1) The Scriptures
I believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Holy Bible, “…As it is in truth, the word of God…” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). I believe in the verbal, physical gathering inspired by the original writings, and God’s preservation of His pure words to every kindred, in every nation of people (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalms 12:6-8). I believe that the scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed. I am a reader solely of the King James Version bible, as the Bible is the sole and final authority for faith and practice.
2) The Godhead
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, whom is the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that he might reveal God to man and redeem them unto himself. (John 1:1-2, 14/Luke 1:35/Isaiah 9:6/7:14/Philippians 2:5-8/Galatians 4:4-5). I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work that was performed on the cross. That action was representative of a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25/1 Peter 2:24/Ephesians 1:7/1 Peter 1:3-5). I further believe that Jesus Christ was raised bodily and that he ascended to Heaven; and he now sits as our High Priest. He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10/Hebrews 9:24/7:25/Romans 8:34/1 John 2:1-2).
3) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, in dwelling within all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11/2 Corinthians 3:6/Romans 8:9/Ephesians 1:13-14). I believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and gifts of healing are not of necessity in determining that a person has been baptized or that this person is filled with the Holy Spirit. That the ultimate deliverance of the body from the sickness of sin and death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. (2 Corinthians 12:12/1 Corinthians 13;8/Hebrews 2:3-4/Mark 16:17-20/1 Corinthians 1:22/14:21-22).
4) Satan
I believe in the reality of the person of Satan and that he and the fallen angels wage a spiritual warfare against the plan and purposes of God (John 13:2/Acts 5:3/Ephesians 6:11-12) I believe his power is supernatural yet limited; and that he cannot act without the permission of God (Job 1:6-12/John4:4). Satan’s eternal end is in everlasting torment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
5) Man
I believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Therefore, man is totally depraved and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (genesis 1:26-27/Romans 3:22-23/Ephesians 2:1-3, 12). The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image and is mindful of him, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every individual possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and christian love (Psalms 8:4-9/Colossians 3:9-11).
I believe that the only marriage recognized by scripture is the joining of one man and one woman (genesis 2:24/Romans 7:2/1 Corinthians 7:10/Ephesians 5:22-23). I believe that God expressly forbids intimate, sexual activity to be engaged in, outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. I believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are perversions of God’s intended purposes and therefore, sin. That God forbids any attempt to alter one’s God-given sex by any means, including surgery or appearance (Genesis 2:24/19:5, 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).
6) The Way of Salvation
I believe that the clear message of salvation is “repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That salvation is “By grace through faith” is through Jesus and nothing or no one else included in that process.Jesus died for every man, and each individual has the choice of choosing to either accept or reject the grace of God (Hebrews 2:9/1 John 2:2). I believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10/John 1:12/1 Peter 1:18-19). I believe that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever. That eternal life is the present possession of every believer (John 6:37-40/10:27-30/Romans 8:1/38-39/1 Corinthians 1:4-8/1 Peter 1:4-5/Jude 1-2).
7) The Church
I believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord is doing His work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures (Acts 14:27/20:17, 28-32/1 Timothy 3:1-13/Titus 1:5-11). I believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control. Jesus Christ is the only head of the church (Acts 13:1-4/15:19-31/20:28/Romans 16:1, 4/1 Corinthians 3:9, 16/5:4-7, 13/1 Peter 5:1-4). I recognize the ordinances of baptism by immersion in water and the Lord’s Supper as a scripture Al means of testimony for local churches in this age (Matthew 28:19-20/Acts 2:41-42/18:18/1 Corinthians 11:23-29).
8) Biblical Separation
I believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord: and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5/Romans 12:1, 2/14:13/1 John 2:15-17/2 John 9:11/2 Corinthians 6:14/7:1).
9) The Return of Christ
I believe the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennialism, and pretribulational. Believers will be caught up to be with the Lord prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18/Titus 2:13/1 Thessalonians 1:10/Revelation 3:10/Zechariah 14:4-11/Revelation 19:11-16/20:1-6/Psalms 89:3-4).
10) Our Eternal State
I believe in the bodily resurrection of all me, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46/John 5:28/11:25-26/Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13). I 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/Revelation 20:4-6/2 Corinthians 5:8/Philippians 1:23/3:21/1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). I believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when the soul and body reunite and shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26/Matthew 25:41-46/2 Thessalonians 1:7-9/Jude 6-7/Mark 9:43-48/Revelation 20:11-15).
11) The Person of the Holy Spirit
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the person whose task is to glorify God by convicting men of sin, drawing them unto Christ, and regenerating those who believe on Him. The Holy Spirit also empowers believers for the work of the ministry. He comforts and guides them in their Christian’s walk. I believe the Bible repudiates the charismatic emphasis upon the experiential oriented tongues and ecumenical practices as any ministry of the Holy Spirit. I also believe that His testimony is not of Himself but of Jesus Christ and the redemptive truths centered in Christ (John 14:16-17/16:18/Ephesians 1:13-14/1Corinthians 3:16/Romans 8:9/Acts 5:3-4/1 Corinthians 12:13).
12) The Fall of Man
The Genesis account of creation is a true and historical record, revealing that all men have inherited a depraved nature and are lost sinners in need of salvation. This nature is evident early in life by willful acts of sin and disobedience. Man is a creature of his free will and must individually determine his relationship to Christ and in turn his eternal destiny. I do not subscribe to man being “Irresistibly drawn” and the false doctrine of “predestination” as they relate to salvation. All men are alienated from the life and family God, without excuse, under the righteous judgement and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation (Romans 3:9-19/Ephesians 2:1-3/Genesis 1:27/Isaiah 53:6/Romans 5:12-19
13) The Doctrine of Heaven and Hell
I believe the eternal blessedness of the saved in a literal place called Heaven and the eternal punishment of the unsaved in a literal place called the “Lake of Fire”. The saved go immediately to Heaven when they die and will be judged in relationship of rewards following the rapture of the church. This will take place at the Judgement seat of Christ. At death, the unsaved are held in Hell until the time of the “great White Throne Judgement”, when they will be raised up in bodily form and cast into the “Lake of Fire”, which is their place of final and everlasting punishment (John 5:28-29/14:2/Luke 16:19-31/Revelation 20:14-15/21:4/Matthew 25:46/1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
14) The Mission of the Church
I believe that the mission of the local church is to fulfill the “Great Commission” given by the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to fulfill this commission, the church must actively witness to the lost, and souls would be saved. Seek to have them baptized and disciple them. This should be performed in the local church (Matthew 28:18-20/Acts 13:1/14:27).
15) The Use of Alcohol
There has been a changing trend regarding the use of alcohol by believers. We believe that the Bible unequivocally teaches that believers should completely abstain from the use of alcohol. We believe that in the Old Testament, the priesthood were strictly forbidden to use “Wine or strong drink” while serving in the tabernacle or the temple. The New Testament believer has the Holy Spirit in dwelling the believer. I believe that since the Old Testament priest was commanded to abstain from alcohol while offering sacrifices, then the New Testament priest (the believer) should also abstain from alcohol as well (Leviticus 10:9-10/1 Corinthians 6:19-20/1 Peter 2:5, 9).