Doctrinal Statement


ARTICLE III – DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF FAITH

Section 1 – Inspiration

We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as completely and verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and of supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Section 2 – Trinity

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; Romans 1:1-4)

Section 3 – Jesus

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is the true God and true Man (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-35).

Section 4 – Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six days.  (Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17)

Section 5 – Man and Sin

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that man sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed.  We believe that from God’s perspective man is utterly sinful and that he is unable in any way to merit God’s approval for salvation (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-13; Romans 1:18-19; 7:17). 

Section 6 – Atonement

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a substitutionary sacrifice and that each one who believes in Him is justified because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection (Romans 3:25-26; 1 John 4:10).

Section 7 – Salvation

We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God (John 3:5-8; 1:12).

Section 8 – Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His bodily ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 John 2:1).

Section 9 – The Church

We believe that a New Testament church is a group of born again Christians, baptized, associated for worship, service, and the spread of the Gospel (Acts 2:41-47; Philippians 1:3-8).

Section 10 – Ordinance of Baptism    

We believe that Christian Baptism is by immersion only, as a witness to the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.  We further believe that it typifies the believer’s death to sin and his new life in Christ, and in obedience to the Scriptures, baptism should follow conversion (Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).

Section 11 – Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be observed at regular intervals and is for all believers who have, by self-examination, properly prepared themselves.  We believe the bread and wine to be symbols of the broken body and shed blood of our Savior and, as such, are to be used in commemoration of His atoning death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Section 12 – Christ’s Return

We believe in “that blessed hope”, the personal, premillenial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:2).

Section 13 – Final Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost (1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Revelation 20:11-15).

 

Section 14 - Marriage (Added on November 15, 2015)

We believe that Almighty God instituted marriage as a divine, distinctive, designed, directed and enduring institution that is only between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-23; Matthew 19:4-6)