What We Believe

1.    Holy Scriptures – We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as plenarily and verbally inspired by God and without any admixture of error in truth; that the Bible is reliable in science, history, and every other matter it discusses; and that the Bible is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. It is understood that the membership of this church will support the authorized King James Version of the Bible to be an accurate translation. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21) We oppose unsound translations of the Bible. (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19)

2.    The Godhead – We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Exodus 20:2-3; I John 5:7; Matthew 28:19-20; II Corinthians 13:14; I Corinthians 8:6)

       a.    The Person and Work of God the Father – We believe in God, the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from hell all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Psalm 22:3; John 17:11, Psalm 147:5; I John 3:20; Matthew 19:26; John 3:16; Matthew 6:26, 28-30; Psalm 65:2, Hebrews 11:6; Romans 5:8; I Timothy 2:5; John 14:6)

       b.    The Person and Work of God the Son – We believe in the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His eternal existence as God, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit; His incarnation by means of the virgin birth, His sinlessness; His vicarious death through the shedding of His blood as an atonement for the remission of our sins; His literal bodily resurrection from the dead; His ascension; His present high-priestly ministry in Heaven for believers; His imminent return in the rapture for His bride, and His final visible return to the earth. (I John 5:20; John 1:18; John 14:9; Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; I Peter 2:22; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 24:36-43; Acts 10:40-41; Acts 1:9; Luke 24:51; Hebrews 8:1,2; I John 2:1; Acts 1:11; II Thessalonians 2:3, 7-8; I Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7)

       c.    The Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same nature; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth; that He is the Agent of the New Birth; that He baptizes all true believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sanctifying all of them, sealing and thus securing them unto the day of redemption; that He endues, guides, teaches, and helps believers; and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit.  (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph 1:13-14; Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20,27; Matthew 28:19).

3.    Creation – We believe that the Godhead created the heavens (the universe) and the earth, including all life, each after its own species, by direct act and not by a process of evolution. (Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3)

4.    Depravity of Man – We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by reason of his voluntary sin, fell from his innocent state; that as a result the whole race plunged into condemnation and death, so that now all human beings  are born with a sinful nature; and that all who reach the age of moral understanding become willful sinners in thought, word, and deed, and so are without excuse before God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:10-23)

5.    Salvation

       a.    We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through faith in the blood sacrifice, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; that all who receive Him are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and become children of God; that no rite, ceremony, or work can avail for the sinner’s salvation or make the believers salvation more secure; that Christ is the only and all-sufficient Savior; and that all believers are kept forever by the sacrificial and high-priestly work of Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; John 5:24; John 1:12; Romans 10:9-13; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; II Timothy 1:12; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; Philemon 18-19; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 8:3-5, 9:14, 10:10; I Peter 1:5)

       b.    We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith, and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his personal rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (John 3:16-21; I Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 7:24; Revelation 22:17; Ezekiel 33:11; John 5:40; II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:3-4)

6.    Sanctification

       a.    We believe sanctification is “that crisis worked by grace through the power of the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which saints are enabled to be more like Him in that they are no longer living by the power of the flesh but live through the power of the Holy Ghost.” We deny that the total sanctification takes place at the New Birth, but that it is a subsequent work in which the old man is put off. (John 17:17; Romans 6:11; II Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:22-32; Galatians 2:20)

       b.    We deny further that it leads to sinless perfection, but to the relative perfection, which is the point at which man loves the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. This involves the spiritual circumcision of the heart and submission of the stubborn will which manifests in the stiffening of the neck and hardening of the heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12-16; 30:5-10; Jeremiah 4:3-4; I Corinthians 7:18-19; Philippians 3:3-7; I John 1:7)

       c.    This is what John Wesley called, “Christian Perfection” and though it does lead to where sin is not having dominion, it does not mean that sin will never come again. It is the working that enables the Christian to have the victory of the Romans 7 struggle, so that he does not have to sin. We believe that this happens instantly, though there may be a slow process leading up to it. (Matthew 5:48; I John 4:18)

       d.    This work of grace will lead to deeper crises of faith and workings of grace that will continue until the time when heaven is reached. (II Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 3:12-15)

       e.    We believe that sanctification and the resulting personal holiness are both among the most needed truths of the times.  Any man who is not preaching this as part of the full salvation is contributing to the cause rather than the cure of the cancer of his contemporary. (Titus 2:14-15; I Timothy 6:3-5)

7.    Separation

       a.    Ecclesiastical – We believe that the saved are called into a life of separation from religious apostasy, and from worldly and sinful practices and associations. We stand opposed to liberalism, modernism, materialism and new evangelicalism, the modern charismatic movement, the new age movement, abortion, and sodomy. (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:22; I John 2:15-17; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 16:17-18; II John 7:11; Ephesians 5:11; I Corinthians 12:7-13, 14:19-22; Romans 1; Leviticus 20)

       b.    Personal – We believe that the dress, the music, the habits, and the speech of the Christian should clearly be distinct from that of this present world system.

