We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is supernaturally inspired, so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in its verbal and plenary inspiration, so that it is a divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)
We believe in one God that eternally exists and reveals Himself in three persons – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – having each the same nature, attributes and perfections, worthy of the same worship and confidence. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14, 10:30, 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14) We believe in God as absolute and sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that creation was by divine command, from nothing and not through an evolutionary process. (John 1:3, 10; Acts 17:24-25; Genesis 1:1) We believe that God, by His sovereign choice and out of love for men, sent Christ into the world to save sinners. (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 John 4:14)
We believe that Jesus Christ was fully God in the flesh and fully man, that He was born of a virgin and that He lived a sinless life, in which He taught and performed mighty works and wonders and signs exactly as revealed in the four gospels. We believe that He was crucified, shed His blood, died to pay the penalty for our sins and was raised bodily from the dead on the third day. Forty days later He ascended to the Father’s right hand where He is Head of the Church and intercedes for believers. From there He is coming again personally, bodily and visibly to this earth to set up His millennial kingdom. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Hebrews 1:1-2, 7:25; Luke 1:30-35; Ephesians 4:8; John 1:1-5, 10-14, 14:3; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:3,11; Revelation 20:4)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God, possessing all the divine attributes. He convicts of sin, regenerates, indwells, baptizes and seals all believers at the moment of their salvation, filling them in response to yieldedness with the goal of conforming them to the image of Christ. (John 3:5, 16:7-11; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13)
We believe in seeking to live a life that honors our Savior and is a testimony to others by using God’s Word as the absolute standard of conduct, rejecting societal norms such as sex outside of holy marriage, homosexuality, cohabitation before marriage, substance abuse, dishonest business dealings, pornography or anything else that is contrary to the Bible and which brings reproach to God’s church. (1Timothy 4:12; Luke 4:4; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 12:17)
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. We believe that all men are morally corrupt, and of themselves utterly unable to remedy their lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 1:18, 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
We believe that salvation is a gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works and that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:5, 6:23, 8:1, 38-39; John 10:27-29; Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ; that they are united together in the body of Christ of which He is Lord and Head; and are commissioned for the God-given tasks of worshiping, fellowshipping, teaching, evangelizing and exercising the spiritual gifts. (Acts 2:42,47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of the local church is clearly taught in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11) We believe that the local church is autonomous and free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
We believe the ordinances for the believer are water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as a memorial. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. But both of which are an evidence of obedience and fellowship with the Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 35-38; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe that a Christian should walk in holiness and not after the flesh, with the goal of being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a new creation, walking in the Spirit, the Christian learns to grow in faith, in obedience to Scripture, in prayer, in fellowship with the saints and in a life of service. We believe that the Christian will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to have his life evaluated according to his deeds. (Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:20-24; Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-2; John 17:17; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
We believe in the personal, premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting glory and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Titus 2:11-13; John 14:1-6; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Peter 3:10)
Having received Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and being led by His Spirit to join with this body of believers, we do joyfully and solemnly enter into this Covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
(John 3:3-7; 1 Corinthians 12:18, 25; Ephesians 4:4-6)
To walk together, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, in Christ-like love with one another and to seek the advancement of God’s Kingdom in this church and worldwide.
(Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32; 5:1-2; Matthew 6:33; 28:18-20)
To promote its prosperity and well-being; to sustain its worship, ministry and teachings. (2 Corinthians 9:7; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47)
To engage in personal devotions, pray for our pastors and fellow members, to lead our families by God’s word and to seek the salvation of our friends and families.
(Mark 1:35; Philippians 1:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; Galatians 6:4; Romans 9:1-3)
To seek to live a life that honors our Savior and is a testimony to others by using God’s Word as the absolute standard of conduct, rejecting societal norms such as sex outside of holy marriage, homosexuality, cohabitation before marriage, substance abuse, dishonest business dealings, pornography or anything else that is contrary to the Bible and which brings reproach to God’s church.
(1Timothy 4:12; Luke 4:4; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 12:17)
To care for one another as family, to aid one another in times of sickness, distress or need.
(John 21:16; Matthew 25:37-40; 1 Corinthians 12:25-27)
To be slow to take offense, always ready for reconciliation and always careful that our speech and treatment of one another honors Christ and builds up His body.
(Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 6:14-15; 18:21-22)
To have, concerning our church, the servant heart of Christ who came, not to be served, but to serve, always seeking not only what my church can do for me, but also what I can do to serve my Savior by serving His church.
(John 13:12-17; Philippians 2:3-8; Galatians 5:13-14; Romans 14:18-19)
Moreover, when we remove from this place, we will unite with another Bible-believing church as soon as possible.
(Hebrews 10:24-25)
(Positional papers are written to clarify our church’s position on issues that are beyond the normal range of doctrinal statements.)