What We Believe
God
God is the Creator and Ruler of mankind and the entire universe. (Genesis 1:1,26-27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 24:1). God has eternally existed in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God (Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7), and are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct, but harmonious functions in the great work of redemption.
Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is both the Son of God and God, the Son. He is literally and fully God in a human body (1 Timothy 3:16). He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin named Mary and received a human body. (Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 10:5). Jesus was tempted by satan in all points like we are, yet without sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:16). Jesus willingly and willfully allowed Himself to be crucified in order to pay the penalty deserved for all of our sin (Romans 5:11-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He literally and bodily rose again from the grave on the third day and now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 3:1) where He is currently interceding for and preparing an abode for believers (Hebrews 7:25).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is fully God and is the current, earthly manifestation of God through His indwelling of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 16:7). The Holy Spirit restrains satan until God’s purpose is fulfilled, bears witness to the truth of the gospel and convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11). The Holy Spirit seals the believer and baptizes him/her into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit teaches God’s word to the believer and conforms him/her to the very image of Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). All spiritual blessings are received at the time of salvation and the Holy Spirit gives gifts to every believer as He wills so the believer might effectively communicate the love of Christ (Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16). As believers, we seek to live under the total control of the Holy Spirit daily (Galatians 5:22-25).
The Bible
The Bible is God’s word. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. All scripture was given by inspiration of God and God has promised to preserve every jot and tittle of what He inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18). The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is therefore the truth of God without any error (2 Peter 1:20-21). We preach/teach/study from the Authorized Version (King James Bible) and we hold this version to be the inerrant standard for English speaking people. It is in this version where we believe we find the certainty of the words of truth (Psalm 12:6-7; Proverbs 22:20-21). We believe in expository preaching (which means to expose what God has already said in His word), and we are careful not to impose our thoughts, ideas, or philosophies into the scripture. We believe that the Bible is the only complete and final revelation of the will and plan of God to man and it is the authoritative standard for every age and every life.
Human Beings
Mankind is the supreme object of God’s creation. (Genesis 1:26- 27; Psalm 8:3-6). Mankind was created by God in complete innocence in a perfect environment, but of his own freewill, chose to sin against God (Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:6). The result of Adam’s sin is not only physical and spiritual death (separation from God for all eternity), for all mankind, but the fall also gave mankind a sinful nature (Romans 5:12). Therefore, all of mankind are sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice and are unable to regain their former position of innocence. Mankind is under just condemnation without defense or excuse before God (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1-2).
Salvation
Salvation is by God’s grace alone on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in His resurrection power. Anyone who will recognize and believe by faith that their sin separates them from God, and will turn from their sin to God by personally believing in their heart and confessing with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13). Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). To be saved, you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior for forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sins penalty (Romans 6:23; John 1:12; John 14:6). When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Eternal life begins the moment one sinner receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith and we believe this is just as definite and decisive as physical birth (John 3:1-7).
Eternal Security
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity (Romans 8:35- 39). If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot lose eternal life (1 John 2:19). Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security (John 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
The Church
The church (local assembly of believers) is God’s instrument in this age. While all genuine, born-again, believers in Christ share a spiritual family relationship, the number of references of the word “church” in the Bible apply to a local, visible assembly of believers (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16). At the Second Coming of Christ, all genuine believers from the time of Christ’s ascension will be united together as the body of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Until that time, it is the responsibility of the local church to continue in evangelism, discipleship and missions (Matthew 28:18-20). We practice the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper and operate under the leadership of those who hold the office of pastor (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17). Every member of the local church has the responsibility to minister the word of God and support the ministry through prayer, holy living, tithes, and offerings (1 Corinthians 16:2; Malachi 3:10; Acts 4:34-37; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 13:1-4).
Eternity
Mankind was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation (Romans 6:23). Those who reject Christ will be eternally separated from God in a literal place called hell. Those who receive Christ as Lord and Savior will gain eternal life and be with God forever (John 3:16; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:14-15).
Satan
Satan is a real, created, historical being. He is God’s enemy and seeks to keep unbelievers in bondage and lost (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Acts 26:18), and he seeks to keep believers defeated (1 Peter 5:8; Daniel 7:25). Satan was once perfect and enjoyed heavenly honors, but now is a fallen cherub who was lifted up in pride in rebellion against God, leading an army of angelic beings with him (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:4). Satan’s defeat was sealed by the work of Christ on the cross and his final destiny is the lake of fire forever (Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10).
The Return of Jesus Christ
There will be a literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and great glory to judge the world and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). We believe in the pre-tribulation view of the rapture, meaning shortly before Christ’s Second Coming, all genuine believers will be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52) followed by a seven year period of great tribulation on the earth during which time God will judge His people Israel and this will happen without Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 24). That period of tribulation will be ended by Christ’s personal return to rule for a literal period of one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6; Matthew 25:31-46).
Judgement
All mankind will spend eternity either with Christ or eternally separated from Him. The lost who die, wait in a literal hell for the day of final judgment where they will be punished for their sin in a literal lake of fire. This is known in the Bible as the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Those who have accepted Christ as Savior will immediately be with the Lord when they die physically and one day experience a bodily resurrection to everlasting life (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Those who are saved will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive either rewards or loss of rewards based upon their stewardship of faithful service to the Lord (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Love
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; Philippians 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has 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, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, 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 (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:24; Genesis 4:1; Genesis 19:5-7, 13; Leviticus 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 22:5; Deuteronomy 23:1; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).
Marriage
We believe that the only legitimate, scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally born man and one naturally born woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23).