THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Bible is the word of God and is the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man. The Holy Bible, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, is infallible and has been preserved inerrant by God. Due to reasons of textual reliability, we believe God through divine providence has preserved His word for English speaking peoples in the Authorized Version, otherwise referred to as the King James Version of the Bible. The Bible is the divinely inspired final authority for every age and every life.

– By the “Holy Bible” we mean the collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation.

– By “Inspired” we mean that the books of the Bible were originally written by men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost in such a way that their writings were supernaturally controlled by God and were free from error as no other writings have been or ever will be inspired.

– By “divine providence has preserved” we mean that God through the ages has, in His divine providence, preserved His complete inerrant word and conveyed the same to English speaking peoples through the Authorized Version – King James Bible, 1611. 

– By “textual reliability” we mean that the underlying New Testament Greek manuscripts used by the King James translators were superior as they were ultimately, in time past, copies of copies in constant use by local assemblies of believers throughout Church History, that the underlying Old Testament manuscripts used in the translation were the Masoretic Hebrew texts copied by and entrusted to the Jews and that both of these texts were not hidden away but recognized, circulated, and validated by the New Testament priesthood of believers traced back to Antioch, Syria where they were first called “Christians.” 

Psalms 12:6-7; 19:7-11; 33:1; 78:1-8; 100:5; 105:8; 119:89, 105, 111, 152, 160
Proverbs 22:20-21; 30:5-6
Ecclesiastes 3:14
Isaiah 8:20; 40:8; 59:21
Matthew 5:17-18; 24:35
Luke 16:31; 21:33; 24:25-27, 44, 45
John 1:1; 5:39, 45-47; 10:34-36; 12:48; 17:17
Acts 1:16; 11:26
Romans 3:2; 15:4
Ephesians 6:17
II Timothy 3:15-17
I Peter 1:23-25
II Peter 1:19-21
Revelation 22:19

THE GODHEAD

We believe that there is only one loving and true God existing eternally in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit — equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct, but harmonious functions in the great work of redemption. God is the absolute and sole creator of the universe, is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and is worthy of all possible honor, praise, confidence, and love.

Genesis 1:1, 26
Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11
I Chronicles 29:11
Psalms 83:18; 90:2; 96:4-5; 145:17; 147:5
Isaiah 6:3
Jeremiah 10:10
Matthew 28:19
Mark 12:30
John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5
Acts 5:3-4
Romans 11:33
I Corinthians 2:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6
II Corinthians 13:14
Ephesians 2:18; 4:6
Philippians 2:5-6
I Timothy 1:17
I John 5:7
Revelation 4:8, 11

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person and that He is equal to and is of the same nature as God the Father and God the Son. To the unbelieving world, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of the Gospel, and convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit indwells, baptizes, seals, and sanctifies all believers at the moment of their salvation. He also endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, and fills all believers in response to confession of sin and yieldedness. We further believe that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance) and permanent spiritual gifts are evidence of His indwelling rather than speaking in tongues or other ecstatic and spectacular demonstrations. He is also referred to in the scriptures as the Holy Ghost.

Genesis 1:1-3; 6:3
Psalms 139:7
Matthew 3:11; 28:19
Luke 1:35; 3:22; 12:12
John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15
Acts 5:30-32; 11:16
Romans 8:9-16, 26, 27
I Corinthians 3:16; 6:11, 19; 12:1-11; 13:8-10
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18
Hebrews 9:14
I Peter 1:2

THE SON

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner born of Mary, a virgin, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. As both God and man, He lived a sinless life, taught with authority, wrought mighty works, wonders and signs, was crucified and died as a substitutional, sacrificial payment for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead bodily on the third day. He later ascended to the Father’s right hand where He is the Head of the Church, is interceding for the believers, is preparing an abode for His children, and from whence He is coming in the clouds to rapture His church immediately prior to the Tribulation and from whence He is coming again personally, bodily, and visibly to this earth at the conclusion of the Tribulation to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Genesis 3:15
Psalms 2:7
Isaiah 7:14; 52:13-15; 53:1-9
Matthew 1:18-25; 28:5-6
Mark 1:1
Luke 1:31, 35
John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; 14:2-3; 19:16-18, 30, 33
Acts 1:9, 11
Romans 3:24-26; 4:25
I Corinthians 15:3-4, 12-19, 47, 51-53
II Corinthians 5:21
Galatians 4:4
I Thessalonians 4:14-17
Titus 2:13
Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-25; 9:24
I John 2:1-2; 3:2; 5:20

THE DEVIL

We believe that Satan was once perfect and enjoyed heavenly honors (then named Lucifer), but through pride and ambition to be as God, fell and took with him a host of angels. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. Satan is man’s great tempter, the enemy of Christ, the accuser of the saints, the father of lies, the author of all false religions, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness. He is, however, destined to a final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and to the judgment of an eternal hell — a place prepared for him and his angels.

