What We Believe

STATEMENTS OF FAITH

THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired word of God as stated in 2 Peter 1:20-21 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17. They were God breathed to Holy men of old. Further, we believe, based upon Matt 24:35 and other passages, that God has preserved His word for English speaking people in the King James Version.

WITNESSING

We believe that all believers are to witness to the lost for Christ, (Matt. 5:16); that each believer has a God given gift or gifts, (Rom. 12:6, I Cor. 12:4), and are to be good stewards before God, (I Pet. 4:10). Those who have rejected the gospel or never heard the gospel are eternally lost, (Rom. 2:11-12); and every believer is responsible to help get the Gospel to everyone, (Matt. 28:18-20, Rom 10:14-17).

MISSIONS

We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and that this commission was given to the church, (Matt 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15, Lk. 24:44-49, Jn. 21:21, Acts 1:8, 13:1-4). We believe that missionaries are to be called by God, commissioned by the local church as led by the Holy Spirit, sent into the regions beyond to preach the gospel, and are to be supported financially by local Bible believing churches, (Acts 13:1-5, 2Cor 10:15-16).

GOD

We believe in the Triune God, (Gen. 1:26, 3:22; Isa. 6:8; l Jn. 5:7).

A. God the Father is the Creator of all things (Gen 1:1); is all powerful, (Nahum 1:2-5); all present, (Ps. 139:7-12); and all knowing, (Ps. 147:4-5). He is without beginning or end, (Rev 1:8); is perfectly Holy, (1 Pet. 1:16), is great in grace and mercy, (Tit. 2:11); loves man supremely, (Rom. 5:8); and securely keeps all who come to Him in faith, (Jn. 10:29).

B. God the Son, Jesus Christ, was with the Father from the beginning, (Jn. 1:1-2); and is equal with God, (Phil. 2:6). He willingly humbled Himself, (Phil 2:7-8), to be born of a virgin (Luke 1:27), conceived of the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:35). He was totally sinless in His life, (2 Cor. 5:21), and ever obedient to the Father, (Jn. 8:29). He made a vicarious atonement for our sins, (Isa. 53:5), and rose again bodily the third day, (Matt. 28:6), and ascended into Heaven on the fortieth day, (Acts 1:3). He serves as our High Priest making intercession for the saints, (Heb. 4:14-16, 1:25). His promised return to earth for His saints shall be glorious, premillennial, pretribulational and is imminent, (1 Thes. 4:13-17).

C. God the Holy Spirit is co-equal with both the Father and Son. He was sent by Jesus Christ from God, (Jn. 15:26, 16:7). His ministry is to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and Judgment, (Jn. 16:7-11), and He regenerates all who put their faith in Christ, (Tit. 3:5). He indwells believers, (1 Cor. 3:16), guides and teaches them in the truth of God, (Jn. 16:13), empowers them to be victorious over sin, self, and Satan, (Rom. 8:13), and intercedes on behalf of the saints, (Rom. 8:26-27).

MAN

A. We believe man did not evolve but was created by God, in the image of God, (Gen. 1:26). By an act of willful disobedience, he plunged himself and the whole human race into sin, (Rom. 5:12). Man is totally depraved and dead in trespasses and sin, (Eph. 2:1). All men are sinners, both by nature and by choice before a Holy God, (Ron. 3:10, 23). If one dies in this condition, he is eternally separated from God and punished forever in the lake of fire, (Ron. 6:23, Rev. 20:14-15).

B. We believe that because man is created in the image of God we do not have the authority to choose life or death for another whether it be the unborn, or the old, infirmed or sick, or for ourselves. We are created by God and for God (Col. 1:16) and further, are not our own but are bought with a price [which is the shed blood of Jesus Christ] (1 Cor.6:20, 7:23; Acts 20:28) and any willful violation of the sanctity of life is the sin of killing, condemned by God whether it be abortion, euthanasia, or suicide. (Ex 20:13) Finally the taking of a life is worthy of punishment of death for the murder of one made in God’s image. (Gen. 9:6)

DEVIL

We believe in a personal devil who was created perfect by an act of God and remained so until Iniquity was found in him, (Ezek. 28:18). He was willfully rebellious because of pride, (Isa. 14:12-14), and thus was cast out of heaven, (Rev 12: 7-8). He now rules as prince of the power of the air and over the world system, (Eph. 2:2). He caused the fall of mankind, (Gen. 3:1-5), and today appears as an angel of light, (2 Cor. 11:14), and looks for those he may devour, (I Pet. 5:8). He hates Christ and opposes the work of God but is limited in power by God, (Job 1:12). He is already judged and shall be confined to hell for eternity, (Rev.20:10).

HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe heaven and hell are literal places prepared by God. All men will reside in one of the two for all eternity. Heaven is the abode created by Christ for His bride, (Jn. 14: 1-23), where all the saved will abide with God, (Rev 22:1-5). Those that have rejected Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil, anti-christ, and false prophet eternally separated from God, (Rev. 20:14-15).

