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The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Old and New Testaments (66 Books). The Scriptures are the only and final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official translation used in the church.
Scriptures: 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18
The Godhead
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - co-eternal in being, co-equal in power and glory, having the same divine attributes and perfections.
Scriptures: Deut. 6:4; 2Cor. 13:14; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19
We believe that each person of the Godhead exercises these attributes in varied offices but without division of nature, essence or being. It is vital to think of God as trinity in unity.
Scriptures: Jn. 14:10,26; Jn. 15:26
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The Person and Work of God the Father
We believe the Father is the first person of the Trinity (not in rank, but in number). As a person He possesses self-consciousness, self-determination, intellect, volition, emotion and personality. These characteristics do not, however, necessitate the existence of matter for God is Spirit.
Scriptures: Jn. 4:24; 1Tim. 1:17; Heb. 1:1-2
As His name suggests, the function of God the Father includes, but is not limited to, establishing and maintaining paternal relationships such as those evidenced in the following scriptures. (ie. Father of creation, Father of Christ, Father of all believers.)
Scriptures: Heb. 12:9; Mal. 2:10; 2Cor. 11:31; Jn. 20:17; Jn. 1:12; 1Cor. 1:3
We believe that God can be known. He brings about complete self disclosure in Christ and by Christ. All is made known by the Spirit of God. God came to man in the incarnation, reconciled man to himself in the atonement, and by faith He may be approached by sinful man.
Scriptures: Matt. 11:27; 2Cor. 2:9-12; Jn. 1:18; Jn. 14:7,12; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:17; Jn. 3:16
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The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity,
the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that
He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. Jesus Christ was born into the
world without a sin nature, and He knew no sin.
Scriptures: Jn. 1:1-3; Jn. 1:14; Heb. 2:4-15; Gal. 4:4-5; Is. 7:14; Phil. 2:5-8; 2Cor. 5:21
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through
His death on the cross: a propitiatory, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice;
and that our justification is made sure by His shed blood and by His literal,
bodily resurrection from the dead.
Scriptures: Rom. 3:24-25; 1Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1Pet. 1:3-5
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended bodily to heaven and is
now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where, as our High Priest,
He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate.
Scriptures: Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1Jn.2:1-2
We believe in the Rapture of Christ's Church prior to the seven year
Tribulation period. Christ will not come to earth at this great event,
but His Church, dead and alive, will rise to meet Him in the air.
Scriptures: 1Thess. 4:13-18; 1Cor. 15:51-53
We believe in a Pre-Millennial Second Coming of Christ. The seven year
period on earth immediately following the Rapture is the Tribulation period.
At the end of this time, Christ will personally and visibly return with
His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom (Millennium) which
was promised to the Nation of Israel.
Scriptures: Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6
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The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, convicts
the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and that He is the supernatural
agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ,
indwelling all believers permanently, sealing them unto the day of redemption.
Scriptures: Jn. 16:8-11; 1Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all
truth.
Scriptures: Jn. 16:13; 1Jn. 2:20
We believe that it is the duty and privilege of all believers to be filled
with the Spirit (surrendered to His control).
Scriptures: Eph. 5:18; Acts 4:8,31; 1Jn. 3:24; 1Cor. 12:3
We believe that to equip believers to serve God, the Holy Spirit has
given them spiritual gifts. The sign gifts of Tongues, Interpretation
of Tongues, Miracles and Healing were provided in the early church but
are no longer made available. God does, however, perform miracles and
grant healings in accordance with His will. Therefore, we reject the unscriptural
teachings of the present day Charismatic Movement.
Scriptures: Rom. 12:4-8; 1Cor. 12-14; Eph. 4:11-15; Heb. 2:1-4
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Salvation
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, that he
sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual
death which is separation from God. We believe that all human beings are
born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, positively
inclined to evil, and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin
without defense or excuse.
Scriptures: Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:1; Rom. 5:12-21; Ps. 51:5; Ps.: 58:3; 1Cor.
2:14; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 3:10
We believe that salvation is the gift of God. It cannot be earned by
good works. It is made available to every man by grace and received by
personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary
for the forgiveness of our sins.
Scriptures: Eph. 2:8-10; Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 1Pet. 1:18-19; Jn. 3:16;
2Pet. 3:9; 1Tim. 2:4
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power
and are thus secure in Christ forever. This security is guaranteed to
each believer by the fact that the life received is eternal life, by the
keeping power of God, by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit, and
by the interceding ministry of Christ.
Scriptures: Jn. 6:37-40; Jn. 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 8:38-39; 1Cor. 1:4-8;
1Pet 1:5; Jn. 5:24; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25
We believe that believers can rejoice in the assurance of their salvation
through the testimony of God's Word. This assurance, however, is not a
license to sin.
