Doctrinal Statement

Scripture
We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the plenary, verbally inspired WORD OF GOD, is infallible, inerrant in the original writings, and is to be upheld as the supreme and final authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21). We accept the King James Version of the Scriptures as our standard for teaching and preaching, as being a dependable translation of the original writings.

True God
We believe in one God, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present), eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Psalms 139:7-10; Isaiah 46:9; Romans 11:33; I John 5:7; Revelation 19:6).

Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely deity, the eternal Son of God. He became a man without ceasing to be God, having been supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Matthew 1:20, 23; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14; I John 5:20).

Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relationship to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; bears witness to the truth; is the agent of the New Birth, and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer; indwelling every true child of God in this Church Age; and endows with the fruit of the Spirit (John 14:16-17; 16:6-11; 13-14; Romans 8:14-27; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:30; II Thessalonians 2:7).

Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is a created being who was originally sinless, but whose heart was lifted up with pride thus causing his fall from his exalted position. He is the prince of the power of the air and the god of this age, heading up all the powers of darkness. But Satan’s destiny is fixed, for he is cursed of God, and in the future he will be cast out of the heavenlies, confined in the abyss for a thousand years, loosed for a little season after the millennium, and finally cast into the Lake of Fire (Genesis 3:14-15; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:15-17; Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:9; 10:1-10).

Creation
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act in six literal days, according to the Genesis account and not by any process of evolution; and that man was created in the likeness and image of God (Genesis 1 & 2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17).

Fall of Man
We believe that man, in the person of Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transmission fell into sin, thus plunging the whole human race into condemnation and death; so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become willful sinners by personal choice, and are without excuse before God (Genesis 3; Romans 1:18-20, 32; 5:10-19).

Virgin Birth
We believe the Eternal Son of God took upon Himself human flesh, became a man, by means of the Holy Spirit causing the virgin, Mary, to conceive a son. No man was involved in the conception and Mary remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus Christ. No other human being was ever conceived this way, or ever can be conceived in this way. It was God’s supernatural way to provide a Savior, who was both God and man, and who was without a sin nature (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14).

Salvation of Grace
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (unmerited favor) and that it is in no way based upon the merits of man (Ephesians 2:8-9). All men are sinners, deserving God’s wrath, and the only way to escape that wrath is to accept, by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary as our substitute, taking upon Himself all of our sins, and experiencing the wrath of God which we deserve (Isaiah 53:6; I Peter 2:24; Romans 4:25; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13). He was the Just dying for the unjust, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves, paying the complete price for sin. Three days after His death He rose bodily from the grave as proof that He completely satisfied God’s just demands for our sins. He rose victoriously and later ascended into Heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father, there to intercede for all those who will believe on Him (Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:1; 10:12-14).

In order to be saved, a person must believe that Jesus died and rose again for his sins, and call upon Him to save him (John 1:11-12; 3:16; Romans 10:9-13). Salvation is based on what Jesus did for us, not what we can do for Him. The Bible teaches that when a person believes on Jesus he is born again by the Spirit of God, and made a new creation in Christ Jesus, receiving eternal life as a free gift (John 3:1-18; II Corinthians 5:17).

Sanctification
We believe that the Scriptures teach that sanctification is a work of God’s grace within the life of the individual believer. We believe that sanctification has three aspects: the positional aspect, whereby God sets those apart that are His at the moment of salvation; the progressive aspect, whereby man is cleansed from the defilement of sin, by the Word, which separates him unto God; the final aspect, when the believer comes into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and is changed into His perfect likeness, not only in soul, but in body (I Corinthians 1:2; II Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:26-27; I Thessalonians 3:12-13; Hebrews 10:9-10, 14).

Ministry of Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and the gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teacher are sufficient for the growth and maturity of the saints today. We believe that the speaking in tongues and the working of sign-miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament was completed and its authority established; that they were to convince the weak in faith and unbelievers and were not a sign of super-spirituality (Acts 2:4-11; I Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:1-3, 8-13; 14:19-23, 26-28, 33; Ephesians 4:7-12).

