Section 1 — The Scriptures

 

We believe that all words and parts of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are the only inspired Word of God. The Bible is the product of men controlled by the Holy Spirit, and therefore the original manuscripts are truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is the supreme standard by which all human life and conduct will be evaluated and judged. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

 

Section 2 — God

 

We believe that there is only one living and true God, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. God is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11)

 

God the Father

We believe that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and accomplishes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36). He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Ephesians 1:11). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (1 Chronicles 29:11). As Creator He is Father to all humanity (Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual Father only to believers (Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18). His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own (Ephesians 1:4-6). He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ and adopts them as His children. (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9).

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God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. He was not created, but came into this world as foretold in the Scriptures to manifest God to mankind and to be the Redeemer of the sinful world. Jesus took upon Himself human flesh and a sinless human nature through the supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit in a virgin, Mary. Jesus was both fully God and fully man in His earthly life. Jesus Christ alone is the full and complete propitiation for sin—the full satisfaction of the Father's justice against evil. According to the Scriptures, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, retaining the same body but glorified. His bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven gives proof to the fact that His sacrificial death was fully acceptable to the Father for sin. He now serves as the High Priest for the redeemed of God and Head over the Church. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1ff; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:30-35; 24:34-39; John 1:1-2; 20:20; Acts 2:22-6; Romans 3:25-26; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3; 2:17; 4:14-15; 7:25; 10:1-14)

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God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation.  He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, and He is the agent in the new birth.  He seals, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, empowers, helps the believer, and regenerates. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11; Ephesians 5:16-18, Hebrews 9:14, Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to the Church through which the members serve one another, cities, and the world. He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled. (Hebrews 2:1-4; Acts 2:22; Mark 16:14-18; Matthew 10:8; 1 Corinthians 13:8).

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Section 3 — Creation

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We believe that the creation of the universe from nothing [Latin: ex-nihilo] was neither allegory nor myth but a literal, historical event. The existence of the world is the result of  direct, immediate  and creative acts of the triune God over six days (Genesis 1). Humanity — body,  soul and spirit — was created by God. Humans did not evolve from previously existing forms of life but descended from Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race (Genesis 1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1: 16-17).

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Section 4 — Spirit Beings

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Angels  

We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless spirit beings. Although they are a higher order of creation than humanity, they were created to serve God and to worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9).

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Fallen Angels and Satan 

We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, by taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and by introducing sin into the human race through his temptation of Eve. He is the open and declared enemy of God and mankind. He is the prince of this world, who was defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he will be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Genesis 3:1-15; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 12:1-14; 20:10).

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Section 5 — Mankind
 

We believe that Adam and Eve were created in innocence under the laws of their Maker, but by voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his sinless state. Adam represented all humanity and therefore all humanity sinned in Adam. As a result, all men and women are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct and, therefore, are under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19).

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Section 6 — Salvation

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We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. The new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. Salvation is instantaneous and not a process. In the new birth, someone who is dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life. Salvation is the free gift of God's grace, based entirely on the merit of Christ's shed blood and not on the basis of human merit or works. By faith in Jesus Christ alone Faith is the only condition for salvation (John 1:12; 3:3-7; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7; 2:1, 5, 8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:1).

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Election

We believe that before the foundation of the world, God chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4  11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:1-2). Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of men and women to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; Romans 9:22-23; 10:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17).

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Regeneration

We believe that regeneration is an instantaneous supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.  When the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation, the divine nature and life are given to men and women (John 3:3-7; 5:24; Titus 3:5).

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Justification

We believe that justification is the legal act of God as He declares us to be righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the imputation of God's righteousness only through faith in Christ Jesus. (Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1, 9; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21) Thus, the righteousness of Christ is not earned but bestowed and given to us by us (Titus 3:5).

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Repentance

We believe that repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit. True repentance is inseparable to true faith (Luke 13:1-3; 15:7; Romans 2:4).

