We Believe
Scripture
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are entirely inspired by God and are infallible in the original manuscripts. We believe the scriptures have been carefully preserved and are accurate, sufficient, and authoritative for all belief, life, and ministry. Scripture should be studied taking into account grammar, history, and context. Matthew 5:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:16,17, 2 Timothy2:15; 2 Peter 1:20-25
God
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is sovereign, holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere in his universe. Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-4; Acts 17:24-28, Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2,16; 9; Psalm 139:1-12; Daniel 4:34-35, 2:21-22
Creation
We believe that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created the universe and all living things in six literal 24 hour periods of time. All plant and animal life exists under God’s established law and will bring forth only after its kind. Man is to exercise dominion and stewardship of the earth. Genesis 1:1-2, 12, 21, 26, 2:15; John 1:1-3, 5:46-47; Colossians 1:16-17
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man and that He voluntarily humbled himself and took on flesh when He was virgin born as the sinless Son of God. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord and that He ascended to Heaven where He is active as the only Savior, High Priest, Advocate, and Mediator between God and man. Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25, 28:1-20; John 1:1-14, 10:30, 17:22, 20:28; Philippians 2:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 John 2:1
Holy Spirit
We believe in the personhood and deity of the Holy Spirit, and that His ministry to believers includes: regeneration, baptizing into Christ and His body (the church), indwelling, sealing, gifting, illuminating, and empowering believers for service. He restrains Satan and convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. John 16:7-13; Romans 8:9-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, 12:7, 13; Ephesians 1:12-14, 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27
Man
We believe that man is created in the image of God and was originally sinless, but through Adam’s disobedience, sin passed to all men so that they are born in sin and totally depraved. Sin is disobedience to God and is an act of the will that results in physical death, spiritual death, and finally the second death (eternal judgment). Genesis 1:27, 3:1-7; Psalm 51:5; John 5:24; Romans 3:10-18, 5:12-19, 6:12, 23; Revelation 20:6, 15
Salvation
We believe that men are saved by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus who was the substitute payment for sinners. His death and resurrection were the payment for man’s sin once and for all. His voluntary death satisfied God’s righteous judgment toward man’s sin. This is the gospel message. Sinners are saved by grace alone as they respond in faith to the gospel. God, in His sovereign election, draws sinners to receive the gospel through faith and repentance, apart from any works of their own, making them born again. All who are appointed to salvation are declared sinless before God (justified) and can never be lost but remain eternally secure in God’s family. Believers demonstrate the reality of the new birth by a willingness to obey, love others, and perform good works. John 3:3-7, 3:16-17, 6:44, 65, 10:26-29; Romans 1:16, 8:35-39, 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:4-7, 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Angels
Holy angels are ministering spirits that serve God and the believer in the outworking of God’s plan. Satan and his demonic host are fallen angels that can influence believers. Unbelievers can be both influenced and possessed by fallen angels. The believer must “stand” against the evil influence of Satan and his host. Ephesians 6:10-16; Matthew 25:41; Mark 5:8-9; Hebrews 1:14
Baptism and Communion
We believe the biblical mode of baptism is by immersion in water and takes place after a person has believed. Baptism testifies to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is carried out in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is a prerequisite for membership in this local church. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-4 We believe that the elements of a Communion service are symbolic. The Communion service is a memorial of the Lord’s death and is to be practiced until He comes. Baptism and Communion are commands for the New Testament church. 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
Last Things
We believe in the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet the resurrected and glorified saints in the air. This event, called the Rapture, will be followed by a seven year tribulation culminating in the Revelation of Jesus Christ at His coming with His saints. At that time, He will establish His literal millennial (1000 year) reign on the earth as sovereign King. After this, His saints will rule with Him in the new heaven and new earth for eternity while the lost will be judged at the Great White Throne and be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 16:27, 25:31-46; John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:1-9; Revelation 20:10-15
The Family
We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundation of human society. Biblical marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Those engaged in sex outside of marriage or in a same sex relationship are outside of God’s plan for the family. Marriage alone provides the framework for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Genesis 1:26-28, 2:20-25; Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 18:22-28; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9-10, 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4; I Timothy 5:14; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7; Jude 1:7
The Church
We believe that this local church is a body of baptized believers who meet for the purpose of worship, discipleship, biblical training, ministry, prayer, fellowship, missions, and evangelism. The church is self-governing, led by male pastor(s), served by deacons and other gifted leaders. Churches of like faith and practice may partner together in the ongoing work of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 6:3-6, 13:2-4; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:12, 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:7,17
Christian Liberty
We believe that every believer is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life, and that each should be free to worship and follow God according to the dictates of his or her conscience as guided by the Scriptures. Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8, 10:23-33; Philippians 3:15-16
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is divinely appointed for the good order of human society and that officials are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed except in things opposed to the Scripture. Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-17