What We Believe

ARTICLE I ~ THE SCRIPTURES
     We believe in the absolute, verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testaments. By this we understand that the Holy Spirit not only inspired the thoughts of the writers, but also formulated the very word structure into which the thoughts were cast. Since the Scripture is inspired by God, who cannot lie, the original documents are true in every aspect, accurately reflecting the truth that God has chosen to reveal to all people in all times, and in all cultures, and thus is the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak. Translations into other languages continue to be the inspired word of God to the extent that they accurately represent the original documents. (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21, Titus 1:2).

ARTICLE II ~ THE GODHEAD
     We believe in one eternal, infinite, and perfect God; He alone is worthy of worship. While God exists as one single entity, He simultaneously and eternally exists as three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having precisely the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; Ex. 20:2-3: 2 Cor. 13:14:Matt. 28:18).

ARTICLE III ~ MAN'S CREATION AND FALL
     We believe that man was created in right relationship with and in the image and likeness of God but through Adam's sin came under the judicial sentence of death, became alienated from God, and acquired a sin nature, meaning man’s affections are focused on self instead of God. This sin nature makes man both unwilling to be saved and unable to save himself. (Gen. 1:25-27; Rom. 3:10-23; 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3, 12).

ARTICLE IV ~ THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
     We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross where He took our place as a substitutionary sacrifice, enduring the punishment for our sins on our behalf and that our redemption is made sure to us by His resurrection from the dead in the identical, though glorified, body in which He was crucified (John 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in Heaven, exalted at the right hand of God where, as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2). We believe in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His kingdom reign upon the earth. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 20:6).

ARTICLE V ~ THE HOLY SPIRIT
     We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the body of Christ, and seals them unto the day of redemption, and we believe that every believer is commanded of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:13-14, 5:18-20).

ARTICLE VI ~ SALVATION
     We believe that people do not attain salvation through human merit, works, rituals or any other religious activity. Salvation is a gift from God, purchased by Jesus Christ’s shed blood on our behalf at Calvary. When God so moves a person’s heart to accept His sacrifice as their only hope for Salvation and to repent of their rebellion against God, a miracle occurs. The very core of the affections is transformed and the newly reborn person now has a new heart that loves God above all else. The Holy Spirit indwells the new believer and his/her entire life is now transformed. They have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer they who live, but Christ lives within them (Eze. 36:26; Rom.3:21-26, 5:8; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14).

ARTICLE VII ~ THE CHURCH
     We believe that the Church is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations. We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, for instruction, for fellowship, for evangelism, and for service, to live out the Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission. We believe the ordinances of the local church are believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of believers to each other in love. We believe that each local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We further believe that every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life and that each one should be free to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. (Matt. 22:37-40, 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14).

ARTICLE VIII ~ THE FINAL STATE
     We believe that when the Lord returns, He will judge the living and the dead. Those who belong to Him will spend eternity in Heaven, and those who do not will be cast into the Lake of Fire. We believe that the condition and retribution of the lost and the salvation and blessedness of the saved are conscious and everlasting (Matt. 25:34, 41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Timothy 4:1; Rev. 20:15, 21:8, 22:3-5).

     And we believe in doing something about it. We not only believe that this body of doctrine is a sacred trust to be preserved and taught in its purity, but we also believe that it teaches a life to be lived and a Gospel to be preached. (James 1:22, 2:14)