Statement of Faith
I. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired Of God, without error in the original writings. They determine what we believe and how we should live. II Tim. 2:15,
II Pet. 1:21
II. We believe there is only one true and living God, unlimited in every aspect, the supreme maker and ruler of heaven and earth: that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—equal in every divine perfection and each harmoniously fulfilling His individual role in the work of salvation. Matthew 3:16, Revelation 4:11, 13:14
III. We believe that Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner: born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life; was crucified for our sins; buried, and rose again the third day. He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the believer. Isaiah 7:14, Phil. 2:4-11, I Pet. 3:18
IV. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with the Father and the Son. In His relationship to the unbelieving world He restrains Satan until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel. At the time of salvation, He comes to seal and indwell. Throughout the life of a believer He fills, guides. teaches. and sanctifies daily through the Word of God. John 16:8, I Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:26, John 17:17
V. We believe that angels are created spirit beings. They were not created in the image of God and cannot be redeemed. Angels minister before the throne Of God by declaring His glory and defending His holiness. They ministered to Jesus Christ while He was on earth by protecting and caring for Him. They also made declarations of truth to man and offered physical protection, provision, encouragement and direction. Colossians 1:16; Psalm 8:4-5; Hebrews 1:14; Matthew 2:13; 4:11; Luke 22:34
We believe that Satan, also called the dragon, the serpent and the Devil, is an angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven. He is alive and active in this world as the unholy god of this age who rules over all the powers of darkness. He is destined to be defeated forever by Jesus Christ and will be cast into the eternal lake of fire at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ on earth. A host of other angels followed Satan in his rebellion against God and became fallen angels or demons. They are active in carrying out the plan of Satan to attack God and destroy man and will join him in the eternal lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4;4; Revelation 20:10; 20:2
VI. We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by the process of evolution. Genesis 1-2, Col. 1:16-17
VII. 1. God’s Unique Creation of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, unlike any other creature. Adam’s original state of sinless innocence was lost by his own voluntary transgression against God’s command, and by consequence all men sinned in him, are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam’s fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore, are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19, 5:12, 19; 1:18,32
We believe that sin has not in any measure devalued human life. All human life is sacred and retains the image of God. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We therefore defend, protect, and value all human life. Genesis 9:5-6;
Psalms 139
We believe God makes no mistakes in how He designs each individual. God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. To embrace one’s God-given gender is to accept God’s good gift. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God and an impugning of God’s righteousness. Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 29:16
2. God’s Unique Companionship for Man
We believe that marriage was the first institution God provided for man and it is a sacred relationship and honorable to all, “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Marriage is used as an illustration of the union of Christ and His church. Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 13:4; Mark 10:9; Matthew 23:10
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and is sanctioned by God. Marriage joins one man (male birth anatomy) and one woman (female in birth anatomy) in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage. Mark 10:6-9; I Cor. 7:1-9; Hebrews 13:4
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as but not limited to, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s gender, or disagreement with one’s biological gender is sinful and offensive to God. Genesis 19; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:6-30, 20:10-22; Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9-11
3. God’s Unique Compassion for Man
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Psalms 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14; 1 John 1:9
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture. Matthew 5:43-48, 7:12; Romans 12:9-21; Ephesians 5:25-32;
I Peter 2:11-25; I John 3:11-23
VIII. We believe the local New Testament church is a company of born again, immersed believers, united together for worship, evangelism, edification, and observance of the ordinances. It is independent and sovereign in church government. Its head is the Lord Jesus and its authority is the Word of God. Acts 2:41-42; Colossians 1:18
It has two ordinances:
(1) Baptism - Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful symbol our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, which represents our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is a pre- requisite to church membership. Romans 6:3-5;
Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 28:18-19
(2) Communion - The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration by believers of His death until He comes, and our continual fellowship with Him. It should always be preceded by careful self-examination.
I Corinthians 11:23-32
IX. We believe that all who have trusted Christ as their Savior and are truly born again can never again be lost. John 10:28; Romans 8:35-39
X. We believe that God looks on the unsaved as wicked and at death they are headed for eternal punishment. They who have placed their trust in the substitutional death and subsequent resurrection of Christ shall inherit eternal life. Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41
XI. We believe that future events will be:
(1) Personal and imminent coming of Christ in the air for the believers. I Thessalonians 4:14-17;
Acts 1:11; Rev. 3:10
(2) Seven years tribulation period on the earth. Revelation 11:18
(3) Return of Christ to the earth and the millennial reign of 1,000 years. Revelation 19:11-16; 20:2-3
(4) Great White Throne judgment. Revelation 20:11-12