Our Statement of Faith
1. The Scriptures
We believe in a totally inerrant Bible. We believe the writers of Scripture were men divinely inspired of God who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost so as to give us word for word what God would have us read. God being the Author Scripture shows us the way of salvation and the basis of God’s judgment on the lost. Those Scriptures shall forever be the standard that unites us as well as the standard for our actions as well as our beliefs. We do not accept the Apocrypha as part of the divinely inspired Word of God.
2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psa. 119:11; Rom. 3:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39; Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4; Rom. 2:12; John 12:47-48; 1 Cor. 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48; Phil. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11; 1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph. 6:17; Psa. 119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11.
2. God - The Holy Trinity
We believe in One living God in which godhead there are three equal persons. He is all sufficient not created but exists in and of Himself. His Name is Jehovah or Jesus. God is a Spirit Who is infinite in all His being and doing. He is the intelligent Creator and Sovereign Ruler over all the universe. In His unity and in each of His three persons He is infinitely glorious in His Holiness and should be worshipped, trusted, and loved. While subsisting in three persons, their distinct offices are executed in a grand unity.
For His own glory He has predestinated some men and angels to eternal life which number cannot be increased or diminished. Having decreed all things so that He worketh all things after the counsel of His Own Will, He will through the use of Holy means work to successfully bring to salvation all whom He has so predestinated.
John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10; Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12-13; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7; 1 Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34; Eph. 1:5,6; Rom. 9:22, 23; Jude 4; 2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18; Eph. 1:11.
3. Creation
We believe that evolution is only a theory that cannot be scientifically proven because it is neither intelligent nor true. We believe that God in His three persons has created all things by and for Himself without any help from any action or process from man.
Gen. chapters 1 & 2; John 1:3; Heb. 1:2; Col. 1:16
4. The Fall of Man
We believe Man was created innocent. By voluntary action on their part they took of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden which God in His holy and wise counsel pleased to permit seeing He had already purposed it to His own glory. In taking that forbidden fruit, every soul of all time to come, being in the loins of Adam, sinned bringing not only physical death on all men but also a corrupt, ruined, and fallen nature on all sons of Adam. That ruin reaches even to man’s will making man totally unable to do or respond in any way toward his salvation.
Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; John 3:6; Psa. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7; Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom. 3:9-18; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20; 3:19; Gal. 3:22; John 6:44.
5. God’s Divine Covenant
Before there was ever a world God in His Sovereign counsel of the Trinity determined and covenanted that Jesus, the Son, would be the Mediator between God and Man. In the process of time Jesus did come to earth and became man that He might die as the one sacrifice for sin. He Who was eternally in the bosom of the Father came by way of the Virgin Birth to dwell among men and die for them. Being made sin for His people He did die and rose again that His people might be just as righteous as He.
Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:20,21; Rom. 8:3; Mark 16:15,16; John 3:16; Ezek. 36:26, 27; John 6:44,45; Ps. 110:3; John 1:1, 2; Gal. 4:4; Luke 1:27, 31,35
6. Salvation of Sinners
The Salvation of Sinners involves: effectual calling, adoption, regeneration, conversion (repentance & faith), justification, sanctification, and glorification. There are many things involved in the salvation of sinners, but these stand out as the predominant things.
The application of God’s salvation in the life of a person begins with Effectual Calling. This is the work of God in which He in His own time, and by His own will by his Spirit using His Word effectually calls the sinner unto Himself. He effectually draws the sinner to Himself. He does this without compromising the sinners power of choice but by making the sinner willing to come. This is the result of God’s electing and predestinating love. God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world without any consideration of what they would later do, but out of His own predestinating grace. Those whom He chose He predestinated to be conformed to his image and gave them to Christ.
John 6:44; Ps. 110:3; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1 John 4:19; Hos. 12:9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14; Exod. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:23-24: Jer. 31:3; Rom. 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 11:32-36; 1 Cor. 4:7; 1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 2 Pet. 1:10; 1 Thess. 1:4-10; Rom. 8:28-30; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29; 2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11
Adoption is that part of God’s salvation in which He grants to the adopted one all the privileges of being a Son of God. He puts into them the Spirit of adoption so that they cry Abba, Father. As children by adoption they are made heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:15, 17
Regeneration is that part of God’s salvation in which we are born into the Kingdom of God and are made partakers of the divine nature of God. Like adoption and all the other aspects of salvation, it is all of grace and man has no part in it except in the receiving it by faith. Even that faith that receives it is a gift of God’s grace.
John 3:3, 5 2 Pet. 1:4.
Conversion is a two fold matter. It consists of repentance and faith. Both are sacred duties for which man is responsible. Yet neither can be done apart from the Holy Spirit’s quickening in regeneration. Each one is a gift from God. Repentance is turning from sin to God. Faith is the arm that receives the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor. 7:11; Rom.10:12-13; Psa. 51; Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; 8:25; 2 Tim. 1:12
Justification is that legal act of God in which he declares the believing sinner justified. That means his sins are forgiven and the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him. The result is eternal life with God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. It is not dependent on any thing the sinner does except to receive it by faith.
John 1:16; Eph. 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43; Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom. 5:21; Rom. 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9; Rom. 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12; Rom. 5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8.
Sanctification is a process that begins with Divine election and does not end until it brings us to glorification. Through it we are made partakers of His holiness His own righteousness being worked in us so as to bring about our willing and doing of His good pleasure. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in connection with the Word of God to promote in us a holy life.
2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4; Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16 ; John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30.
Glorification is the end of our salvation. It will culminate in being made like the Lord Jesus Christ in His glorification.
