What We
Believe
(Statement of
Faith)
We believe that the Holy Bible is the plenary verbally inspired Word of God, penned by holy men moved by the Holy Spirit, and therefore is truth without mixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be judged (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God and infinite Spirit, the Maker, and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfections and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2,3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; 1 John 5:7).
We believe in the absolute deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He was divine as no other man can be, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that His two natures remained distinct and yet acted in complete harmony with each other in willing subjection to the will of the Father (1 John 1:1,2; Matt. 1:20; Phil. 2:8; John 4:34).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and that after teaching His disciples for forty days He ascended to the Father's right hand where He now makes intercession on behalf of the saints (1 Cor. 5:4; Acts 1:9; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation: that in relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth, that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believers (John 14:16,17; 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Rom. 8:14-16,26,27).
We believe that the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion regenerates, indwells, seals, baptizes, and may, but not necessarily, infill. By baptism we mean that sovereign act of the Holy Spirit which takes place at conversion by which the individual is organically and vitally joined into Christ and His body (Eph. 1:13,14; John 3:5,6; 1 Cor. 12:13).
We also believe that the present charismatic, or tongues movement and other temporary sign gifts are not for this age and should be shunned by all true believers (1 Cor. 13:8-10).
We believe in the Genesis account of creation by the direct act of God in six literal days and we oppose all forms of evolutionary hypothesis (Gen. 1:1-27; Psa.33:6, 9; John 1:3; Heb. 1:2; 11:3).
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the human race fell and became alienated from God, resulting in both spiritual and physical death. Therefore, all human beings are born with a totally depraved nature and exhibit that nature in thought, word and deed and are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Gen. 1:26,27; 3:1-6; Rom. 3:22,2 3; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18).
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the priestly office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His ,death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead" He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour (Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa.53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21).
We believe salvation is wholly of grace, wrought by the Holy Spirit using the Word of God; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that it is apart from any human work or merit; that it is eternal; that those truly born of the Spirit evidence this new birth by repentance toward God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by producing works suited to salvation (Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 5:9; Acts 20:21; Eph. 2:10).
We believe sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, accomplished in a three-fold manner:
1) An eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of being set apart at the moment he trusts the Saviour;
2) A continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life.
3) The final accomplishment of this process at the Lord's return ( Heb. 10:10-14; John 17: 17; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 4:3,4; 5:23,24; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24,25; Rev. 22:11).
We believe all who are once saved by God's grace are kept by His power and are thus secure in the Lord Jesus Christ forever. (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; John 6:37-40; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a 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; that its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for New Testament churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; and 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. (Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; Eph. 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23, 24; Acts 5:13-18)
We believe that Scriptural baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem: our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, which pictures our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a pre -requisite to the privileges of a church relationship. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances of the local church and are commanded for every believer. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. (Acts 8:35; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-28)
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the Word of God. (Rom. 13:1-7: Matt. 22:17-21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29)
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4)
We believe in separation of Church and State, with the believer having responsibilities to both; in separation of the local church from any ecclesiastical organization or group that allows apostasy of any kind in its own ranks, or sanctions it in others; in the separation of the individual believer from carnal sins and worldly ways that detract from a useful Christian life. (Mark 12:17; Rom. 13:1, 7; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; Eph. 5:11; 1 John 2:15, 16; 1 Cor. 6:9-12)
We believe in the personal existence of angels (good and bad), demons, and Satan. As a person, Satan is a fallen being, the prince of this world, the god of this age, the accuser of the believer, and the tempter of all humanity; that under his command there are a host of fallen angels or demons, who with their master will be cast into the lake of fire prepared for them. (Ezek. 28:12- 15; Isa. 14:12-14; John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:10; Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; Isa. 30:33; Matt. 25:41; 1 Cor. 7:5)
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 our God, are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as continue in unrepentance 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. (Mal. 3:18; Gen. 12:23; Rom. 6:17-18; 1 John 5:19; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34-41; John 8:21)
We believe that the following events will occur in sequence:
1) The imminent return of Jesus Christ for His saints. (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11)
2) The bodily resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of the living saints. (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4: 14-17)
3) The great tribulation and rule of the anti-Christ. (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 6-18; 2 Thess. 2:3-12; Rev. 13)
4) The Judgment Seat of Christ. (Rom. l4:l0; 2 Cor. 5:9-l0)
5) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. l9:7-9)
6) The glorious appearing of Jesus Christ with His saints. (Matt. 24:30; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 19:11-l6)
7) The Judgment of the Nations. (Matt. 25:3l-46)
8) The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 20:1-6; 2 Tim. 2:12)
9) The Resurrection, Judgment, and Eternal Punishment of the unrighteous dead in Hell. (Rev. 20:7-15; 14:10, 11)
10) The eternal bliss of the righteous in Heaven. (Rev. 21:1-5; 22:1-5)
