The Bible

We believe that all Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired by God. All Scripture was written by men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit and the original writings are without error. All Scripture is authoritative, infallible, and profitable for faith and practice.

1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21

The Godhead

We believe that there is only one God, who exists in three co-equal Persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The triune Godhead is the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence. The triune Godhead has precisely the same nature, attributes, perfections, and is worthy of the same confidence and obedience.

Matthew 28:18,19; Mark 12:29; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ, God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is the pre-existent, eternal, only begotten Son of God. All things visible and invisible were created by Him and for Him. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is fully man, human and fully God, divine. He came to die for the sins of the whole world and to reveal God the Father. He was tempted in all things just as we are, but lived a perfect, sinless life. He died on the cross a sacrificial, substitutionary death for man and for the sin penalty. He was buried, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. His death satisfied God’s requirement for the payment of sin. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father as the intercessor. He will visibly and personally return to earth, first for those who believe and then to establish His earthly kingdom.

Matthew 25:31-34; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1,14; 3:16; Acts 1:9,11; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Colossians 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Hebrews 2:17; 4:15; 7:25; 10:12; 1 John 2:2

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the triune Godhead. The Holy Spirit is God. He is active in the regeneration of the believer. He indwells every believer, baptizes every believer into the body of Christ, gives spiritual gifts to every believer as He chooses, and seals every believer as a guarantee of their inheritance. He is the source of power whereby the believer may live a godly life. His present ministry is, in part, to convict the world of sin, of righteousness through Christ, and of the judgment to come.

Matthew 28:19; John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3,4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:7-12; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 1:13,14; Titus 3:5

Man

We believe man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God. Man fell because of sin and lost his spiritual life. Man, therefore, in his natural state is condemned to an eternal death.

Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23

Sin

We believe sin originated with Satan. Satan, a created being, rebelled against God and became the author of sin. When Adam sinned he represented man and, therefore, sin is imputed to all. All sin is against God and is unrighteousness in His sight.

Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:1-23; Ezekiel 28:1-19; Romans 3:23; 5:12

Salvation

We believe that man may have salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin through individual, personal faith in the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Man is born again spiritually through faith alone in Christ. Salvation is a free gift provided by God’s grace apart from works. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to all who believe.

John 3:3; Romans 5:15-18; Ephesians 2:8,9; 1 Peter 2:24

Sanctification

We believe there are three aspects of sanctification for the believer: positional, progressive, and ultimate or perfect sanctification. Positional sanctification takes place at the moment of salvation. The believer is in Christ and set apart to God. Progressive sanctification is the process of the believer growing in Christ. This process involves the believer, on a daily basis, putting to death the old nature and living in the power of the Holy Spirit or walking in the Spirit in order to live an obedient life to God. Ultimate or perfect sanctification is when the believer will become like Christ and receive his glorified body. Perfect sanctification is also described by the term glorification.

Romans 5:15-18; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-18; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; 5:23; Hebrews 10:10; 1 John 3:1-3

Angels

We believe angels are created beings possessing will, intellect, and emotion. Angels cannot procreate and their number is fixed. Angels were created to minister to God and man. Lucifer, or Satan, is the angel who rebelled and sinned against God. When Satan fell, a great company of angels rebelled and fell with him.  Satan was judged at the cross. In the end, Satan and the fallen angels will be cast into the lake of fire and suffer eternal punishment.

Psalm 148:5; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-79; Matthew 22:30; Hebrews 1:14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 12:4; 20:1-3,10

The Church

The universal church is the body of Christ. All who believe in Christ are a part of the body of Christ, the universal church. It is that which God purchased with the blood of His own Son. It is that which Christ loves, nourishes and cherishes, and which He shall present to Himself, blameless in all her glory one day. The universal church began on the Day of Pentecost.

The local church is a local assembly of professed believers fulfilling the great commission. The ordinances of the local church are the Lord’s Supper and believer’s baptism.

Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:1,5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:25,27,29

Last Things

We believe that, according to the Word of God, the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in the air to receive to Himself into heaven both His own who are alive and remain unto His coming, and also all who have fallen asleep in Jesus. This event is the blessed hope set before us in the Scripture, and for this we should be constantly looking.

We believe in the pretribulational rapture of the Church. This event will begin the 70th Week of Daniel, the Tribulation period. The Tribulation will last seven years and end with Christ returning to earth with His saints to bind Satan for a period of a thousand years. The premillennial return of Christ will be to restore Israel to her land and to give her the realization of God’s covenant promises. At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released, then cast into the lake of fire, and suffer eternal destruction. This will be followed by the judgment of the unbelievers and then the believers will go into the eternal state and forever be with the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:1-3; 20:7-22:5