Doctrinal Statement

SECTION 1: THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE

We believe in the authority and sufficiency of the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written; that it was verbally and plenarily inspired (God-breathed), and is the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore is infallible and inerrant in all matters of which it speaks.

We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions are to be tried. John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

SECTION 2: THE DOCTRINE OF GOD

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, infinite in all his attributes, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are 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 creation, providence, and redemption. Genesis 1:1-2, 26, 6:3; Exodus 20:2-3; Nehemiah 9:20; Job 33:4; John 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:12-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 4:11.

A. The Doctrine of God the Father - We believe that God is the Father of all those who trust in Him. As our Father He answers our prayers, forgives our sins, disciplines us, and is the giver of every good and perfect gift. I John 3:1-2; John 14:23, 16:23; I John 1:9; Hebrews 12:5-15; James 1:17.

B. The Doctrine of God the Son - We believe that Jesus Christ is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit; that He was God manifest in the flesh, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin; that, being sinless, He died for the sins of all mankind and rose bodily from the dead; and that He ascended into heaven where He is now our Advocate and Great High Priest. John 5:18; Philippians 2:6; I Timothy 3:16; Matthew 1:20-25; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:1-6; I John 2:1.

C. The Doctrine of God The Holy Spirit - We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Son, possessing intellect, will and emotion; that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become children of God through Christ; that He empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills believers who are continually surrendered to God. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts. We believe the sign/revelatory gifts during the founding of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the message of divine truth, and were not intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers beyond that initial purpose. John 3:5; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-14; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Eph 2:20; 4:7-12, 30; Heb 2:1-4.

SECTION 3: THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS, DEMONS, AND SATAN

A. The Angels: We believe that there is an innumerable host of personal, spirit beings, who were created by God and who minister to God and believers. Hebrews 12:22; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 5:11-13.

B. The Demons: We believe the demons are angels who have sinned against God, who are actively working against Christ and His Church, and who are destined to eternal judgment in the lake of fire. Revelation 12:4; Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 25:41.

C. The Devil or Satan: We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil; and that he was created by God as an angel but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator; that he became the unholy god of this age and the ruler of all the powers of darkness and is destined to eternal judgment in the lake of fire. Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 20:10.

SECTION 4: THE DOCTRINE OF CREATION

We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. Genesis 1:1-2:25; Colossians 1:16, 17; John 1:3; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-19.

SECTION 5: THE DOCTRINE OF SIN

We believe that man was created without sin, but because of Adam’s sin all mankind possess a sin nature, thus alienating them from the fellowship and family of God. Romans 5:12, 3:23, 6:23. 

SECTION 6: THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith, and not by works. All three members of the Trinity are involved in our salvation. Ephesians 2:8,9.

A. God the Father planned it as He sovereignly chose to save all believers to be recipients of His grace from before the foundations of the world. John 1:12,13; 6:35-39; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9.

B. God the Son provided it by His substitutionary death for our sins and His resurrection from the dead. As a result, God has been propitiated and the believer is redeemed and reconciled. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

C. God the Spirit applies it by convicting men of sin, by giving them faith to believe, and by causing them to be born again. John 16:7-11; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:1-7.

D. Man receives it by faith, believing that Jesus Christ died for our personal sins, was buried, and bodily rose from the grave as the living Savior. I Corinthians 15:1-7. The result being that man possesses eternal life, having been saved from a literal hell. 1 John 5:11-12.

Since salvation is by grace, it is impossible for any believer to lose his salvation. John 10:27-29; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:35-39.

SECTION 7: THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

A. The Universal Church. We believe that the universal church, the body of Christ, is comprised of all believers from the Day of Pentecost to the rapture. At the point of salvation, every believer was baptized into the body of Christ and received spiritual gifts for service. Acts 1:5; 2:33-47; 1 Corinthians 12:11-13.

B. The Local Church. The local church is an organized group of baptized believers in a particular place who meet to observe the ordinances, to worship God, to edify the saints, and to fulfill the great commission. The ordinances are Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, both of which are symbolical. Every believer is responsible to use his spiritual gifts to edify the Body of Christ. Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Ephesians 4:11.

SECTION 8: THE DOCTRINE OF FUTURE EVENTS

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead in Christ and the glorification of all saints at the rapture of the Church. The rapture takes place just prior to the seven years of the tribulation. The Second Coming of Christ refers to His coming back at the end of the seven years of tribulation to judge, rule, and reign over the whole earth for 1,000 literal years. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:29-31; Revelation 20:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ezekiel 20:37-38; Revelation 20:7-15.

SECTION 9: CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe that governmental authorities are the ministers of God, to be terrors of evil, and to allow us to live a quiet and peaceful life; that they are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed except in things contrary to God’s Word. Romans 13:1-7; Daniel 4:17-18; 1 Timothy 2:2.