OUR BELIEFS

We believe that every word of the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God. We affirm that holy men of God were moved by the Spirit of God to choose and record the exact words in the original writings. The Scriptures are the authoritative and accurate rule for faith and practice. In the public ministry and services of this local church we are committed to the use of the perpetuation of the King James Version of the Bible (Matt. 5:18, John 16:12-13, II Tim. 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21).

We believe in one Triune God, existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and have the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4, II Cor. 13:14).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Lk. 1:35, Jn. 1:1-2, 14)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death and blood atonement on the cross of Calvary as the vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 3:24, Eph. 1;7, I Peter 2:24).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father. He is our High Priest fulfilling the ministry of Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10, Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25, 9:24, I John 2:1-2).

We believe in that "blessed hope"; the personal, imminent, pretribulational, and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones. Upon the Lord's subsequent return to earth with His saints He will establish His Millennial Kingdom (Zech. 14:4-11; Jn. 14:1-3; I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thes. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Titus 2:11-14; Rev, 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, and that He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells a believer at regeneration and at the moment of salvation He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. Believers are sealed unto the day of redemption (Jn. 3:6; 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; Eph 1:13-14; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6).

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "Each after its own kind:, by direct act of His will and by no other means or method. The days of creation in Genesis Chapter One were solar, that is, six literal, twenty-four hour days and on the seventh day God rested (Gen. 1:2; Col. 1:16-17; Jn. 1:3; Ex. 20:9, 11).

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. We believe man is totally depraved and is, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Ge. 1:26-27; Ps. 14:1-3; Rom. 3:10-19, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, 12).

We believe that salvation is the gift of God offered to every person by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The precious blood of Christ was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the world (Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19).

We believe that all the saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Jn. 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-29; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8).

We believe that it is the privilege of the believer to rejoice in the assurance of salvation through the testimony of God's Word. This clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an opportunity to sin (Lk. 10:20; Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; II Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-15; Heb. 10:22; I Jn. 5:13).

We believe that the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that change made in the soul by the Holy Spirit by which a new nature and spiritual life not before possessed, are imparted. The believer then becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus and without regeneration salvation is impossible. We believe that the new nature does not eradicate the old nature, but by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can have victory over our old sinful nature (Jn. 3:3-6; Rom. 6:13; 8:12-13; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16, 23; Titus 3:5; I Jn. 3:5-9).

We believe that immediate positional sanctification is that act of God whereby believers are, at the time of regeneration, eternally set apart as belonging to God by redemption. Believers are placed in the family of God as children and joint heirs with Jesus Christ (I Jn. 3:1; Rom. 8:14-17; I Cor. 1:2; heb. 10:10-14).

We believe that progressive sanctification is a process by which, according to God's will, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is progressive; that it is begun in regeneration; that it progresses if the believer is totally yielded to the Holy Spirit's control; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, self-examination, watchfulness, and prayer (I Thes. 4:3; 5:23; Prov. 4:18; I Jn. 2:29; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 6:18; Jn. 17:17).

We believe that ultimate sanctification will be accomplished when the believer's soul and spirit are united with his resurrected body in the presence of the Lord (I Jn. 3:2; I Cor. 15:52-54; Eph. 4:30; 5:27; Phil. 4:20-21).

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. We believe that separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17).

We believe that separation also obligates the local  church to lovingly withstand all forms of liberalism, ecumenism, Neo-pentecostalism, the charismatic movement, and Neo-evangelicalism, as well as promote the same. We feel that the alignment with such movements constitutes a weakening of the strong stand of the Word of God (II Cor. 6;14-7:1; II Thes. 3:6, 14; I Tim. 6:3-5; II Jn. 9-11).

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scriptures and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:19-20).

We believe that the local church should encourage and participate in the development and expansion of world-wide New Testament missionary efforts. This is accomplished through the support of individuals and families of like faith and practice who are planting churches, discipling believers, and proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 24:14; 28:19-20; Acts 13:1-3; 26:16-18).

We believe that the Church with Jesus Christ as the Head is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:22-23; 5;23-27; I Cor. 12:12-27). 

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

We believe that the mission of the Church is two-fold: (1) to equip the saints for the work of the ministry through teaching and building up in the faith, and (2) to evangelize the lost through a vigorous personal witness (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11-13).

We believe that the ordinances of the Church are: (1) the Baptism of the believer by immersion in water, and (2) the Communion of the Lord's Supper (Lk. 22:19-22; Acts 8:37-38; Rom. 6:3-6; I Cor. 11:23-26).

We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is sovereign in the bestowment of all gifts. We believe that He equips each believer with gifts for the purpose of ministering in His will (I Cor. 12:4-11, Eph. 4:7-15; I Peter 4:10-11).

We believe that speaking in tongues and sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament was completed. We thus believe that God does not bestow the "sign gifts", such as speaking in tongues, interpretation on tongues, healing by command or touch, today (I Cor. 13:8-10; II Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:1-4; II Peter1:2-4).

We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accordance with His own will for the sick and afflicted. We believe that is is the believer's privilege to call for elders of the church to pray over him/her, anointing him/her with oil in the name of the Lord (Jn. 15:7, James 5:14-15; I Jn. 5:14-15).

We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings known as angels. Angels are ministering spirits which at times appeared unto men and executed the judgements of God. Angels wait upon Christ and worship God in Heaven (Ex. 14:19; Ps. 91:11; Matt. 25:31; Acts 8:26; 10:3; 12:23; Heb. 1:14).

We believe that one angel called "Lucifer", (known as Satan or the Devil) was the highest in rank, but sinned through pride, thereby becoming depraved in character. He is the originator of sin and the adversary of God and His people. Satan's final doom in the Lake of Fire is certain by virtue of the Cross. A great company of angels followed Satan in his fall, many became demons and are active as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes. Others who fell are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of that great day" (II Cor. 4:3-4; Eph. 6:10-17; I Tim. 3:6; Heb. 2:14; II Peter 2:4; I Jn. 4:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:11; 20:1-3, 10).

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men. The saved to everlasting presence with God, and the unsaved to judgement, separation from God, and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-15).

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord. They remain in conscious bliss awaiting the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Lk. 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6).

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited. They shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgement and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Matt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-31; II Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15).