SECTION 1 – THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired Word of God and the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:21; Jo. 17:17) Scriptural truth is not subjective or a matter of opinion (II Pet. 1:20). Ultimately, it’s reliability rests on the promises of God that it is powerful, will endure, and will accomplish what God pleases (Is. 40:8; 55:11; Mtt. 5:18; Heb. 4:12).
SECTION 2 – THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who have the same nature and attributes, but who are distinct in office and activity (Mtt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14). God is immutable (Ps. 90:2); eternal (Ps. 103:26,27); omnipotent (Ps. 115:3); omnipresent (Ps. 139:7, 145:3); omniscient (Ps. 147:5) and too Holy to look upon sin (Heb. 1:13), yet not wishing that any should perish (II Pet. 3:9). He is the Lord of history declaring the end from the beginning (Is. 40:10) and working all things according to the Counsel of His will. (Eph. 1:11).
SECTION 3 – THE PERSON AND WORK OF 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 (Jo. 1:1,14,18; Lk. 1:35). We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-26; 4:25).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, where as High Priest He fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy for His people (Heb. 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25; I Jo. 2:1-2).
SECTION 4 – THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts man of sin. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them into the Church, the Body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and fills those yielded to Him (Jo. 16:7-11; Jo. 3:5-8; I Cor. 12:4-11,13; Jo. 14:16-17; Eph. 4:30; 5:18).
We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and miraculous healings, were given as authenticating signs in the early church and are rare if they exist today (I Cor. 14:22-24; Heb. 2:4). We believe, however, that God answers prayer for the sick in accordance with His will (I Jo. 5:14-15; James 5:15-16).
SECTION 5 – CREATION AND THE ORIGIN AND EFFECTS OF SIN
We believe all things in heaven and earth were created by God and exist by His power (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 8:3,19; Job 26:7; Is. 45:12; Col. 1:16-17). We believe that Satan was created as a perfect being until iniquity was found in him (Ez. 28:12-15) and that Satan is the origin of sin. We believe that man was created innocent in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) but that he was led into sin by Satan (Gen. 2:17; 3:6-19) and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Ro. 5:12,15,19). Satan is still the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4) who with great power (I Pet. 5:8) is waging war against the saints (Eph. 6:11,12) while blinding the lost (Eph. 4:18) and deceiving the nations (Rev. 20:10) but his doom is sure (Heb. 2:14; Rev. 20:10).
Because of the fall, natural man is dead in trespasses and sin and incapable of understanding (Eph. 2:1; Ro. 3:11) and it is impossible for him to come to Christ unless the Father draws him (Jn. 6:44).
SECTION 6 – SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works (Acts 13:38-39; Ro. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 3:5). We believe that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever (Ro. 8:1, 38-39; Jo. 10:27-30) –having been called according to His purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before there was time (II Tim. 1:9).
SECTION 7 – SANCTIFICATION
We believe that at salvation we are justified, declared righteous and set apart or sanctified on the basis of the finished work of Christ (Ro. 3:21-26; 4:5,9,22; II Cor. 5:21). Experientially, however, believers may be immature (Heb. 5:12-14). The faithful Christians life is characterized by a walk of faith (Ro. 14:23; II Cor. 5:7; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 11:6) in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-18) toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14). Thus, we may be His disciple as we abide in His word (Jn. 8:31). Experiential sanctification (Eph. 4:7-15; 5:26,27; I Thess. 4:34; 5:23; II Tim. 2:21) or discipleship is not to be equated to the possession of eternal life. A disciple bears much fruit (Jn. 15:8) but, unfortunately, there are carnal believers (I Cor. 3:1) who not having the joy of faithfully abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:9-11; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 4:4-7) have not produced good fruit, but at the Judgement Seat of Christ they are saved, yet as through fire (I Cor. 3:11-15).
SECTION 8 – THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We believe that the Church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the Church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Church is distinct from Israel (Eph. 1:22-23; I Cor. 12-13; 10:32).
We believe that the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purposes of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, and to be equipped for Christian service (Acts 2:42-47; I Cor. 1:1-2; Eph. 4:11-13).
SECTION 9 – THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper which are to be observed by believers until He returns (Mtt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-26).
We believe that water baptism is a picture of our identity with Christ in His death and resurrection. It depicts the death of the old man and new birth in newness of life and thus is for believers only (Ro. 6:3-6; I Pt. 3:21). This precludes infant baptism.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. We believe that every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper but that participation must always be proceeded by solemn self-examination (I Cor. 11:23-29).
SECTION 10 – END TIMES
We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ followed by the Judgement of the Nations and the establishment of His kingdom (Rev. 20:1-6; Mtt. 25:31-46). At this time all Israel will be saved (Ro. 11:25-27). There is a resurrection of the believing dead (Rev. 20:4) and Christ will reign on the throne of David over Israel and the nations (II Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:3,4,34,35; Is. 9:7; Zech. 14:9,16,17; Ez. 37:14, 21-28; Lk. 1:32-33) through the Church (Lk. 22:30; II Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:6).
We believe that all believers will appear at the Judgement Seat of Christ to answer for what they have done in the flesh (II Cor. 5:10), but as all have trusted Christ, none are lost (I Cor. 3:10-15). The unbelieving dead are resurrected following the millennium and Judged at the Great White throne (Rev. 20:7, 11-14) and condemned to the lake of fire.