Doctrinal Statement

The Holy Scriptures:

We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the verbally, inspired Word of God, authoritative (2Peter 1:21; 2Timothy 3:16, 17), and without error in the original manuscripts (Ps.19:7; 119:160).

We further believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are designed for our practical instruction in faith and conduct (Rom.15:4; 1Cor.10:11).

The Godhead

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists (Ps.90:2) in three Persons (Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Is.48:12-16)--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), and that these three are one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal (Rev.2:8) Son of God (Lk.1:30-35), came into the world that He might manifest God to man (Jn.1:18), fulfill prophecy (Mt.5:17), and become the redeemer of a lost world (20:28). To this end, He was born of the Virgin Mary (Is.7:14; Lk.1:26-37), received a human body (Phil.2:6-8) and a sinless human nature (1Jn.3:5), without ceasing to be Deity (Jn.1:1, 14).

We believe that in infinite love for the lost, He voluntarily accepted His Father's will (Jn.10:17, 18; Phil:2;8) and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb and took away the sins of the world (Jn.1:29).

We believe that He arose again from the dead (1Cor.15:3-8) in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died (Jn.20:24-29) and that His resurrected body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers (1Jn.3:2; Phil.3:20, 21; 1Cor.15:49).

We believe that on departing from earth, He was accepted by His Father (Act.5:31) and that His acceptance is a final assurance to us that His redeeming work was perfectly accomplished (Heb.1:3b; 10:12).

We believe that He became Head over all things to the Church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23), and in this ministry He does not cease to intercede and to be an advocate for the saved (Rom.8:34, 35; 1John 2:1).

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person in the Trinity, dwells in every believer immediately after he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.1:13) and God provides, through the Holy Spirit, power to live the Christian life (2Pet.1:3; Gal.5:16,17).

We believe that every believer receives grace from God, in the form of a spiritual ability (1Cor.12:1,4,7), which enables him to function as a member of the body of Christ. (Rom.12:4-8).

Salvation

We believe that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again spiritually (Jn.3:3-6), and that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gal.3:26).

We believe, also, that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished our redemption (Eph.1:7) and that this redemption is by the grace of God, an unmerited gift, given in love by God and not the result of any human works (vv.2:8, 9).

We believe that upon receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith, the believer passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life (Eph.2:5; Rom.5:12-21) and into fellowship with God (1Jn.1:1-3).

We, also, believe that once this salvation is accomplished, we and all believers everywhere shall be kept saved forever (Jn.10:27-29).

The Responsibility of Believers

We believe that all believers should seek to walk by the Spirit separating themselves from worldly practices (Gal.5:16-25); witnessing by life (Mt.5:13-16) and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture (1Cor.9:16, 17).

The Church

We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the Church which is the body of Christ (1Cor.12:12,13,27).

We believe that the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved is to make Christ known to the whole world and that this is the purpose of the Church as individuals (Act.1:8).

We believe that the Church as a group gathers together for practical instruction in the scriptures, fellowship with God and with other believers, and for corporate witness to the unsaved (Act.2:42-47).

The Role of Women in the N.T. Church

We believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis 3:1-13,16; 1 Timothy 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians11:1-16, however we believe each local assembly is autonomous and has the right to determine a woman’s role in its congregation.

Christian Education

We believe that Christianity is a persuasion of enlightenment and intelligence, and in Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col.2:2, 3). Sound learning is, therefore, a part of our heritage (Matt.28:20; Jn.8:31,32; Tit.2:1). The new birth creates a thirst for knowledge, and an adequate Christian Education program is necessary for a Church (and its congregation) to mature spiritually (Hos.4:6; Matt.22:29; 2Tim.3:16, 17). The cause of Christian Education in the Body of Christ is coordinated with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these liberal support of the Church (Act.2:42-46).

The Law and the Gospel

We believe that the Old Testament Law was a God given Standard in regards to man's responsibility toward God and man (Matt.22:37-40), and was and is good and Holy (Rom.7:7-12), but neither could it justify or was it intended to justify mankind (Gal.3:10,11). It's purpose was threefold: first, to demonstrate the Holiness (sinlessness) of God; second, to demonstrate the sinfulness of mankind; and last, to bring sinful mankind to a Holy (sinless) God through Jesus Christ (Gal.3:24), and once a person has believed and trusted in Christ he/she is no longer under the bondage of the law (Gal.3:25).

The Personality of Satan

We believe Satan, or the devil (Rev.20:2), is the prince of demons (Matt.12:24-26) and is the declared adversary of God and man (Matt.13:24-28,37-39; 1Pet.5:8). However, when the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He limited the power of the devil (Heb.2:14).

Future Things

We believe that at death the spirits of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, pass immediately into His presence (2Cor.5:6-9) and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body be associated with Him forever in glory. (1Thes.4:14‑17).

We believe that a future period of great tribulation on the earth will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth (Rev.19:11-21) as He went in person in the clouds, and with power and great glory (Act.1:9-11). But prior to this tribulation (1Thes.1:10; 5:9; Rev.3:10), we believe that there will be the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive Himself (the Church) unto Himself into Heaven—both His own who are alive and remain until His coming and also all who have died in Christ Jesus (1Thes.4:13-17).