Scriptures: Rom.13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15; 1Jn. 5:11-13; Rom. 6:12
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The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses an old nature and a new nature.
The old nature represents that side of man that is spiritually depraved,
inherent in every descendant of Adam. The new nature is that very life of
Christ made resident in the believer by regeneration.
Scriptures: Rom. 7:13-25; Col. 3:10; 2Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:5-10
We believe that every saved person should reckon himself dead to sin
in Christ and mortify the sinful desires of the flesh while depending
solely on the superior power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to subdue the
old nature until its eradication at the end of this age.
Scriptures: Rom. 6:13; Rom. 8:11-14; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24
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Separation
We believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation and should
live in such a manner so as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and
Lord. This separation is in at least three areas: moral, personal and ecclesiastical.
MORAL: the Ten Commandments are God's perfect standard for a perfect man.
We are commanded to perfect holiness (2Cor. 7:1) in the fear of God. The
believer is never to suffer as an evil doer (1Pet. 4:15); he is commanded
to be clean in body and mind. (2Cor. 10:5).
PERSONAL: Rom. 14 explains that there are going to be areas where the believers
disagree in matters which they call sin. Every believer should be notably
separated from the world in which he lives. (2Cor. 6:17; 1Jn. 2:15-17) The
Christian who doubts the morality of a given thought or practice is condemned
by his own doubt. (Rom. 14:23) In matters of eating, holy days, etc, every
man should be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Rom. 14:5b.) In areas where
individuals might assume Christian liberty, each should consider its effect
on his brother.
ECCLESIASTICAL: While we recognize the unity of all true believers, it is
also evident that unbelief and error in many organized fellowships has developed
to the point where recognized and indisputable apostasy exists. We, therefore,
disavow the position of the World Council of Churches, the National Council
of Churches, the National Association of Evangelicals, and any other association
or fellowship that would be in sympathy with them. We stand in opposition
to the New Age Movement, the Ecumenical Movement, the Charismatic Movement,
New-Orthodoxy, New Evangelicalism, and Cooperative Evangelistic Programs
between churches and people not of like precious faith. (2Cor. 6:14-18;
Eph. 5:11-12; Lk. 12:51)
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Life After Death
We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ
for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence. They remain
in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at the Rapture, when
soul and resurrected body reunited shall be associated with Him forever.
Scriptures: 1Cor. 15:51-54; 2Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 1Thess. 4:13-18
We believe that the souls of unbelievers after death remain in conscious
misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close
of the Millennium. There, soul and resurrected body reunited shall be
cast into the Lake of Fire. They will not be annihilated, but will be
punished with everlasting torment, eternally separated from the presence
of the Lord.
Scriptures: Lk. 16:19-26; 2Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 20:11-15
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The Church
We believe in the one true Church, the living, spiritual Body and Bride
of the Lord Jesus Christ, composed of believers from Pentecost to the Rapture.
Christ is the head of this Church into which all believers are baptized
by the Holy Spirit.
Scriptures: Acts 2; 1Cor. 12:13; 2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22-33; Matt. 16:16-18
We believe that the local church is an organization composed of believers,
and is the center of God's redemptive program for this age. It was instituted
for the purpose of worship, evangelism, edification and fellowship. In
matters of administration and polity it is self-governing.
Scriptures: Acts 2:1-40; 1Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:27; Heb. 10:24-25; Matt.
28:19-20
We believe that the local church is a visible expression of the body
of Christ. Every Christian is bound by scripture to give his cooperation
to God's program of the local church.
Scriptures: 1Cor. 12:12-31; Acts. 2:41-47; 1Tim. 3:1-16
We believe that there are only two ordinances of the Church of Jesus
Christ. Water baptism by immersion is a testimony of identification with
Christ for all believers. The Lord's Supper serves as a remembrance as
well as an identification for all Christians with the redemptive work
of Christ.
Scriptures: Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8: 36-38; 1Cor. 11:23-26
We believe that God ordained that His Church be supported solely by the
freewill giving of tithes and offerings of believers.
Scriptures: 2Cor. 9; 1Cor. 16:2
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Scriptural Interpretation
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, normal, literal,
historical sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or periods of
time. Each period of time is distinguishable from all others by its Test,
Failure, Judgment, Rule of Life and Crucial Event. The dispensations of
Innocence (Gen. 1:1-3:7), Conscience (Gen. 3:8-8:14), Human Government (Gen.
