Doctrinal Statement
Doctrine of Scripture
We believe the Bible is the Word of God and the lone authority in all areas. Its authenticity is evidenced in its influence, subject matter, continuity and preservation despite 40 different authors over 1,500 years. The Bible is the main way God communicates with man by means of revelation (I Jn. 5:39). We believe in the verbal, plenary, infallible, unlimited inerrant inspiration of the Bible and that there has been no new revelation since its completion (Rev. 22:1-19). We believe the Bible is God breathed – (II Tim 3:16) and written by men of God exactly as He wanted – (II Pt 1:21; Heb. 1:1; Jer. 30:2). The authors were cognizant of writing God’s Word not just His thoughts. We believe the Scriptures are revealed prophetic truths (Ps. 22, Is. 52-55, Micah 5:2). We believe that Scripture teaches spiritual truths (I Cor. 2:6-16) and are difficult for the unsaved to discern (I Cor. 1:27; II Pt. 3:16).
We believe in the inerrancy of the original writings based on the trustworthiness of God and because Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it as the final authority in faith and life (Rm. 3:4; Mt 5:17-18; Jn. 17:17). It has been preserved supernaturally; it has been settled in heaven, and it will never pass away (Is. 40:8; Psalm 119:89).
We believe in the Canonicity of the Scriptures because they are self-authenticating and can be compared without err (I Cor. 2:13). The church discovered the inspired nature of the Old and New Testament Scriptures. It did not determine or cause its canonicity.
• Old Testament Verified – Matt. 21:42; 22:29 – err not knowing the Scriptures
• New Testament Verified – I Thes. 5:27 – charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read
Doctrine of the Godhead
God the Father
We believe in the one and only true Triune God (Mt. 3:16-17; Is. 6:8) God the Father, the first person of the Trinity who is infinitely perfect; He is One in nature and attributes. He is Omnipresent - being everywhere (Ps. 139:7-12), Omniscient - all knowing (Mt.11:21), Omnipotent - all powerful (Rev. 19:6), and Sovereign (Eph. 1). He is the preexisting One that has always been (Gen 1:1); He is the Creator of all things yet separate and above His creations (Rm. 1:18-20) a personal Being. He is perfect, righteous (Ezra 9:15), infinite (Ps. 90), holy (I Pt. 1:16; I Jn. 1:5), faithful (I Jn. 1:9), truth (Jn. 14:6), mercy (Titus 3:4), and love (I Jn. 4:7-8). He is immutable - unchanging and unable to be changed (Jm. 1:17; Lam. 3:23). He is indivisible yet manifests Himself in the Triad union of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate persons with each having a distinct ministry (Matt. 28:18-20; Isaiah 6:8; Gen. 1:27; II Cor. 13:14; Acts 5.3-4; Mark 12:29).
God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity and is absolute Deity; He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is all God and all man, two distinct natures unified in one person (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:16-25; Luke 1:26-35; Mt. 2:11; 4:2; Jn. 4:9; Lk. 22:44; Heb. 2:14). Jesus Christ is impeccable in His nature and sinless in His life (Heb. 4:15). He died on the cross and shed His precious blood as an atonement to pay our sin debt (I Jn. 2:2; Heb. 9:12-14). He was buried and bodily rose again the third day as the Scriptures say (Jn 20; I Cor. 15:4). He has ascended bodily into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest interceding for us as our advocate (Acts1:9-11; Heb. 1:3; 4:14). He is currently preparing a place for those that have come to the Father through Him (Jn 14:1-6), caring for us as our Shepherd (Jn. 10), giving direction as the Head of the Church (Eph. 5:25-27) and is securing the believer as the Chief Cornerstone (I Cor. 3:11). His imminent return for His bride is the next prophetic event for the Church (I Thess. 5).
Additional Scripture references on the first advent, incarnation of Christ, His priesthood, His equality as Deity, etc. (John 1:1-4, 14; 5:17-27; 14:1-6; I Peter 2:5-9; Eph. 1:20–23; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25; 1 John 2:1; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 3:16; Col 1:15-18 & 2:9).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity and possesses equally the same attributes as God the Father and God the Son. He is the administrator of the things of God and convicts of sin and renews the believer (Jn. 16:8-11; Titus 3:5), reveals Christ (John 15:26), teaches the truth (John 14:26; I Cor. 2:9-14), restrains evil (Gen 6:3), empowers believers in worship, evangelism, and service (Acts 1:8; Rm. 8:2), and is ever present (Psalm 139:7-12) in the believer (I Corinthians 6:19) as our Comforter (John 16:7-14) and Helper (Romans 8:9) and intercedes (Romans 8:26) until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). He indwells all who are born again, conforming them into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is a process completed only in heaven (John 16:7-14; I Cor. 12:13).