Genesis 3:14-15
I Peter 5:8
Isaiah 14:12-15
II Peter 2:4
Ezekiel 28:14-17
I John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3
Zechariah 3:1
II John 7
Matthew 4:1, 3, 6, 9; 13:25, 37-39; 25:41
Jude 6
Mark 13:21-22
II Thessalonians 2:8-11
Luke 22:3-4
John 8:44; 14:30
II Corinthians 11:13-15
Ephesians 2:2
I Thessalonians 3:5
Revelation 12:7-12; 13:13-14; 19:11, 16, 20; 20:1-3, 10

THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was created in complete innocence in a perfect environment, but of his own volition, transgressed God. The result of Adam’s sin is not only physical death and spiritual death (separation from God for eternity) for all mankind, but the fall also endowed upon all mankind a sinful nature. Therefore, all people are sinners, not only by constraint, but also by choice. They are unable, in and of themselves to rectify their condition and regain the former position of innocence, and are under just condemnation without defense or excuse before God.

Genesis 3:1-6
Psalms 51:5; 53:1, 3
Isaiah 64:6
Ezekiel 18:19-20
John 3:18
Romans 1:18, 20, 28, 32; 3:10-19, 23; 5:12, 19; 6:23
Galatians 3:22
Ephesians 2:1, 3, 12
Hebrews 2:3

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is a gift of God, available to every person, by grace through a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and that this faith is more than intellectual assent, but is comprised of: repentance of sin, surrender of will, and a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation was made possible by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who made a full and vicarious atonement for our sin, providing redemption from the curse of the law. This justification of the sinner through His substitutionary death on the cross, when personally received by faith, results in salvation or being “born again.” The new birth (regeneration) results in a new creature (transformation) in Jesus Christ that is instantaneous and not a process. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins responds to the gospel according to the scriptures, and is imparted a new nature and spiritual life not previously possessed, is forgiven of sin, and is given eternal life solely by the power of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is totally apart from any effort of man such as good works, baptism, or church membership.  Proper evidences of salvation are repentance, faith, and newness of life, as well as the evidence of the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance). A true believer is eternally secure— he cannot lose his salvation, but sin in his life may interrupt the joy of his fellowship with God, the loss of salvation assurance, and bring the loving discipline of His Heavenly Father.

Genesis 15:6
Psalms 37:24; 51:1-4, 7, 10, 12
Isaiah 53:4-7, 11, 12; 55:6-7
Matthew 4:17; 16:24-25; 18:11
Mark 1:15
Luke 12:8; 18:13-14
John 1:12-13; 3:3, 5-8, 16-17; 5:24; 6:37; 10:18, 27-30
Acts 2:37-38; 13:38-39; 15:11; 16:30-31; 20:21
Romans 1:17; 3:24-25, 28; 4:1-8; 5:1, 8-9, 15, 20; 6:1-2, 10-13, 23; 8:1,16-17, 29-39; 9:11; 10:9-13
I Corinthians 3: 12-15; 15:3-4, 20
II Corinthians 5:17-19, 21
Galatians 1:4; 3:11; 5:22-25
Ephesians 1:7; 2:1, 8-10; 4:30; 5:9
Philippians 2:5-8
Colossians 2:13
Titus 3:3-7
Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 8:12; 9:12, 22; 10:38; 12:2, 5-8; 13:5
James 2:14-26
I Peter 1:23; 2:24; 3:18
II Peter 1:4
I John 2:1-2; 4:10, 15; 5:11-13
Revelation 3:20

SANCTIFICATION

We believe in immediate positional sanctification at the moment of salvation, whereby God eternally sets the believer apart as belonging to Him by redemption and places the believer into the family of God as children, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are made partakers of God’s holiness in the process of progressive sanctification that begins at the new birth and is carried on in the heart of the believer as he yields his life to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; through the word of God, surrendered will, prayer, watchfulness, and self-examination. Ultimate sanctification will be the portion of every believer when finally in the presence of the Lord, the soul and spirit will be united in the resurrected body; complete and free from every trace or effect of sin and rebellion.

John 1:12; 17:17
Acts 20:32; 26:18
Romans 8:14-17; 15:16
I Corinthians 1:2; 6:11, 20
II Corinthians 6:18; 13:5
Galatians 3:29; 4:7
Ephesians 5:26; 6:18
Philippians 2:12-13; 3:20-21
I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23
II Timothy 2:21
Titus 3:7
Hebrews 2:10; 10:10-14; 11:7
James 2:5
I Peter 3:7
I John 3:1-2

SEPARATION

We believe in a three-fold doctrine of separation encompassing: (1) the separation of the believer from all worldly practices that may dishonor Jesus Christ, that contradict biblical instruction, or that might damage the testimony of the individual believer or the church, (2) the separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those individuals or organizations that deny the verities of the faith, and (3) the separation of church and state.

