PARAGRAPH I --- OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds, and opinions. II Timothy 3:16-27; II Peter 1:19-21
PARAGRAPH II--- THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three personal distinctions, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, existing from all eternity, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that he never ceased to be God for one instant and that his humiliation did not consist in laying aside His Deity; that as a man, He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. John 1:1-2; ; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature, that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, bears witness to the believer in Christ, is the agent of the New Birth; and that he seals, endues, teaches, witnesses to. sanctifies and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God.
II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-26; Romans 8:14-27
PARAGRAPH III --- OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the god of this age, author of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the
PARAGRAPH IV --- OF THE CREATION
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, each after its own kind, by direct act and not by the process of evolution.
Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17, John 1:3
PARAGRAPH V --- OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression, fell into sin, thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shaped in iniquity and become practicing sinners with the first expression of person choice; not by constraint, but by choice, and so, are without excuse before God. Genesis 3: Romans 5:10-19
PARAGRAPH VI --- OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ. when He voluntarily took upon Himself a human body and nature, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man, that the blessings of this salvation are given on grounds of grace of all who believe and confess and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy. John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33
PARAGRAPH VII --- OF SALVATION BY GRACE
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin, and that this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure. Acts : Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13
We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ. John 10:28-29; Romans 8:25-29; Philippians 1:6
PARAGRAPH VIII --- OF THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets, established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole Head, revealed through the Holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, both Jew and Gentile, called out from the world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, His "Body" for service and His "Bride" for glory. It began with the New Testament Saints and will be completed at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. Matthew ; Acts 1:8; 2: 1-13; 41-47; , Romans , 1 Corinthians -38, Ephesians -23; -33; 1 Thessalonians -18
We believe that the Church universal is manifest through the local Church, which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are bishops (or pastor) and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 6:4; ; ; I Timothy 3 :1-15
PARAGRAPH IX --- OF THE ORDINANCES
We believe that there are two Church ordinances; Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called "Believer's Baptism". It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effects in our lives of death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a pre-requisite to church membership. The Lord's Supper is the commemoration of our Lord's death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him. It should always be preceded by careful self-examination. Acts -39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32
PARAGRAPH X --- SEPARATION
We believe that the believer should be separated from sinful practices of worldly lusts and that the local church should avoid affiliation, unequal yokes and co-operation with any association or organization which is heretical in doctrine and/or practice. I Corinthians 7:1; I Peter -18; -12; I John 2:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; II Corinthians 6:14-18: Jude 3-4
PARAGRAPH XI --- HUMAN SEXUALITY
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and immoral desires are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. Gen. 2:24; 19:5,13: 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Matt. 5:28; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4; Phil. 4:8
We believe in the compassionate forgiveness of Christ and full recovery for those who have fallen into ungodly lifestyles 2 (I Cor. ; John 8:1-11 , I John 1:9)
We believe that the only Biblical marriage is the joining of one man and one woman by mutual covenant. Gen. 2:4: Rom.7:2; I Cor. 7:10
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. Eph. 5:21-23: Gal. 328; Col.3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12
PARAGRAPH XII --- CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest of and good order of society, and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth. Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17; I Timothy 2:1-3; Acts 5:29; I Timothy 6:15
PARAGRAPH XIII --- OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God's esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 16:25; John 3:21
PARAGRAPH XIV --- OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the bodily, personal, premillenial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven year tribulation period to catch away His church coming only into the air, and that He will come with His church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His Kingdom.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21