romans 6:18-22; I Corinthians 1:30; I Peter 4:17-18; Galatians 3:10: I John 5:19; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; John 16:8; II Thessalonians 2:10,12; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:5, 9:25-26; John 12:26
Future Life, Bodily Resurrection and Eternal Judgement
We believe that the spiritual part of the believer is separated from the physical part at death and goes immediately to be with Christ in heaven, where is found joyful fellowship with Him until His second coming, when the material, physical part is to be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His own Glorious body; that the works of the believer will then be presented before the judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, a judgment which will issue in the bestowal or lack of rewards, but not the loss of the soul; that the immaterial part of the unbeliever is separated from the material part at death and descends immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment; that following the millennial reign of Christ on earth, these will be raised from the grave, judged “according to their works,” and cast into the Lake of Fire.
II Corinthians 5:5-8; James 2:26; Luke 23:42-43; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Philippians 3:20-21; I John 3:2; I Corinthians 3:9-15; Revelation 20:5-6; Luke 16:22-31; II Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8 and Jude 13