Rom. 8:30, 31; 1 John 3:2
7. Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved and effectually called to faith can never totally nor finally fall from God’s grace, but they shall certainly persevere unto the end. This is not based on any free will of their own, but upon the immutability of God’s election. They may sometimes fall into sin, but they will be brought back into Divine favor. Their perseverance is the grand mark that they are truly saved.
John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18; 1 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer. 32:40; Psa. 121:3; 91:11-12; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; 1 John 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:19.
8. The Law of God
From Adam to eternity God has always had His law. Adam by transgression fell and plunged the whole human race into sin. God gave to Israel a set of laws that constituted their nation which they did not keep and Gentiles were never obliged to keep. That law, however, was holy, just and good. Though that law was not given to Gentiles, it is still a good way to know the mind of God, and it shows us the path that we should walk. It never has been a means of salvation, but it is a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ.
Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; 4:15; Rom. 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Rom. 8:7-8; John 6:44; Rom. 8:2, 4; 10:4.
9. The Gospel
The Gospel does not destroy the Law. What the Law could not do, Christ did and it is revealed in the Gospel. Summarized in His death, burial, and resurrection, the Gospel is the good news that God has planned, prophesied, and procured all that is necessary to the salvation of His elect. It is the means the Holy Spirit uses to quicken ( regenerate) the sinner. It is to be preached to all the world.
Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Matt. 28:18-20
10. THE LORD’S DAY
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and that it is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations, by the devout observance of all the means of Grace, ‘both private and public; and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.’
Acts 20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col 2:16. 17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Exod. 20:8; Rev. 1:19; Ps. 118:15 24; Isa/ 58:13, 14; 56:2-8; Heb. 10:24, 25; Acts 11:26; 13:44; Lev. 19;30; Exod. 46:3; Luke 1:16; Acts 17:2, 3; Ps. 26:8; 87:3’ Heb. 1:3, 11.
11. The Lord’s Church
The Lord’s Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the 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. It is local and visible. The oneness of His Church requires that it be either local or universal. It cannot be both for then it would be 2. Yet members of one congregation may be said to be members of the same church with another group of same faith and order because they are one in kind. Her officers as prescribed by the New Testament are Bishops, (or Pastors) and Deacons. Their qualifications and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.
1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17; Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles; Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1
12. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances given to the church by Christ. They are to be continued in the church until Jesus returns to this earth. They are to be administered by those qualified to do so. Baptism is the immersion in water of one who has given satisfactory testimony of his faith and repentance unto salvation. It is administered in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. It is an emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Christ as well as our identification with Christ in the same. It is a recognition of our death to sin and our resurrection to new life. It is prerequisite to a church relationship and to any observing of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial feast upon the broken bread (representing the body of Jesus Christ) and upon the wine, the fermented fruit of the vine, (representing the shed blood of Jesus Christ). The taking of the supper is to show forth the death of Jesus Christ until He comes again. This partaking of this supper should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8; Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles; 1 Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John 6:26-71 .
13. Civil Government
We believe Civil Government is ordained of God for the good of those who are governed. We believe those in authority should be prayed for and obeyed with one exception. Those things opposed to the will of God would require obedience first to God. Jesus Christ must be the only Lord of our conscience as He also is Lord over the kings and princes of the earth.
Rom. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod. 18:23; Jer.30:21; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matt. 23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13.
14. Last Things
We believe in both a literal Heaven and a literal Hell. Heaven is the home of the righteous and by righteous is meant those who through faith are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who persevere in sanctification as it is worked in them by the Holy Spirit. Hell will be the destiny of all those not so justified and sanctified in Christ Jesus.
We believe in the Premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. That will, we believe, be preceded by the rapture of His saints (the catching away of the Lord’s people into Heaven and a time called the Great Tribulation here on the earth. We believe in the resurrection of all people to judgment, the righteous at the rapture to be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the wicked after the millennial reign to appear before the Great White Throne Judgment. In the end we believe this world will be burned and God will create a New Heaven and New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Mal. 3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Gen. 18:23; Jer. 15:19;Acts 10:34- 35; Rom. 6:16; Rom. 1:17; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Rom. 6:18, 22; 1 Cor. 11:32; Prov. 11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17-18; 1 John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; John 3:36; Isa. 57:21; Psa. 10:4; Isa 55:6-7; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Prov. 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; 9:23- 26; John 12:25-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matt. 7:13-14; 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40; 2 Pet. 3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;5:1-11; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-59; Luke 14:14; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:40; 11:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matt. 13:49, 37-43; 24:30-31; 25:31-33; Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 22:11; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Pet. 2:9; Jude 7; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 6:32; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; 2 Cor. 4:18; Rom. 3:5-6; 2 Thess. 1:6-12; Heb. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:2-16; Rev. 20:11-12; 1 John 2:28; 4:17.
15. Human Sexuality
1. 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. Any employee of this church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a result of consensual intercourse, outside of the marriage relationship, shall be terminated from employment. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8, 9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
2. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man (who was born a man, has always been and always will be a man) and one woman (who was born a woman, has always been and always will be a woman). (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22, 23).
3. 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. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4, 5, 12)
16. Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that God hates divorce and commands that marriage last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2,12; Titus 1:6).
17. Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
18. Missions
We believe that God has commissioned His church to proclaim the Gospel to all nations whereby He might call a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group unto Himself and to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go and evangelize the foreign nations as well as our own nation (Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:20).
19. Lawsuits Between Fellow Church Members
We believe that Christians are Scripturally prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against fellow church members or against the church to resolve personal disputes.
We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between her members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31, 32).
20. Christian Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9, 10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6, 7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17, 18; 1 John 3:17).