THE BIBLE
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and the supreme and final authority in all matters pertaining to life and godliness. We believe in a literal, grammatical-historical-canonical interpretation of Scripture. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
(Isaiah28:13; Neh8:8; John17:17; 2Tim3:16-17; Heb4:12; 1Peter1:23-25; 2Peter1:3-4, 21)
HUMANITY
We believe that humanity was originally created as a representative for God, free from sin. However, because of Adam and Eve all people are sinners by nature and choice falling short of God’s standard and breaking His commandments – and therefore are under God’s righteous judgment. (Gen1:26, 2:17, 6:5; Psalms14:1-3, 51:5; Jer17:9; John3:6, 5:40; Rom3:10-19; Eph2:1-3; 1Tim5:6; 1John3:8)
SALVATION
We believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. At the cross, Jesus Christ died in our place as our substitute, absorbing God’s wrath that should have come upon us. This salvation is apart from any human merit or works so that all who believe by faith in Jesus Christ have eternal life. Because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world the invitation to believe is open to all, and whoever desires may come unto Jesus for new life and the forgiveness of sins. (Matt11:28; John3:16; Acts3:19, 20:21; Rom3:23, 10:9, 10; Eph2:1-3, 8-9; 1John2:2; 1Peter1:5; Jude24; Rev 22:17)
HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord. Those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm9:17; Matt5:3, 5:22, 18:9, 25:31-34; Mark9:42-49; Luke12:5; John3:18; Heb12:23; 1Peter1:4; Rev14:10-11, 20:11-15)
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things.
(Gen1:1; Deut6:4; Isaiah44:8, 48:16; Matt28:19-20; Mark12:29; John1:1, 14, 10:30; Heb1:3; Acts5:3-4; 2Cor13:14)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in one God the Father who is Creator of Heaven and earth; who is a personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, love, and wisdom; eternal, almighty, infallible and unchangeable, infinitely wise, and just. He also concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, so that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Gen1:1; Matt7:11; Rom3:29; 1Cor8:6; Eph4:6; Heb12:9; James1:17)
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, only begotten, who has precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but also true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin named Mary. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal, visible, return from heaven. (Isaiah7:14; 9:6; John1:1, 2, 14, 18, 3:16; Luke1:30-35; Phil2:5-8, John1:29; Rom3:25-26; 2Cor.5:14; Heb10:5-19; 1Peter2:24, 3:18; 1John1:7)
GOD THE SPIRIT
We believe in God, the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. (John16:8-11; Acts1:8; Romans8:26, 15:13,16; 2Cor 3:18; Heb 9:14)
We believe the Holy Spirit baptized and indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John16:13, 14:16-17, 16:8-11; Acts1:4; Rom8:26; Eph1:13,14)
HOLY SPIRIT FILLING
We believe in the Filling with the Holy Spirit as a distinct and separate experience to that of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that happens at regeneration.
We believe the filling of the Spirit occurs either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, evidenced by a greater dynamic in the Christian’s life, enabling that person to be a bold and more effective witness. The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit, love.
We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit in regard to the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the instructions given to us. (Acts1:8;
1Cor12,13,&14)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and is collectively known as, “the body of Christ.”
We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members love one-another deeply, and show concern for each other. We also associate for worship, for instruction, for evangelism and for fellowship.
We believe that the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be observed until Christ returns. (Matt16:16-18; Rev1:5; Titus3:5; Acts2:42-48; 1Cor 12:12-13; Eph1:13, 2:19)
THE CHRISTIAN
We believe that the supreme task of believers is to glorify God in their life which could result in separating themselves from and forsaking all that might dishonor God, cast discredit on His cause, or weaken their testimony. (Matt18:15-17; Titus3:7, 8, 14; 1Cor15:58)
END TIMES
We believe in a pre-tribulational rapture of the Christians, a pre-millennial return of Christ, the final destruction of Satan and creation of a new heaven and earth. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Tit. 2:11-13; Rev. 20:10, 21ff)
We believe in a literal one thousand-year reign of Messiah on earth over Israel and the Gentiles during which time the Church will co-reign with Messiah, the unconditional covenants with Israel will be fulfilled. Israel will be restored along with the resurrection of the Old Testament saints. Satan will be bound in the abyss, the curse will be lifted, and the knowledge of God will permeate the world. Peace will be maintained by the iron-rod rule of Messiah. (Rev20:6-7; 1Cor6:2; Rev20:4; Rev20:2; Isaiah11:5-9; Rom8:19-22; Isaiah11:9; Rev19:15)
DISPENSATIONS
We believe dispensations are Biblical history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods or ages—based upon God’s revelation in each dispensation. We believe we are in the Church age, which began at Pentecost and will end at the rapture and usher in the Kingdom of God on earth. We hold to a literal interpretation of Scripture, distinguishing between Israel and the Church. (Eph1:10; Eph3:2; Rev1:19)
ISRAEL
We believe that God called a people to Himself who are the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that Israel is the Wife of Jehovah, unfaithful in the past, divorced in the present, and to be reunited in the future. God has four unconditional covenants with Israel that have remained largely unfulfilled and that God intends to fulfill all His promises to Israel in a literal way just as His warning and judgments were fulfilled in a literal way. (1.Gen12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-21; 22:15-18; 2.Deut29:1-30:20; 3.1Chron17:10-15; 4.Jer31:31-34)
In Israel’s history of unbelief, there has always been a believing remnant according to the election of grace. In the future fulfillment there will be a national regeneration of Israel at which time all the pro-visions of the unconditional covenants will be fulfilled, including the land, seed and blessing aspects. (Rom11:1-5; Jer31:31-34; Ezek36:26-27; Hos 6:1-3; Rom 11:26; Ex 19:6; Deut 4:37; 7:6-8; 9:4-5; 10:15-16; 14:2; II Kings 13:22-23; Rom 11:29; Heb 6:13)
MARRIAGE
We Believe that the term marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen2:18–25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are legally married to each other. We believe that God’s command is that there be no sexual intimacy outside of, or apart from, marriage between a man and a woman. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible consistent with the Old and New Testament. (Matt19:4-6; 1Cor6:18, 7:2–5; Heb13:4)
GENDER
We Believe that God wonderfully foreordained and immutably created each person as either male or female in conformity with their biological sex. These two distinct yet complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.(Gen1:26–27)
HUMAN LIFE
We Believe in the sanctity of human life and that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139)
