Statement of Faith

1.We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, Divinely preserved, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21) 2.We believe in one God. He is the creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 8:6) 3.We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary while she was yet a virgin. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (Is. 9:6-7; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke ch. 24; Acts 1:9-11; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15; Heb. 4:14-16, 7:23- 28; I Peter 2:22-25) 4.We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 16:5-15; Titus 3:4-7) 5.We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Gen. 1:26-27, ch. 3; Rom. 5:12-21; Titus 3:4-7) 6.We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become Children of God. (Is. 53; Rom. 5:8-11, 10:8-13; Heb. 9:13-28; I Peter 2:24-25) 7.We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are holy ordinances instituted by the Lord Himself, and are to be observed by the church during this present age. However, these ordinances are not to be regarded as means of salvation. (Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:17-34; Eph. 2:8-10) 8.We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ (regardless of denominational affiliation), of which He is the Head. (I Cor. 12; Col. 1:15-23) 9.We believe that only those who are members of the true Church are to be eligible for membership in the local church. (Acts 2:41-47) 10.We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that the local church shall decide and govern it own affairs under His Lordship and according to the dictates of His Word. (Matt. 18:15-17; I Cor. 5:1 - 6:6, 12:12-31; Col. 1:18) 11.We believe in the personal premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (I Thes. 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Rev. 20:1-6) 12.We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord: and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire which was made for Satan and his angels (the demons). (Is. 66:22-24; Matt. 24:1 - 25:46; John 5:24-30; Rev. 20:11 - 21:8) 13.We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one adult man and one adult woman in a single, exclusive union as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God commands sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. This holy, committed relationship is the foundation for the human family. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one's sex or any disagreement with one's biological sex is sinful and offensive to God.

Yet, we also believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the Church. (Gen. 2:24; Lev. 18:1-30; Mark 10:6-9; Rom. 1:26-32; I Cor. 5:1-2, 6:9, 7:10; II Cor. 2:6-8; Eph. 5:22-33; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4; I Peter 3:8) 14.We believe man came into being by the direct creation of God as recorded in Genesis 1 and 2 and not by evolution or accident. He was created in holiness and in the image of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from that sinless and happy state. In consequence, all of mankind are now sinners, void of that holiness required by the laws of God and are naturally inclined to evil and are, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. (Genesis 1 and 2).