8:15-11:9), Promise (Gen. 11:10-Ex. 18:27), Law (Ex. 19:1-Acts 1:26), Grace
(Acts. 2:1- Rev.3) and the Millennial Kingdom(Rev. 20) are clearly visible
in the scriptures. In each of the dispensations, God's way of salvation
is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures: Jn. 1:17; Gal. 3:12-25; 2Tim. 2:15
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Satan
We believe that Satan is a created being who exercises his power in all
the earth. He is the author of sin and the cause of man's fall. He is the
open and declared enemy of God and man and will be eternally punished in
the Lake of Fire. It is our privilege and obligation as believers to resist
Satan and to draw near to God in order to live a victorious Christian life.
Scriptures: Gen. 3:1-6; Job 1:6-11; Matt. 4:2-11; Matt. 25:41; Jn. 8:44;
Rev. 12:9-10; Rev. 20:10; Jms. 4:7-8
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Eschatology (Things To Come)
We believe in the doctrine and order of foretold future events as follows:
CHURCH AGE: We presently live in the dispensation of Grace otherwise
known as the Church Age. This period of time began at Pentecost and will
end at the Rapture of the Church.
PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE: We believe that the Church Age will end with
the Pre-tribulation Rapture or "catching away" of both dead
and living saints from the Age of Grace. This catching away, as its name
suggests, will precede the seven year Tribulation period on Earth described
in the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The time of this event is imminent
but cannot be determined by man prior to its fulfillment. These Church
Age saints will then be judged at the Bema, or Judgment Seat of Christ,
according to the worth of "things done in the body", not their
sins. At the close of the seven year Tribulation, saints will be formally
presented to the Son of God at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Scriptures: Jn. 14:1-6; 1Cor. 15:51-58; Phil. 3:20-21; 1Thess. 4:13-18;
Titus 2:13; Luk. 14:14; Rom. 14:10-12; 1Cor. 3:12-15; 2Cor. 5:10; Jn.
3:29; Rom. 7:4; 2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-33; Rev. 19:7-8
TRIBULATION PERIOD: We believe that immediately after the Rapture of
the Church the time of judgment known as the Tribulation Period will begin
on the Earth. It will consist of the pouring out of God's wrath in events
known as the Seals, Trumpets and Bowl Judgments described in the Book
of Revelation. This period will be seven years in duration and will end
with the Second Coming of Christ to the Earth.
Scriptures: Dan. 9:27; Dan. 12:1; Joel 1:15; 1Thess. 5:2; 2Thess. 2:1-12;
Rev. 3:10; Rev. 6:15-16
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: We believe that the seven year Tribulation Period
will conclude with the literal, physical and visible return of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to the Earth with His
saints. This event, known as the Second Coming of Christ will precede
the Millennial Reign of Christ and is thus determined to be a Pre-Millennial
Second Coming. The Second Coming will be marked by judgments upon living
Jews and living Gentiles respectively, which will make ready this literal
Earth for the literal 1000 year reign of Christ.
Scriptures: Is. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Dan. 7:13-27; Zech. 14:1-4; Acts 1:11;
2Thess.1:7-10; Rev. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-16; Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:1-2; 1Cor.
15:24; Rev. 20:3-5; Ez. 20:33-38; Mal. 3:2-3; Matt. 24:31; Matt. 25:1-46;
Joel 3:1-2; Is. 9:7
MILLENNIAL KINGDOM: We believe that the Earthly Kingdom of Christ spoken
of throughout the Scriptures will be literally fulfilled at the close
of the Tribulation Period. The Kingdom will be inhabited by all resurrected
OT saints including Jewish believers of the OT in fulfillment of covenant
promises. Inhabitants will also include Church Age saints who will reign
with Christ in their glorified bodies as His Bride, the saved survivors
of the Tribulation Period (both Jews and Gentiles in their mortal bodies),
and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who will reign as the long awaited King.
Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for the duration of the Millennium.
Scriptures: Is. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5,33; Ez. 34:23; Ez. 37; 24; Hos. 3:4-5;
Mic. 5:2; Rev. 20:2-7
GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: We believe that at the close of the 1000
year earthly reign of Christ, He will judge those who have rejected His
truth from the beginning of time and cast them into Hell, the eternal
Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Satan and all the
angels who were a part of the rebellion that resulted in the birth of
sin will be judged. The living from the Millennial Kingdom who were born
during that period and have rejected His Majesty will also be judged.
This judgment is referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment.
Scriptures: Dan. 12:1-2; Rev. 20:5; Rev. 20:11-15; 2Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6;
Rev. 20:10
ETERNAL STATE: We believe that after the Great White Throne Judgment,
Christ will destroy the present Earth and Heavens with fire and will create
a New Heaven and New Earth onto which a Heavenly City (New Jerusalem)
will descend. This re-creation, described in the Book of Revelation, will
be the eternal abode of believers from all ages.
Scriptures: Rev. 21-22
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