Doctrine of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Gen. 9:6), and when he sinned, he brought on himself and the entire human race not only physical death, but also the spiritual death which is separation from God (Rm. 5:12). From that time on, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and continue through selfish desires to willfully disobey (Romans 3:23); and that men are therefore subject to eternal punishment (Romans 6:23) under the just condemnation of a holy God. (Gen 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Ps. 51:5; 58:3; Rom 1:12-21; Rom. 5:12-21; I Cor. 2:14)
Doctrine of Salvation
We believe in the total depravity of the human race and that salvation of man is by grace alone through repentance and faith; there is absolutely nothing man can do to obtain eternal life except to receive freely the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins. He died in our stead to be the sacrifice for all who believe in Him and we are justified by His shed blood (Romans 3:10 & 23; I Cor 15:1-4; II Cor 5:21; II Peter 2:24; Rom 5:9; I Peter 1:18-19). All who accept this free gift by faith are eternally secure and without it there is no way for salvation from our deserved punishment (Is. 49:16; John 5:24, 10:22-29; II Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6; Romans 6:23; 8:32-39; Luke 10:20; 22:32; II Cor. 5:1, 6–8; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:22; 1 John 5:13).
Doctrine of the Church
We believe in a called-out assembly of baptized believers that work together to accomplish the will of God by the perfecting and edifying of the saints through preaching and teaching, fulfilling the “Great Commission”, and the organized observance of the New Testament ordinances. The word “church” refers to the local body of believers and not the universal Church (Eph. 4:12). The church comes together for worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, soul-winning, and gives the first day of the week as “The Lord’s Day” (Matt. 16:13-20; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41-42; Heb. 10:25).
There are two offices given to the church, the pastorate and the deacon. We believe that both offices should be held by men that meet the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3. The responsibilities for the pastor are to preach and teach (I Pt. 5:2-3), win souls (II Tim. 4:5), manage the church (Rm. 12:8), and oversee the congregation to protect them as a whole (Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:29-31). The deacon’s responsibilities are to serve the church and the pastor (I Tim. 3:8-12).
*Independence and Autonomy
We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church in that it is free to govern and organize itself without the interference of others outside the church. They should fellowship with other New Testament churches of like faith as lead by the Spirit. It should conduct itself decently and in order as a unit that is representing Christ and is accountable to God (Mt. 16:18).
*Ordinances
We believe that the local church has two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that both should be conducted through the ministry of the church. We believe that immersion is the only form of baptism revealed and commanded in the Scriptures and that it has no saving power, but is only for those who have already received Christ through repentance and faith. It is a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and it symbolizes the convert’s new life in Christ. Since salvation is the scriptural prerequisite to baptism, infant and child baptism is not scriptural and only those who are of the age of accountability should be baptized (Matt. 28:19; Act 2:38-41; 8.35-38; I Cor. 11:23).
The Lord’s Supper is a time of reflection of Christ’s death on the cross and His full blood atonement for our sins. There should be a time of self-examination to search the heart for sin and retain fellowship with the Lord. It should only be taken by baptized believers (Lk. 22:14-21; I Cor. 11:23-32).
Doctrine of Future Events (Eschatology)
We believe the next prophetic event will be the imminent return of Christ when He raptures His church, the Bride, in the twinkling of an eye (I Cor. 15:52). All who have accepted His perfect, free gift will be caught up with the Lord in the air to be received unto Himself into heaven, both who are alive and remain, and also those who are dead in Christ. This event is the “blessed hope” for which we as Christians should be vigilant. Each believer will be judged of their works on earth and rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ (John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51–52; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:13–18; Titus 2:11–14). We believe in a pretribulational, premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Thess 2; Jn. 14:1-3; Matt. 24:44). The rapture of the church will be followed by seven years of tribulation in which the Anti-christ will make a treaty with Israel at the beginning and then breaks it at the mid-point. At that time the last 3 ½ years will be worse than the first (Rev. 6-19). The battle of Armageddon will be the culmination of the Tribulation and the entrance of Christ’s second coming (Rev. 19:11-21). The second coming of Christ will occur, halting chaos on earth and establishing His earthly kingdom for a thousand years. Satan will be bound during this time (Rev. 20:2-3). After the millennial reign of Christ, the unsaved will then be raised and judged according to their works at the Great White Throne judgment and will be separated forever from God in the lake of fire. The ransomed, having been raised, will live forever in heaven in fellowship with God (l Timothy 6:14-15; Revelation 20:6-7; Isaiah 65:15-25).
Eternity
We believe that all souls immediately go to their eternal destination based on their decision to accept Christ while on earth. All who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and are thereby children of God and live eternally in heaven. Those that have committed the unpardonable sin and rejected the Holy Spirit will live in eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. Both the ransomed and the condemned will be resurrected bodily and judged at the bema seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment respectively where the saved will live in eternal fellowship with God and the unsaved will suffer in everlasting torment (I Cor. 15:51-58; II Cor. 5:8-10; Lk. 16:19-23; Jn. 3:3; Gal 3:24-26; I Thess. 4:16-18; I John 5:1; Rev. 20:11-15).
Personal and Ecclesiastical Separation
We believe God's people and church are in the world, but should not be of the world; there should be a distinct difference as a sanctified people by daily submitting to the will of the Father and allowing the Holy Spirit control. The church and state should be separate in that the government should not oversee the church, but that the church should elect Godly leaders and influence Godly decisions (Matt. 22:21; Romans 12:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:16; l John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:1-17; II Corinthians 2:14).