Our Beliefs

The sum of all our theological beliefs is Jesus Christ.

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the sixty-six books comprising the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Scriptures to be verbally inspired, inerrant and infallible; the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Holy Spirit inspired every word (not just the thoughts, concepts or doctrines), caused men to write them without error, and preserved those writings infallibly – faithful to the originals. Those words are preserved in the Hebrew Masoretic text and the Koine Greek Textus Receptus (Majority Text). In English, the King James Bible is the only translation that faithfully follows those preserved texts, and is the official English translation of our church. No other translation shall be used in the pulpit or classrooms. We believe the Scriptures are to be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and constitute the final authority in all matters of faith and life. The Word of God is our standard of conduct, and the center of our communion with Christ. (Psalm 12:6-7; 138:2; Prov 30:6; Luke 16:31; Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 1:23; 2 Pet 1:19-21; and Rev 22:19.)

God

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and coequal in power and glory. As such, the Godhead is unified in plan and purpose while each member works distinctly yet harmoniously. (Gen 1:1, 26; Deut 6:4; Psa 90:2; Matt 28:19; Luke 1:35; 3:22; John 10:30; Acts 5:1-4; Philip 2:5-6)

Fall of Man

We believe that man was created sinless and innocent in the image and likeness of God. When Adam sinned, the entire human race inherited his sinful nature and was alienated from God. (Gen 1:26-27; Rom 5:12)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God, by the shedding of His blood, brought to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The sacrifice made by Christ on the cross is the only basis for salvation. Good works cannot earn salvation but are the natural result and evidence of it. We believe that those who are saved are secure in Christ forever. (Eph 2:8-9; John 10:27-30)

The Church

The membership of this local church is composed of born-again believers (see paragraph 2.01 (D)) who have been scripturally baptized and is autonomous (self governing). We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as the only scriptural ordinances of the local church. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph 5:25-27; Titus 1:5; Acts 15:19-31; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matt 28:19-20)

Separation

We believe the Christian is to live separate and apart from sinful practices and vice. This life-long process that begins at salvation and ends in Heaven is known as sanctification. Further, as a church body we are resolved to never join with apostate churches or organizations such as the National Association of Evangelicals or National Council of Churches. (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 5:11-13; 6:19-20; 2 Cor 6:17)

The Second Coming

We believe in the imminent, pre-millennial, pre-tribulation return of Christ for His own. At that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies, without tasting death, and all shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and all believers shall forever be with the Lord. We believe that the tribulation, which follows the rapture, will be culminated by the appearing of Christ in power and glory to sit upon the throne of David and establish His millennial reign (1,000 years). At the end of the thousand years, Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit where he has been chained, and leads an army against Christ at Jerusalem. Satan is quickly defeated and cast into the lake of fire for eternity with all who reject the LORD Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. (Psalm 89:3-4; Zech 14:4.11; Mark 13:32; 1 Thess 1:10; 4:13-18; Rev 20:1-6)

Eternity

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Great White Throne Judgment, Heaven and Hell. We reject soul sleep and annihilation. We believe that the torment and suffering of Hell is as real as the joy and bliss of Heaven and that neither will come to an end. Man did not exist in body, soul or spirit prior to conception and shall live for all eternity. (Matt 22:30; 25:30, 46; John 5:29; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11)

Satan

We believe that Satan is a created angel who fell through pride and ambition in his desire to be “like” the Most High. In his fall he brought with him a host of heavenly angels and, as the declared enemy of God, is working today to blind “the minds of them which believe not.” He is already defeated and awaiting final judgment in the Lake of Fire. (Isa 14:12-15; Ezek 28:14-17; Rev 12:7-10)

Creation

We believe God created the universe in six 24-hour days. We reject evolution, the gap theory, the day-age theory, and theistic evolution. We believe that God created man in His own image, higher, separate and apart from all animal life. (Gen 1 – 3; Exod 20:11; Heb 11:3)

Secular Authority

We believe that God has ordained three basic institutions: the home, the state, and the church. Every person is subject to these authorities and all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God. God has given each institution specific, biblical responsibilities and balanced them such that no institution has the right to infringe upon another. Rulers and leaders are to be prayed for, honored, and, except in those things opposed to God’s will, obeyed. (Rom 13:1-7; Eph 5:22-24; Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 2:13-14)

Human Sexuality

We believe that scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman until death and that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. Any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, bestiality, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of this union. We believe that God forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender. (Gen 1:27; 2:24; 26:8-11; Lev 18:1-30; Isa 3:9; Rom 1:24-32; 7:2; 1 Cor 6:9, 18-20; 7:10-11; Heb 13:4)

Divorce

We believe that God hates and forbids divorce. He intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Persons who are divorced and those who have remarried can serve the church in many ways, but they shall not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Thus, abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth control, or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psa 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:44)

Euthanasia

We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)

Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. The church is to handle all such issues between members. A Christian may, however, seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

Missions

We believe that God gave the Great Commission to the church. We are to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to all nations. As ambassadors of Christ and members of His church, it is our responsibility to participate, pray and financially support this effort. (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor 8:1-6)

Giving

We believe that every Christian is a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him. Christians cannot biblically be obligated to give. The financial support a Christian freely chooses to provide will normally fall into one of three categories: tithes, offerings and grace giving. Tithes are used to support the salaries and expenses of running the church. The church determines how these monies are allocated by approving an annual budget. Offerings are used as designated. Grace giving is sometimes referred to as a Faith Promise Offering and is used to supplement evangelistic and missionary efforts at home and around the world. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)

Prayer and Fasting

We believe prayer is talking to God. Both the unsaved and saved can communicate directly to Him. Prayers will not be answered by saints. Only God will hear and answer our prayers. We have direct communication with God. We further believe that fasting is for today. Christ Himself said, “When the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” (Rom 8:26, 34; Matt 6:9; Mark 2:20; Heb 4:14-16)