               i.    Dress – The Christian should avoid slob clothing styles. We should remember the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and tattoos, excessive body piercings, and trendy, tight, low-cut, torn, faded, and extravagant styles that draw attention to the flesh should be abstained from. (I Corinthians 6:19; I Peter 2:9-12; Titus 2:11-15)

               ii.    Music – Contemporary-style music, including that which is commonly called “Contemporary Christian Music,” is to be avoided at all cost. This includes not only the Rock ‘n roll sound, but the surrealistic, ethereal, and easy listening sound which has invaded many professing fundamentalist churches. We believe music should be uplifting and God-honoring, supporting and not detracting from the message. The words to many “Christian” songs today are being written to serve the beat and/or wandering melody. Pastors are declaring that this music is inspiring “revival” to break out among their young people. These young people are being drawn into the vortex of a powerful, “cutting edge” music, believing and being told that it is of God. People say they “feel” close to God when worshipping Him in the contemporary style. This is a powerfully deceptive illusion arising from the fleshly heart. This music is animating and facilitating an emotional response which gives the outward appearance and sensation that God is near and “dealing.” The key indicator that this is not of God is that it does not result in a desire for personal separation from the world. Rather it encourages the wedding of Christian terminology with a materialistic garb. (Daniel 3; I Corinthians 14:8; II Timothy 3:4-5; I John 2:15)

               iii.    Drinking and Smoking – We believe that both drinking and smoking are unbecoming to a professing child of God. The world calls drunkenness a disease (alcoholism). The modern church agrees that drunkenness is wrong, but many professing Christians drink socially and smoke. The underlying words for “wine” in the Bible’s original languages can refer to grape juice that is either unfermented or fermented. We believe that where the Scriptures give approval of “wine” drinking, this is in reference to unfermented wine. Would not Christ have been inconsistent to so carefully distinguish the unleavened bread of the Passover as the type of His body, and yet partake in the drinking of fermented wine? It is our belief that many churches and professing Christians are condoning alcoholic beverages, cigars, etc… because they are carnal in heart, desiring the dainties of Egypt. They have no desire to be a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, or a holy nation unto the Lord, pleasing Him and doing His will, viewing their bodies as a temple for the Holy Ghost. (Leviticus 10:9-10; I Peter 2:9-12; Galatians 5:21; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Peter 4:1-4; I Corinthians 6:19; I Thessalonians 5:22)

8.    The Church – We believe that the Church exists in two aspects.

       a.    Universal – First, it is an organism and is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ as Savior. It is not limited to one specific race, geography, or label, though there is only one body of faith. The true Church of Jesus Christ is a living breathing organism that is not governed by any denomination, but its head is Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:25-33; Colossians 1:14-18; I Corinthians 12:12-31)

       b.    Local – Second, it is an organization composed of regenerated believers, voluntarily united for the purpose of worship, edification, observing the ordinances, fellowship, the establishment of Christian education and service; that among the necessary officers of the local church are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have the opportunity in the local community and unto the uttermost parts of the earth; that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, religious or governmental; that the one and only true Head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, with each local church as the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, policy of government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 2:41-47; Romans 1:7; Colossians 1:2; I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 4:4; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7, 11:26; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-8; Hebrews 13:7, 17; I Peter 5:1-5; Acts 6:1-7; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-26; Acts 11:29-30; Acts 13:1-4; Philippians 4:14-16: Acts 20:28, 31; I Corinthians 5:1-6, 11; Acts 15:1-27)

9.    Baptism – We believe that scriptural baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, setting forth, in symbol, his union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; that every believer should be baptized because of the example and command of our Lord; and that while there is no saving power in water baptism, it is an act of obedience by those who are already saved to picture their death, burial, and resurrection to walk in newness of life with Jesus Christ, and that blessed hope of bodily resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 5:24)

10. The Lord’s Supper – We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death until He comes again; and that, in this ordinance, the Lord’s table should be opened to all regenerated persons after self-examination. (I Corinthians 11:24-32; Luke 22:14-20)

11. The Second Coming

       a.    We believe in the literal, bodily, personal, pre-millennial, and imminent coming of our Lord in the air to catch away all believers unto Himself before the Tribulation period. (Acts 1:11; John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1; Matthew 24:42-44; II Thessalonians 2:3,7-8; Hebrews 9:28)

       b.    We also believe in the personal, visible, and glorious return of Christ to the earth, with believers, at the close of the Tribulation period to judge the living nations and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth. (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:1-6; II Peter 3:1-13)

12. Death – We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection; and that the souls of the lost remain after death, in conscious misery in Hell until the second resurrection. (II Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23-24; Luke 17:19-31; II Peter 2:9, Revelation 20:13-15; Luke 16:23-24)

13. Civil Government – We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that those in authority are to be prayed for and their office conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the direct and revealed will of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13:1-7; Genesis 9:5-6; I Timothy 2:2-3; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:27-29)

14. The Lord’s Day – We believe that since the times of the first church, the Lord’s Day, which is the first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s resurrection, is the proper day for Christian worship and service; and that it ought to be kept sacred to spiritual purposes, by abstinence from all unnecessary secular labor and other activities unbecoming to such a day. (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:13-17; Hebrews 10:25; John 20:1,19,26; Mark 16:2; Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1)

15. Israel’s Future – We believe that God’s covenant people, Israel, shall be regathered to Palestine from their world-wide dispersion, redeemed, and under the personal and millennial reign of Christ upon David’s throne in Jerusalem shall become the head of nations. (Genesis 3:15; 12:2-3; 13:14-15; Jeremiah 7:7; Deuteronomy 28:63-66: Deuteronomy 30:1-6; Ezekiel 36:22-28, 37; 11:28; Romans 11:25-27; Luke 1:30-33; Jeremiah 33:14-17; Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 20:4-6)

16. Satan – We believe that Satan, a fallen angel, is a distinct and real personality, the god of this age, the adversary of Christ and all believers, and that his destiny is eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Ezekiel 28:1-19; Job 1:6-9; I Peter 5;8; Matthew 4:1-11; I Timothy 3:7; James 4:7; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)