What We Believe
The Bible
We believe the Bible consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. The canon was completed when the book of Revelation was written. These sixty-six books are the inspired (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20–21), preserved (Ps. 119:89, Matt. 24:35), inerrant (Ps. 119:138, 140, 151), and infallible (Ps. 19:7) Word of God. The Masoretic text (Old Testament, Hebrew) and the Textus Receptus (New Testament, Greek) are the text in which God has chosen to deliver to us His inspired, infallible, and inerrant word. God’s Word has been preserved in the King James version.
God The Father
We believe in the existence of one God (Mark 12:29). Creation demands a creator (Ps. 19). We believe that God, who is one, exists as three persons, i.e., a Trinity (Matt. 3:16–17, 28:19–20). God is omnipotent (Gen. 1:6-7, 11, 14–15), omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-12) and omniscient (Ps. 147: 4-5, Matt. 10:29-30). This trinity consists of God the Father (Matt. 26:42), God the Son (John 3:16) and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16, John 14:16–17). God created the world in six days (Gen. 1), sustains all things (Heb. 1:3), wishes all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9) and has made that a possibility through Jesus Christ (John 3:16–17).
Jesus Christ The Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is God (John 10:30, 17:21). We believe His existence is eternal (John 1:1–2, 14). We believe in His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23), sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21) and His death, burial and resurrection (Matt. 28:1–7). His crucifixion at Calvary and shed blood serve as an atonement for sin (John 19:30, Rom. 5:8-11, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 4 and 1 Peter 3:18) for all who will repent and believe. After being witnessed by many, He ascended (Mark 16:19) and currently sits at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19, Heb. 12:2), making intercession on behalf of believers (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23) and is coming again for his bride (1 Thess. 4:16-17). He will reign 1000 years (Rev. 20:4) and preside over the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) and Great White Throne Judgments (Rev. 20:11–15).
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a real person, one member of the Trinity, and is God as much as the Father and Son. His characteristics are the same as the Father (i.e. omnipotent, etc.). He participated in creation (Gen. 1:2). We believe His main job is to convict men of sin (John 16:7-11) and steer them to God the Father/Son. He indwells all believers (John 14:17, Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16). He comforts (John 16:7), seals (Eph. 1:13, 4:30), and gifts (Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-7). He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30) and quenched (1 Thess. 5:19). He empowers to serve (Acts 1:8)
The Creation
We believe in a literal six-day creation (Gen. 1:1). We believe man was created (Gen. 1:26–7) by God and in His image (Gen. 1:27). Man was created sinless (Gen. 2:25) and placed in the Garden of Eden. A wife was made for Adam from his side (Gen. 2:18, 21–5). Man’s purpose was to glorify God (1 Thess. 1:2) and to exercise dominion over all the earth (Gen. 1:26). Man was given free will and, in Genesis chapter three, succumbed to the temptation of Satan. Eve was deceived, and her husband Adam subsequently sinned willingly. As a result, sin entered the world and has passed down to every man (person) through the seed of man (Rom. 5:12). All are born into the world as sinners and, as such, are condemned (Ps. 51:5, Rom. 3:10, and 23).
Salvation
We believe all men are sinners (Rom. 3:10, 23, Jer. 17:9) and in need of salvation. We believe that those who repent of sin (Luke 16:30, Jn. 3:14—Num. 21:7, Acts 2:38, 3:19) and believe in Christ (John 1:12, 3:15–16, Acts 4:12) are described as “converted” (Matt. 18:3, Acts 28:27) and will be saved (Acts 20:21, 24). It is the shed blood of Christ that makes salvation possible, and this must be understood and believed (1 Peter 1:18-21). Of course salvation is ultimately dependent on God’s grace (Rom. 3:24, 5:15, Eph. 2:5, Titus 2:11). “To repent” is to change one’s mind, heart and will concerning sin. Repentance, which falls short of involving the will, is false (see Judas).This change of will is an active process, which involves one turning from sin to God (Matt. 28:27). This turning does not signify perfection; for salvation leaves a man still “a far way off from God the father” (see the parable of the Prodigal Son). It is simply a willingness to pass through the straight gate and to follow the narrow path which leads to eternal life (Matt. 7:13–14). Faith involves placing one’s trust and hope for salvation in the hands of Jesus Christ. We believe that every man has an opportunity to accept/reject God/Christ and inherit eternal life. We reject Calvinism (TULIP), in particular limited atonement and unconditional election, as unbiblical. We also reject the Arminian doctrines of sinless perfection (on earth) and the teaching which denies assurance of salvation.
The True Church
We believe the church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22–23, 5:23, Rom. 15:5, 1 Cor. 12:27, Col. 1:18). The church is a called out assembly, which meets for the primary purpose of worshipping God. The body of Christ is composed of all local churches and in particular the saved members only of those individual gatherings. The church is also the Bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:25–32). The Bride of Christ is composed of all church age believers (Rev. 19:7). The officers of the church include the pastor and deacon (1 Tim. 3, Acts 6). We believe that there are two ordinances of the local church. These ordinances are “the Lord’s table” and “baptism by immersion”. We believe the church’s primary job is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15–16 and Luke 24:47). We believe the local church is to be an autonomous, authoritative body, which is self-governing. The final authority of the church in matters of faith and practice is the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16–17, 2 Peter 1:20–21).
The Rapture
We believe in what is referred to as the "Pre-wrath Rapture" of the church. The wrath of God upon this lost, wicked world will begin with the opening of the 7th seal. We believe that the rapture will occur just prior to the opening of this 7th seal. The Bible states that "believers are not appointed unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:9). See also 1 Thess. 1:10. Nowhere in scripture does it say that believers will avoid persecution or tribulation. In fact, it says the opposite. The first 4 seals involve war, disease, death and things that have always existed. The 5th and 6th seals will entail the persecution of the saints. The only difference will be the greater scale of these events. We believe in the premillennial return of Christ (Rev. 19–20). Christ will preside over the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10–11) and Great White Throne Judgments (2 Thess. 1:9, Rev. 20:11–13, 15). Satan will initially be bound but will be released near the end of the millennium. He will rise up (with many) against Christ but will be defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10). The old earth will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:12), and a new earth will be established (John 14:1–3, 2 Peter 3:13, Rev. 21).