Beliefs

WE BELIEVE in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of
Scriptures as originally given. The Scriptures are infallible, inerrant, and the
sole and final authority for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16;
1 Corinthians 2:13)

WE BELIEVE in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as One God
existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but
indivisible. (Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

WE BELIEVE in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in genesis; his
total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to Divine righteousness. (Romans
5:12, 18)

WE BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6)

WE BELIEVE Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared unto His disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4;
Romans 4:25)

WE BELIEVE in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and
personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church.
(John 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

WE BELIEVE in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11)

WE BELIEVE in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6)

WE BELIEVE in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a real experience at or
subsequent to salvation, with the Scriptural evidence, namely, speaking in other
tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46;
Galatians 3:14-15)

WE BELIEVE in the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in
1 Corinthians 12-14, as manifested in the Early Church.

WE BELIEVE in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and
perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as expressing the true Christian faith.
(Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1)

WE BELIEVE in the healing of the body by Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church. (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11;
1 Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14)

WE BELIEVE in the table of the Lord, commonly called the Communion or the
Lord’s Supper, for believers. (1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28)

WE BELIEVE in the reality and personality of the Devil and eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire for the Devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41;
Revelation 20:14,15)

WE BELIEVE in eternal life for believers (John 5:24; 3:16), and eternal
punishment for the unbelievers. (Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9;
Revelation 20:10-15)

WE BELIEVE that there is one true universal Church, made up of genuine
believers, but this one universal Church is also composed of many local
Churches in given localities. These Churches are under the sovereign
Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, exercising autonomous government under
Him, administering all its local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the Gospel. (Acts 15:22; with Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20)

WE BELIEVE that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of
three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the Church, and 3) the state. Every
person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities
themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given
each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those
responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14)

WE BELIEVE that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be
engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:24;
Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1: 26-29; 1
Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

WE BELIEVE that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and
one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-
23)

WE BELIEVE that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local Church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)

IN ADDITION TO THESE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS…

WE BELIEVE that the Biblical form of church government is a plural eldership with a governing (“senior”) minister who is qualified on the basis of Scripture in spiritual life, character, domestic life, ruler ship ability, and pastoral grace. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; 1 Peter 5:1-2)

WE BELIEVE that the church of Jesus Christ is the last instrument that God is
using to extend His kingdom prior to the second coming of Christ. (Ephesians
3:8-11; Matthew 6:18; Ephesians 1:20-22)

WE BELIEVE that the local church is completely autonomous – that is, it is self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating in its mature state. (Acts 13:1-3)

WE BELIEVE that every believer in Christ must be subject to God’s authority in a specific church for spiritual protection and long-term fruitfulness(Hebrews
a specific church for spiritual protection and long-term fruitfulness. (Hebrews
13:17)