The following comprise the Scriptural beliefs of this church and its members.
(A) OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired, that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the Very Word of God.
2. By “Inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21
3. In this day of multiplied English Versions of the Bible, we respect the right of the individual Christian to choose the version they personally use. We also understand that for the sake of order and unity one version must be chosen as the standard by which all preaching and teaching in the Church is based upon. We choose the King James Version to be the standard by which all preaching and teaching is based out of. We further acknowledge that many quality curriculums, Bible studies, Christian books, commentaries, etc. contain multiple versions of scripture; such additional teaching tools may be used provided they are in accordance with the Doctrinal Statement (2.01) of the Church.
(B) OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection; and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Ex. 20:2-3; Genesis 17:7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; 45:5-8
(C) OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God the Son. As the second person of the Godhead, he is equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit and of the same nature; That He was active in creation, and as the sinless God-man, He is the Door, the one and only way to eternal life; Jesus is the light and life of men. John 1:1-4; 8:46: 14:6; Colossians 1:16
(D) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person: equal with God the Father, and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in His
relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is an agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. We do not recognize the charismatic renewal movement as Spirit-led or Scriptural. The various sign gifts given by the Holy Spirit died out with the end of the apostolic age. John 14:16- 17; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 13:8-13
(E) OF THE DEVIL, or SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell, and drew after him a host of Angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, the unholy god of this world. 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, the chief poser back of the present apostasy; the lord of the anti-Christ and the author of all powers of darkness.. .destined, however, to face defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to the judgment of God’s eternal justice in Hell, a place prepared for him and for his angels. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9
(F) OF THE CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted ‘literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and the God-established law was, they should bring forth only “after their kind”. Genesis 1:2; Exodus 20; Colossians 1:16
(G) OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are sinners, not by constraint, but by choice; therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans
3:10; 5:12
(H) VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was or ever can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35
(I) OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of man is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet apart from sin, honored the divine law by
His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that his atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree, that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; Hebrews 4:15
(J) OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its power evidence, appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17
(K) OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12
(L) OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life and principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemers blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.
(M) OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God: thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15
(N) OF THE CHURCH
We believe that the church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His law; and exercising the serving gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its office of ordination is the pastor, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Bible. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and to instruct as He has commanded. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Their terms “pastor, elder, bishop” are the same basic office; each shows a different relationship of responsibility.
(O) OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is believer’s baptism by immersion, done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, by the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation, by the Lord’s supper: in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and juice are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 11:23-31
(P) OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe that true believers have a real attachment to Christ, and that is the
grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special
Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of
God through faith unto eternal salvation. Romans 8:35-39; I John 2:19; 5:9-13
(Q) OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men, both in this life and in and after death, in everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting, conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Luke 16:19-31; Romans 6:17-18
(R) OF THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ arose bodily the third day according to the Scriptures, “that He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God’ “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven”.. .bodily, personally, and visibly; that the dead in Christ shall rise first; that the living saints “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump “; “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”, and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He bath put all enemies under His feet:. I Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18
(S) OF MISSIONS
The command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this
Commission was given to the churches. The Master commanded us to “GO”. Thus we believe it is our responsibility to evangelize the community in which we live by giving them a gospel witness. It is also our responsibility to financially and prayerfully support missionaries who will carry the gospel to the regions where we are unable to go. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8
(T) OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the earth. Romans 13:7; II Samuel 23:3
(U) DISSPENSATIONALISM.
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined
dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These
dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which
God directs man according to His purpose. The main three of these dispensations—the law,
the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28; 1
Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6)
(V) THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS.
1. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5)
2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
(W) SEPARATION.
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their
Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly
and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and
immoderate appearances, piercings, and bodily markings. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1
Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
(X) THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST.
We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture His
church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will
personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which
was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess. 1:10,
4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
(Y) THE ETERNAL STATE.
1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
(Z) HUMAN SEXUALITY.
1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
2. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
(AA) FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
2. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
(BB) DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE.
We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the
spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication.
Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the
church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices
of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
(CC) ABORTION.
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
(DD) EUTHENASIA.
We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)
(EE) LOVE.
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
(FF) LAWSUITS BEWTEEN BELIEVERS.
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
(GG) GIVING.
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to financially support his local church. 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 his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
Section 2.02—Authority Of Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.