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone, (Acts 4:12). It is offered freely to all, (Rom. 10:13), and is obtained by repenting of one's sin, (Luke 13:3-5); and receiving Christ as Saviour by faith, (Rom 10:10). Salvation is solely by God's grace and is not merited by works, (Eph. 2:8-9), and results in God's forgiveness of all our sins, (Ps. 103:12). It Is made possible by Christ's blood willingly shed on the cross for us, (Rom 3:25). Salvation imparts eternal life and one can never be lost again, (Jn. 10:28). The instrument of salvation is the word of God, (I Pet. 1:23), and the agent is the Holy Spirit, (Tit. 3:5).

SEPARATION

We believe in Bible separation from the world, sin, self, and Satan, as well as being separated unto the glory of Christ. We believe one should be born of the Spirit, (l Pet.3:18), walk in the Spirit, (Gal. 5:16); be filled with the Spirit, (Gal 5:18); that by His power and grace we may show forth the fruit of the Spirit, (Gal. 5:22-23); we believe in living so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God by being separated from bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil-speaking, malice, covetousness, and any other sin of the flesh or spirit, (Eph. 4:30-32). We believe in being separated from the world and the world's philosophy; therefore, not practicing or partaking of alcoholic beverages, drugs, (except for medicinal purposes), tobacco, immodesty, the dance, mixed swimming, the lodge, worldly movies, gambling, or anything else that would bring shame to or dishonor our Lord, (l Jn. 2:15-17); and that the male and female roles ought to be distinct and clearly defined by one’s daily living, (Deut. 22:5, Eph. 5:22-23).

THE CHURCH

We believe the institution of the church was started personally by the Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry, (Matt 16:18, I Cor. 12:28, Luke 6:12), and not at Pentecost. The church that Christ formed was both local and visible, (Matt 18:17, Acts 1:15). We reject the concept of a 'universal, invisible church’ as it weakens the authority of local churches and is unscriptural. We believe scripture uses the word church in three ways: in reference to local assemblies, (I Cor. 1:2), and other numerous examples; in an institutional and generic sense (like we use the word family), (Gal 1:13); of the church in prospect, (Heb. 10:23). The church is to be made up of born-again, baptized believers, (Acts 2:41), who are organized to carry out the work of God. The church is the pillar and ground of truth, (I Tim. 3:15). The great commission and the ordinances, (discussed below), are given to the church. Its officers are two: pastors (bishops, elders), who are undershepherds, and deacons, (I Tim 3:1-13), who are servants of the church, (Acts 6:1-7). The church is to be self-governing with Christ as its head, (Eph. 5:23). The church is to handle its own discipline in accordance with God's direction, (Matt. 18:15-17), and is financed through the tithes and offerings of that local assembly, (1Cor. 16:1-2, Mal 3:10).

GIVING

We believe that scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse, (common treasury of the church) on the first day of the week, (I Cor. 16:1-2, Mal. 3:10). Under grace we give the tithe, and we give it cheerfully in a manner that pleases God, (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

ORDINANCES

We believe there are two ordinances committed to the local church:

A. Baptism is for believers only and consists of immersion in water, (Acts 8:36-39), In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19). It is not a sacrament of salvation but symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of our saviour and our death to our old self and willingness to now live for Him, (Rom. 6:4).

B. The Lord's Supper consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, (non-alcoholic grape juice), (Matt 26:26-28). The elements are symbolic only of Christ's body and blood which were broken and shed on the cross for us. It serves as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice for us, (I Cor. 11:24), and a declaration of faith in His promised return, (I Cor. 11:26). It is to be observed by the saved, baptized members of a local assembly.

FAMILY AND MORALITY

A. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one naturally-born man and one naturally-born woman. When the Lord brought the first union together God united them as man and woman for the purpose of companionship and to be fruitful and multiply. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

We believe that marriage is the union by God of two people who commit to each other in matrimony. Upon their committal, God takes the two and makes them as one which He has joined together and should not be separated by any effort of man. (Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:4-6) Further the law of God states that if divorced one cannot remarry if a previous spouse is alive, to do so is adultery. (Mat. 5:32; Ex. 20:7)
We believe God made us male and female and as such with two distinct roles and positions in the household and church. (Gen. 1:27)

Men represent the head of the household even as Christ is head of the church. (Eph. 5:24-25) Further one of the scriptural qualifications for the two scriptural positions of the church is that they be a man of the utmost testimony for the Lord. (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:6-9)
Eve was created out of Adam for Adam to be his help meet. (Gen 2:18, 21-23) Wives are picture of the church as the bride of Christ and honor the Lord in their submission to their husband. (Eph. 5:22-24)
Married or unmarried the authority within the structure of the church for all individuals is first the authority of God, Christ, men, and then women. This is not a ranking of importance as Christ and God are co-equals but God is over Christ so are man and woman co-equal but the man is over the woman. (1 Cor. 11:3; Phil 2:6)

B. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one naturally-born man and one naturally-born woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, polygamy, 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)