Our Beliefs

Our Beliefs

The Bible
We belive the Bible to be the revealed Word of God, fully and verbally inspired by God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and are, therefor, the final authority for faith and practice. The Sixtysix books of the Old and New Testament are complete and divine, revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal, grammatical-historical meaning. We belive that God not only inspired every word, but that He has preserved them through the ages. We believe that the King James Version (KJV) is the most well-preserved English translation of the Bible. For the sake of unity, we use the KJV for exclusivly for all public preaching and teaching. (Ps. 12:6-7; II Tim, 3:15-17; I Pet. 1:23-25; II Pet. 1:19-21)

God
We Believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons -- the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit -- each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Mt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; II Cor. 13:14; I Tim. 1:17; 1 John 4:4, 5:7)

Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5; 2:24)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; I John 2:1-2)

The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; and, that He is a Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)

We believe that He is a divine Teacher who assists believers in understanding and appropriating the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (John 16:13; Eph 1:17-18; I John 2:20, 27)

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the church to do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism of filling of the Holy Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, although God is frequently chooses to answers the prayers of believers for physical healing. (I Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

Sin

We believe that every person was created in the image and likeness of God; but that in Adam's sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. We believe all people were born with this inherited sin nature. We believe that because of his nature, every person is a sinner by choiuce, and he is totally incapable of reforming himself or ceasing from his sin by his own power. We believe the only hope of deliverence for man is a total change of mind concerning his sinful condition and inability to change it, and turning to Jesus Christ as the only saviour. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23: Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgivness of our sins. We belive that only through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross can a man be delivered from his sin. We belive that all those who rejected Jesus Christ as their Saviour are already condemned to an eternity in the lake of fire. (Gen. 5:1-5; Acts 4:19, 16:31; Rom. 3:10-23, 5:6-12, 6:23, 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6; Rev. 20:11-14)

Predestination and Sanctification

We belive that, through God foreknows every person who till come to trust Jesus as Saviour, He does not predertermine who will make that choice. God gives the invitation and the opportunity to all people to receive Christ as Saviour, We believe that the doctrine of predestinatioin has nothing to do with the matter of salvation and everything to do with the matter of sanctification. It is God's predestined purpose that every person who trusts Jesus as Saviour will be conformed into the image of Christ. (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5-14; I Tim. 2:11; II Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17)

The Eternal Security of the Believer
We believe that once a person is saved, he is kept by God's power and remains secure in Christ forever. ( John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1. 38-39; I Cor 1:4-8; I Pet 1:4-5)

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

The New Testament Church
We believe that the church began with the calling out of the twelves apostles by Jesus Christ and was empowered on the day of Pentecost. (Mt. 16:16-18; Acts 1:8, 15)

We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ, and have voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, fellowship, service, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. (Acts 2:41-43, 11:15, 20:28)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or controls. Any affiliations, societies, organizations, associations, or agencies that this church affiliates with are to further the objectives stated in the Purpose Statement and are not authoritative in matters of church practice or belief. (Acts 13: 1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; I Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Pet. 5:1-4)

We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-38; I Cor. 11:23-26)

Separation
We believe that belivers should mantain a godly testimony and live in such a way that their lives do not bring reporach upon their Saviour. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations; and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, piercings, and bodily markings. We stand against any and all worldly philosophies that seek to destroy or undermine the truth of Biblical Christianity. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; I Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

The Last Days
We believe on that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visbly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Isreal. Following this one-thousand-year reign is the Great White Throne judgement and then the new heaven and new earth. (Ps, 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Cor. 15:51-58; I Thes. 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:1-9; Tit. 2:13, Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all man, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment. (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29: Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in a conscious state of blessedness they await the first resurrectionm when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Lk. 23:43; II Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; 3:21: I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)

We believe that the souls of unbelivers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment untill the secound resurrection, when the sould and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting punishment and torment. (Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-26; II Thes 1:7-9; Jd. 6-7: Rev. 20:11-15)

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Mt 4:2-11; Rev 20:10)

Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the gap theory, the day-age theory, theistic evolution, and intelligent design not attributed to God as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Exo. 20:11)

Civil Government
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 these 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. We believe that we must obey the state unless it requires us to act contrary to our faith at which time we must obey God rather than the state. (Mt. 22:15-22; Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Titus 3:1-2 Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14)

We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally-born man and one naturally-born woman for life. (Gen, 2:24; Rom, 7:2; I Cor 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

In keeping with our beliefs regarding human sexuality as expressed in this statement of faith and in keeping with our purpose as expressed in Section 1.02, we will have the following practical policies:

a. All people are welcome to attend our regular services.

b. Those who attend may not display behavior that is indicative of the sinful behaviors listed in (L)(1) of this section in church services, at church functions, and on the church grounds.

c. Church members are not to display overt disrespect for those who are involved in the sinful behaviors listed in (L)(1) of this section.

d. The pastor of the church will preach consistently against all forms of sinful behavior, including those listed in (L)(1) of this section.

e. Because God intends marrige to be between two belivers, we will only conduct marriges involving two professing belivers in
Jesus Christ who are in good standing with the local church of like faith and practice. (II Cor. 6:14)

Family Relationships
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Exo. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

Giving
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. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)

Euthanasia
We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Exo 20:13, 23:7; Mt 5:21; Acts 17:28)

The Sacrifice of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died as a substitutionary payment for the sin of the whole world. He physically arose from the dead and then He ascended into Heaven. Simple faith in this sacrifice is the only way of salvation for mankind. Those who die not having put their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ spend eternity separated from God. (Luke 24, Acts 1:9-11, Romans 5:8-10, I Peter 3:18)

Love
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers and those who oppose us. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Mt 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)

Church Membership and Service
The local church is a group of believers who are baptized by immersion in water, banded together for edification, exhortation and evangelism as commanded by Christ in the Great Commission; preaching the Gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 1:22-23).

Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged In outside of a marriage between one naturally-born man and one naturally-born woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, polygamy, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance.(Gen. 2:24, 19:5,13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9 I Thes. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally-born man and one naturally-born woman for life. (Gen, 2:24; Rom, 7:2; I Cor 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
In keeping with our beliefs regarding human sexuality as expressed in this statement of faith and in keeping with our purpose as expressed in Section 1.02, we will have the following practical policies: a. All people are welcome to attend our regular services. b. Those who attend may not display behavior that is indicative of the sinful behaviors listed in (L)(1) of this section in church services, at church functions, and on the church grounds. c. Church members are not to display overt disrespect for those who are involved in the sinful behaviors listed in (L)(1) of this section. d. The pastor of the church will preach consistently against all forms of sinful behavior, including those listed in (L)(1) of this section.

Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

Missions
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Mt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)

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