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Adoption

We believe that adoption is the gracious act whereby the Father places new believers into the honored position of heirs. This is in contrast with regeneration whereby the believer receives the nature of God and becomes a child of God. The full benefit of adoption awaits the glorification of the believers at the coming of the Lord (Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:5, 13, 14; 1 John 3:1-2).

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Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the unfolding work of God: first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he or she trusts the Savior; second, a continuing process as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to his or her life; third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord's return (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Hebrews 3:1).

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Eternal Security

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept secure by God the Father for Jesus (Philippians 1:6) and will persevere in faith and obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit to the end (1 Peter 1:10; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 2:19). 

 

Section 7 — The Church

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We believe in the unity of all true believers in the universal Church. All believers, from Pentecost to the Rapture, both Jews and Gentiles, are added to this Church when they believe the Gospel and are spiritually immersed into Christ's body (Acts 2:41-42; 1  Corinthians 11:2; 12:12-13; Ephesians 3:16). The true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all as we have opportunity. The universal Church is revealed through local congregations of redeemed, baptized believers who commit to one another in their covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. The Church observes the ordinances of Christ, is governed by His laws, and exercises the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. The biblically designated offices are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers) and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are revealed in the scriptural accounts of the early Church. The local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for biblical churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Acts 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:11; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

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Ordinances

We believe that biblical baptism, immersion of a believer in water, is the only form of baptism revealed and commanded in the Scriptures. Baptism has no saving power, but is an act of obedience for those who are already saved. The Bible affirms that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded by solemn self-examination. The elements themselves represent the body and blood of the Savior in symbol only. God does not extend His grace to us through the elements of communion (Matthew 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-39; 10:47-48; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12). Water baptism is a one time act of identification; communion is a repeated act of rededication.

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Separation

We believe that believers are to separate entirely from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy unto God (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).  God calls the believer to live in this world but not to be of this world as light and salt (Matthew 5:13-16).

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Civil Government

We believe that civil government is ordained by God for the interests and good order of human society. Believers are to pray for and conscientiously honor and obey their civil authorities except when ordered to disobey Scripture and the will of God (Exodus 18:21, 22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Acts 23:5; Romans 13:17).

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Section 8 — Last Things

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God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.)

 

Section 9 — Moral Issues

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Abortion

We believe that human life begins at fertilization and that the unborn child is a living human being. Because God is the author of life and death, abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn God-given human life and therefore is murder (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).

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Euthanasia

We believe that God is the author of life and death. The direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from fertilization to natural death (Exodus 20:13; 23:7; Matthew 5:21; Acts 17:28).

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Human Sexuality 

We believe that sexual activity outside of a marriage between one man and one woman is sin. Any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgender, bestiality, incest, pedophilia, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. God has created us male and female, and He desires that we find joy, beauty and contentment in His design (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1: 26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).

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Marriage 

We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23).

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Gender Roles 

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in creation and position before God but that God has ordained distinct and different functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is the head of his household, serving as a shepherd and leader in the home. The wife is the helper and honorer. Likewise, men are to hold the offices of authority in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for church licensure and ordained to have authority over mixed adult worship services and adult equipping classes and women are blessed to serve everywhere else under the authority of God’s created design  (Galatians 1:25-26, 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12, Titus 2:1-8).

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Family Relationships

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 a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible to oversee their children's spiritual and moral instruction by providing a consistent lifestyle example, appropriate discipline and scriptural corporal correction (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalms 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark. 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7).

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Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God intends marriage to last until the death of a spouse. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication and spousal abandonment. Divorce is also permissible to end civil unions or legal marriages which violate Scriptural marriage as defined above (such as polygamous or homosexual unions). However, marriage to an unbeliever is not solely a legitimate ground for divorce (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6).

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Section 10 — Christian Interactions

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Christian Love 

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to graciously, gently, patiently, prayerfully, and humbly deal with those who oppose us. God forbids creating dissension, vengeance, or the threat of or use of violence as a means to resolve personal conflict or obtain justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Philippians 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18).

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Lawsuits between Believers

We believe that scripture prohibits Christian members from bringing civil lawsuits against other members of our assembly or the church to resolve personal disputes (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32).