Security of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ (John 5:24; 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; I Peter 1:5; I John 5:11-13; Jude 1).

Believer’s Two Natures
We believe that every believer has two natures with provisions made for victory of the new nature over the old through the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims of eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:11-13; 7:14-21; 8:2; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10).

Separation
We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon our Savior and Lord; and that separation from religious apostasy and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God.

We believe that Christians should withdraw themselves from other brothers who walk disorderly and that true believers should contend for the faith by rejecting false teaching and that this church should neither aid nor abet apostasy or modernism (Romans 12:1-2; 16:17-18; I Corinthians 5:11-13; II Corinthians 6:17 – 7:1; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; I Timothy 6:2-5; II Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 3:10; James 1:27; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11).

The Church

Part 1 – Universal Church
We believe that the true spiritual Church is a New Testament organism, unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, Who is its sole Head; revealed, empowered, and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service; and His “Bride” for glory. It began with Pentecost, after the ascension of Christ and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; 15:14; I Corinthians 12:12-18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:1-9; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Part 2 – Local Church
We believe that the local Church is a congregation of born again, immersed believers (Acts 2:41-42), associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word (I Corinthians 11:2); that its officers are pastors and deacons (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11); whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (II Timothy 3:2-15). We believe that the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity.

We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interferences of any hierarchy or individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:8); that it is Scriptural for the true Churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Matthew 18:15-17; 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:26-39).

Ordinances

Part 1 - Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a born-again believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; and that it is necessary for church membership (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:26-39).

Part 2 - The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination by born-again believers (Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-32).

Christian Day of Worship
We believe that the Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is kept sacred for worship and service (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:25).

Marriage and the Home
We believe that the home was the first institution God provided for man and that marriage is a sacred relationship and honorable for all. “What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” Marriage is used as an emblem of the union of Christ and His Church (Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:9; I Corinthians 7:12; Ephesians 5:22-23; Hebrews 13:4).

Human Sexuality
We believe that God commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
(Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23)

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. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

Civil Government
We believe in the separation of Church and State. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society, that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of Kings (Exodus 18:21-26; II Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1).

Righteous and 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 Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of 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, in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 14:23; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 25:31-41; Luke 16:19-31; Romans 6:17-18; 8:6; I John 5:19).

The Resurrection, Ascension and Return of Christ
We believe in the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest (Matthew 28:6-7; I Corinthians 15:4-5; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17).

We believe in the imminent, bodily, personal, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven year Tribulation period to catch away His Church, coming only in the air; and that HE will come with His Church at the close of the Tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom on earth (Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:8; Revelation 19:11-21).

The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead and Unbelievers
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers will be raised at the coming of Christ for His Church and will be caught up with transformed living saints (I Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21), to meet the Lord in the air (I Corinthians 15:42-44; I Thessalonians 4:13-18); and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the millennial kingdom to stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne of Judgment to receive their final doom (John 5:21-30; Revelation 20:11-16).

The Millennial Reign of Christ
We believe in the literal one thousand year reign of Christ on this present earth. He will come back to the earth, with His saints, following the Tribulation period. He will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rule over the whole earth in righteousness (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:4-5; Psalms 72:8; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30; I Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 20:1-6).

The Eternal State
We believe that following the millennial reign of Christ the Lord will destroy this present heaven and earth and make a new heaven and a new earth. The great city, the New Jerusalem will descend out of Heaven to the new earth. Jesus the Lamb will be the light of the New Jerusalem and the saints will serve Him forever (II Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1-22).

Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized (immersed) in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another as one body in Christ, and by the aid of the Holy Spirit, the following: To walk together in Christian love; to strive for advancement of the Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its spirituality and prosperity; to sustain Scriptural worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give the Church sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children in the Lord, to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our manner of living; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to maintain a testimony for the cause of Christ.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, being mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure reconciliation without delay.

Moreover, we engage that, when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible, unite with some other Church where we can live out the spirit of this covenant and the principles and practices of God’s Word.