Matthew 22:21
Romans 12:1-2; 14:13, 21
I Corinthians 8:9
II Corinthians 6:11-7:1
II Timothy 3:1-5
James 4:4
I John 2:15-17
II John 9-11

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe that the spirit and soul of every believer do, at death, immediately pass into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at the rapture of the church, when the body and soul and spirit will be reunited and will be in glory forever with Him. The souls of unbelievers, at death, immediately pass into conscious torment in hell until the final judgment at the Great White Throne, when the body and soul will be reunited and cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with an everlasting separation from the Holiness, glory, power, and love of God.

Psalms 9:17
Isaiah 14:9-11
Ezekiel 32:21
Matthew 7:21-23; 25:46
Luke 16:19-26; 23:43
John 3:14-18
I Corinthians 15:51-54
II Corinthians 5:8
Philippians 1:23; 3:20
I Thessalonians 4:16-17
II Thessalonians 1:7-9
Hebrews 9:27
II Peter 2:9
Revelation 14:13; 20:11-15; 21:1, 4, 27; 22:14

THE CHURCH

We believe in the Church — a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and in which all regenerated people in this dispensation are members and that those who are truly born again are baptized by the Holy Spirit into a vital union with Christ and into the worldwide Church which is his body and Bride. The local church is the visible expression of the Body of Christ and is a congregation of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, scripturally baptized, and associated by covenant for worship, teaching, evangelism, edification, observance of the ordinances, and fellowship. The mission of the local church is to glorify God by making individual disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them, in order to see them mature and able to reproduce reproducing believers and local churches. The local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any earthly hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The only officers of the local church are pastors and deacons. The local church is the center of God’s program for this age.  The Church, as Christ’s one body, began when Jesus died on the cross.

Ephesians 2:16
Matthew 16:16-18; 28:19-20
Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 6:1-6; 14:23, 27; 15:22; 20:17-28
I Corinthians 3:9-11; 5:1-5, 11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:12-27; 16:1-2
II Corinthians 8:23-24
Galatians 3:27
Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:23-27
Colossians 1:18, 24
I Timothy 3
Titus 1:5-11
I Peter 5:1-4
Revelation 2-3

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers until His return — baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the believer’s first act of obedience to Christ and involves immersion once in water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost); to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, and our identification with the Saviour in death to sin and resurrection to new life — a public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Baptism follows a public confession of the believer’s salvation and is a prerequisite to church membership. 

The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine symbolize the body and blood of Christ, reminding the believer of the love of God. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is for those who are members, regular attendees, or guests (only born again believers) of this local church and is always preceded by careful self-examination.

Matthew 26:26-38; 28:19
John 3:23
Acts 2:38-42, 47; 8:12, 36-39; 9:17-18; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 32, 33; 18:8; 19:4-5
Romans 6:3-6
I Corinthians 11:23-30
Colossians 2:12

HUMAN SEXUALITY

We believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman, that fornication and adultery are a clear violation of scripture.  We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance, and that intentional brazen effeminate behavior by men and blatant purposed masculine conduct by women is equally wrong. We believe that anyone committing these acts can repent, receive forgiveness and be restored to a right relationship with God and within the local church.  

Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 7, 13
Exodus 20:14
Leviticus 18:1-30
Romans 1:24-31
I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10, 18
Colossians 3:5
I Thessalonians 4:1-8
Hebrews 13:4
Jude 1:7

The only biblically legitmate marriage is the joining of one man an one woman.

Genesis 2:24
Romans 7:2
I Corinthians 7:10
Ephesians 5:22-23

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

 We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that He has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and 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.) 

Galatians 3:28
Ephesians 5:21-24
Colossians 3:18
I Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12

The few times female leadership, as it were, is found in scripture, the context explains unusual temporary circumstances – Jud. 4:1-9; 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25; Heb. 11:32

We believe that God has ordained the family as a foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church and gave himself for it. The wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. We believe life begins at conception and that children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, which can also include scriptural corporal correction when deemed necessary.

Genesis 1:26-28
Exodus 20:12; 21:22
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Job 31:15
Psalms 127:3-5; 139:13-16
Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14
Isaiah 13:18; 44:2, 24; 46:3; 49:5
Jerimiah 1:5
Mark 10:6-12
I Corinthians 7:1-16
Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4
Colossians 3:18-21
Hebrews 13:4
I Peter 3:1-7

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

We believe that God disapproves of divorce and intends marriage to last until one spouse dies. In this case a believer is free to remarry, but only another believer. In the event of an imminent divorce where the scriptural provisions of unfaithfulness or desertion are present, the offended spouse should seek reconciliation and be willing to forgive the offender if they are sincere and willing to repent and reconcile. If they are unwilling to repent and change their sinful conduct, and/or if they desire to desert or divorce, the offended believer is not under bondage to remain married. We believe that anyone committing these acts can repent, receive forgiveness and be restored to a right relationship with God and within the local church.

Malachi 2:14-17
Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-12
Romans 7:1-3
I Corinthians 7:15, 27-28, 39
I Timothy 3:2, 12
Titus 1:6