Concerning the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written inerrant in its original manuscripts by men who were divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16,17); that it is truth without any mixture of error in its substance (Psalm 19:9; 33:4; 119:160; Proverbs 30:5,6); and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the complete and final revelation of the will of God to man. The Scripture is the true center of Christian union (Philippians 3:16), and the only standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (1 John 4:1; Matthew 4:4).  We use the KJV in all of our services.

Concerning the True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39). He is an infinite, intelligent, perfect Spirit and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Supreme Ruler of the Universe (John 4:24). He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11) and all other perfections, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Mark 12:30). In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). They are equal in every Divine perfection (John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 3:17), and executing distinct, but harmonious offices (Ephesians 2:18; 1 Peter 1:1,2).

Concerning the Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:7. Man was created under the law of his Maker (Genesis 1:27), but through the temptation of Satan, he voluntarily transgressed and fell from this holy state (Genesis 3:6-24). In consequence, all mankind are now sinner (Romans 5:12,19), not by constraint, but choice (Isaiah 53:6). Because the nature of man is utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, mankind is thoroughly inclined to evil (Romans 3:9-18); and therefore under just condemnation to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46; Ephesians 2:13; Revelation 14:10) without defense or excuse (Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 3:19).

Concerning Jesus Christ and the Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace (Ephesians 2:8), through the mediatorial work of the Son of God (John 3:16), Who is Jesus the Christ. He pre-existed (John 8:58), was appointed by the Father (Galatians 4:2-4), and conceived by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20). Our Savior was born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23), freely took upon Him man’s nature, yet without sin (Philippians 2:6,7); honored the Divine law by His perfect obedience (Hebrews 5:8,9), and after a miraculous ministry, made a full atonement for our sins by His death and shed blood on the cross (Isaiah 53:4,5). Having risen bodily from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven (Hebrews 1:8), seeking to save all who by faith repent of their sins and receive Him as their personal Savior (1 Peter 2:24).

Concerning the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with the Father and God the Son and of the same nature (Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:17). He was active in the creation (Genesis 1:1-3). In relation to man, the Holy Spirit restrains the Evil one (2 Thessalonians 2:7), convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11), and bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony (John 16:13). He is the agent of the New Birth (John 3:5,6) Who seals (Ephesians 1:13), endows (Luke 24:49), guides, teaches, comforts, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer (Romans 8:26,27).

Concerning the Devil, or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors (Ezekiel 28:14), but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of the angels (Ezekiel 28:15-17; Revelation 12:9). He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world (Ephesians 2:2). We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the lord of Antichrist and the False Prophet (Revelation 13). Satan is destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire, the place prepared for him and his angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

Concerning Justification

We believe that the great Gospel blessing, which Christ (John 1:16) secures to such as believe in Him, is justification (Acts 13:39); that justification includes the pardon of sin (Romans 5:9) and the promise of eternal life on the principles of righteousness (Romans 5:17,19). Justification is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (Romans 4:4,5). Thus, the believer is declared righteous and brought into a state of blessed peace and favor with God for time and eternity (Romans 5:1,2).

Concerning the Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel (Isaiah 55:1); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (Romans 16:25,26). Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth (John 5:41) but his own inherent depravity and voluntary aggravated condemnation (John 3:19).

Concerning Grace in Regeneration

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3); that regeneration is instantaneous and not a process; that it is effected, in a manner above our comprehension, by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth (John 3:8), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25). The proper evidence of the new birth appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life (2 Cor. 5:17; Ephesians 5:9; James 2:17-26).

Concerning Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God (Mark 1:15); whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ (John 16:8), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy (Luke 18:13); at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as the only and all-sufficient Savior (Romans 10:9-11).

Concerning Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be understood literally, not allegorically or figuratively (Genesis 1); that the creation took place in six literal, consecutive days; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26,27), and that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms (Exodus 20:11). The creation continues by the power of God and within the framework of His natural laws (Col. 1:16, 17).

Concerning the Church

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (1 Corinthians 1:1-13), associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (Acts 2:41,42), observing the ordinances of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:2), governed by His laws (Matthew 28:20), and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges vested in them by His Word (Ephesians 4:7). The only Scriptural officers in the church are pastors or elders, and deacons (1 Peter 5:1-4). The qualifications, claims, and duties of these officers are defined in Acts, and the epistles to Timothy and Titus. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20). This includes confronting mankind with the Gospel (Acts 1:8), making individual disciples, and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. Every church is autonomous. The will of the local church is final on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence.

Concerning Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that both Christian baptism and the Lord’s Supper are a memorial, a symbol, and a prophecy (Romans 6:3,4); that neither confers grace; that baptism is immersion of a believer in water (Acts 8:36-39), in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19); that it is a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Baptism is a testimony of the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to new life (Romans 6:4), and is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42), by the symbolic use of bread and the fruit of the vine, is to commemorate the dying life of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:26) and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28).

Concerning Heaven and Hell

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked (Malachi 3:18). Only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His sight (Romans 1:17). Consistent righteousness is the grand mark that distinguishes a real believer from a superficial professor. All who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in God’s sight wicked, and under the curse (1 John 5:19); and this distinction holds among men both before and after death (Proverbs 14:32).

Concerning Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society (Romans 13:1-7); that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed (Matthew 22:21). Obedience to the expressed will of God found in Scripture supersedes obedience to civil government (Acts 5:29; Matthew 23:10). The church and state should be separated, the state ordained by God to provide protection for those who do good (Romans 13:4). No ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the state (James 4:12), and the state should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.

Concerning the Resurrection and Return of Christ

We believe the Scriptures clearly teach the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave (Matthew 28:1-8); that He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations (Matthew 28:6; 1 Cor. 15:5-8); that He now exists in His glorified body at God’s right hand (1 Peter 3:22); and that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and a resurrection of the wicked, separated in time (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:28). We believe that the same Jesus which was taken up into heaven, will bodily, personally, and visibly come again in the clouds (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18); that the bodies of the righteous will conform to the glorious spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:21); and that Jesus will return to the earth after a period of Great Tribulation to establish His millennial kingdom (Revelation 20). At the end of this period a solemn separation will take place (Matthew 13:49). The wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy (Matthew 25:31-46). These events will fix forever the final state of men in heaven and hell.

Concerning Christian Education

We believe that Christianity is the religion of enlightenment and intelligence; that in Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3); and that all sound learning is therefore a part of Christian heritage (Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,13, 14). Church leadership is to train believers to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11,12).

Concerning Ecclesiastical Separation

We believe the Word of God teaches total and complete separation from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy, including Liberalism (Modernism), NeoOrthodoxy, Ecumenism, New Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement. We believe that the biblical response to heresy and apostasy is rebuke (Titus 1:13), separation (2 Corinthians 6:17), rejection (Titus 3:10), not keeping company (2 Thessalonians 3:14), no fellowship (Ephesians 5:11), and withdrawal (2 Thessalonians 3:6).