Our Beliefs

Statement of Faith

Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
This confession of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of this church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor(s) and Deacons are the church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. No interpretation or application of scripture can conflict with the enumerated statement of faith.

The God-Head
We believe there is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Genesis 1:26-27; II Corinthians 13:14)
The Person of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified by His shedding blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace. (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24,25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9,10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:2:1,2)
The Person of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to dwell in, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 28:19; Romans 8:9-11; Eph. 5:18; John 16:8-11)
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Old and New Testaments are inerrant as originally given, were inspired by God and are the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice. (II Tim. 3:6-17; II Peter 1:21-21; Matt 5:18)
Man
We believe man was originally created in the image and likeness of God; he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The state after death of the unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; and that of the believer is everlasting joy and bliss. (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; II Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:4-6; I Thess. 4:16-17)
Salvation
We believe salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God. ( John 3:18; Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
  Sanctification
We believe it is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin, the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion. (Eph. 5:18; I Thess. 5:23; John 17:17,19; II Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 12:1,2; II Peter 3:18)
The True Church
We believe the Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the Gospel to all nations. (Rom. 12:5; I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23; Eph. 4:3-13; Matt. 28:18-20)
The Local Church
  1. We believe the local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the Gospel, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper. (Acts 20:17, 28-32; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 4:31-33)
  2. We believe that baptism is an act all should take part in as soon as possible after the salvation experience. We believe that baptism is an outward sign of the internal cleansing that has already occurred through the shed blood of Christ. Baptism is reserved for any born again person reaching the age of accountability and is performed by submersion. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:35-39; Acts 10:47-48)
  3. We believe that provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and the anointing with oil are taught in the scriptures and are a privilege for the church in the present age. (John 4:46-53; James 5:14,15; I Cor. 12:9)
  4. We believe in infant dedication as held in accordance to the teaching of the scriptures. Mary, the mother of our Lord brought the child Jesus, and Hannah brought her son, Samuel, to be dedicated. Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” Infant dedication is a vital link in bringing up a child in the way he should go. Infants are brought forward to the Pastor, who dedicates them to the Lord. (Luke 2:22-24; Mark 10:13-16; I Sam. 1:24-28)
  5. We believe 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)
  6. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two  distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27)
  7. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman  (as defined in B. 6) in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25; Romans 7:2, I  Cor. 7:2-7, 10-13, 39; Eph. 5:21-33)
  8. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are  married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) 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 sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual  conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God’s gift of sex. (Matt  15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10; I Thess. 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4.)
  9. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the  church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between 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. (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32).
  10. We believe that God offers restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy  and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.) We believe that every  person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.)  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are  not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of this church.
The Eternal State
We believe there shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; for the just, a resurrection unto life; for the unjust, a resurrection unto judgment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29; John 11:25,26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
The Blessed Hope
We believe the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible and premillenial. This is the believer’s blessed hope. (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Thess. 1:10; I Thess 5:9; Rev. 3:10)