Our Beliefs

Of the Scriptures

We believe in the plenary (complete), verbal, Holy Spirit inspiration (literally breathed) of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) in the original languages (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1: 21; I Thessalonians 2:13).

We believe in God’s promise to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:6-7; Psalm 119:152).

We believe that the King James Version (or Authorized Version) of the English Bible is a true, faithful, and accurate translation which in our time has no equal amongst all of the other English translations. We can without apology hold up the Authorized Version (AV) and say, “This is the Word of God.”

Of the Triune* God

We believe that there is one God, a living, intelligent Spirit, Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; eternally expressing Himself through three persons, Father, Son, and

Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; I John 5:7). (*Triune means three in one)

God the Father – “God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in Whom all things have their source, support, and end.” (A.H. Strong) God is Light (1 John 1:5). God is Love (1 John 4:8). God is Just and Righteous. (Hebrews 12:29)

God the Son – Jesus Christ is both Perfect God and Perfect Man. Creator and Sustainer (Colossians 1:15,16), His goings forth have been from everlasting (Micah 5:2). He is the Savior sent to redeem mankind (Acts 4:12; I Tim. 4:10; I John 4:14).

God the Holy Spirit – The restrainer of evil until God’s purpose is fulfilled (II Thessalonians 2:7), the Holy Ghost convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). As the Agent in the New Birth (Titus 3:5), the Holy Spirit seals the believer (Ephesians 1: 12-14). He is the promised Comforter, Teacher, and Guide (John 14:26) of the believer.

Of Creation

We believe that the material universe, including man, came into being by the direct creation of God, and not by evolution – not even theistic evolution* (Genesis 1; II Peter 3:5-7), in six literal 24 hour days (Exodus 20:11). Man was created in God’s image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).  (*the belief that God created the world through evolutionary processes)

Of the Fall of Man

We believe that man was created innocent (Genesis 1:31), but voluntarily sinned (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21). Because of this fall, all men are now sinners by birth and by choice, and are justly destined for hell (Romans 5:19, 6:23), without defense or excuse. Man must be born from above to be fit for fellowship with God. (John 3:3-6)

We further believe that the unsaved will spend eternity in torment in a literal hell. (Revelation 20:14-15)

Of the Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Ghost, of Mary, a virgin (Matthew 1:20), who was no more than a godly woman chosen by God. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14)

Of Salvation

We believe that salvation of the sinner is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5), and made possible alone through the vicarious* death of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary (Isaiah 53:3-4, 10-11; Luke 22:19-20), and that there is salvation in none other (Acts 4:12) and that all that is necessary for salvation is an acceptance by faith of His infinite work. (John 1:12, 3:16) (*vicarious: Christ experienced death in our place)

The New Birth – In order to be saved, sinners must be born again; the person experiencing the new birth is a new creation instantly upon salvation and for all eternity. (John 3:3; Romans 6:23; II Cor. 5:17)

Justification – Justification includes pardon from sin (Romans 8:1, 5:9, 8:30-34), the gift of eternal life (Romans 5:10, 6:23), and a perfect standing before God (Romans 5:11; Jude 24-25), and the assurance that a born again believer cannot ever lose his salvation. (John 10:28-29; 1 John 5:11-13)

Repentance – An inward and true sorrow of heart for sin with sincere confession to God and which results in a turning away from sin and to God. (Ezekiel 18:30;  I Thessalonians 1:9-10) We reject the teaching that biblical repentance is a work.

Of the Church

We believe that the local church is a congregation of immersed believers (Acts 10:46-47; Romans 6:3-6; I Peter 3:21) associated by covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel (Romans 12, Hebrews 10:23-25); that the local church has the absolute right of self-government (Matthew 18:18-20) and is answerable only to God, her Administrator, and the Lord Jesus Christ, her Head (Ephesians 5:23-24); that in all matters of membership, policy, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is sovereign.  (Matthew 18:18-19)

We believe that the saved should live in such a manner so as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God. (Romans 12:1-2, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I John 2:15-17)

We further believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and that this commission is given to the local church. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48) The practice of missions takes the form of individual and corporate (church organized) soulwinning, church-planting, and supporting of missionaries to regions beyond the local church. (Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)

Of Church Ordinances

We believe that there are only two church ordinances (observances): baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the complete immersion of the believer in water, picturing the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the believer’s new life in Him (Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:18-21). We believe that participation in the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of the Lord’s vicarious death and is to be shared in only with true believers who are members of this local church. (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24)

Of the Return of Christ

We believe in the personal, visible, premillennial return of our Lord for His church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18), which event will initiate the seven-year great tribulation, the culmination of human government divorced from God (Matthew 24; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 19:17-21), which had its origin at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). At this time, the Lord Himself shall return in glory to judge the living nations. (Joel 3; Matthew 25:31-46) The end of the tribulation period will be immediately followed by the thousand-year reign of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth from Jerusalem (Revelation 20:2-6), at which time satan will be loosed to show man’s preference for evil. (John 3:19; Revelation 20:7-8) This brief period of satanic freedom is to be quickly followed by the Great White Throne Judgment. (Revelation 20)