What We Believe

We believe in the one true Triune God—one spirit being existing as three co-eternal and co-equal persons. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. God is the creator of all things and is sovereign over all things. God is holy; all powerful; all knowing, including all that will happen in the future; everywhere present; loving; and perfectly just in all He does.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, without earthly father, and born of Mary, a virgin. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. God the Father sent God the Son to earth to live a sinless life and die on the cross as the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world.

We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven, where He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us as our faithful High Priest. We believe in the bodily return of Jesus to establish His earthly kingdom. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation and the sole mediator between God and human beings.

We believe in the personhood and deity of the Holy Spirit. Through His present ministry every genuine believer is regenerated, baptized into Christ and His body the church, indwelled, sealed, gifted at conversion, and empowered for ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit assists the believer in right living insofar as the believer submits to the sanctifying ministry of the Spirit in agreement with the Word of God.

We believe that the sign gifts of the Spirit (gifts of miracles, healing, tongues, prophecy) were given only during the apostolic era to provide divine revelation and to authenticate the ministry of the New Testament apostles and prophets.

We believe that whosoever will, upon hearing the gospel, may believe in Christ and receive forgiveness of sins (John 3:16; Rev. 22:17). We believe that all those that receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit and become children of God (John 1:12; 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:13; I John 3:1-2). We believe that salvation is available to all men since Christ died for every man.  We believe the work of Christ on the cross made possible the reconciliation of all mankind to God.  The chasm of separation between God and man caused by the fall of the first man (Adam) into sin, was bridged by the finished work of Christ (Last Adam) on Calvary’s cross.  However, only those that appropriate this gift of salvation by grace through faith will actually be saved (John 3:16-18; 8:24; Rom. 10:13; II Cor. 5:14-15; 19:21; Eph. 2:8-9; I Tim. 2:1-6; Titus 2:11; I John 2:2).

We believe in the “eternal security” of the believer in Christ; that we are kept by God’s power and not by our own, thus, it is impossible for one who is born into the family of God ever to be lost.  While we rejoice in our assurance of salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, we are forbidden by His Word to use this Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (John 10:27-29; Rom. 5:8-11; 8:35-39; 11:29; Phil. 1:6; II Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 7:25; I Pet. 1:5; I John 5:9-13; Jude 1).

We believe in the priesthood of all believers: That all believers have access into the “Holy of Holies” by the blood of Jesus Christ. That we need no human agency to intercede for us before the throne of grace, Christ being our only mediator before God (I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25; 10:19-23; I Pet. 2:5, 9-10; Rev. 1:6).

We believe in the “soul liberty” of every believer and that we are personally responsible to God and to the guidance of the Spirit of God according to Scriptures (Rom. 14:5, 10-11; I Cor. 2:9-14; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 2:15; I John 2:27).

We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, accomplished in a three-fold manner:

1. That it is an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ that establishes the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior.
2. That it is a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life.
3. The final accomplishment of this process is at the Lord’s return (John 17:17;II Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 5:25, 27; I Thess. 4:1-4; 5:23-24; Heb. 10:10-14; I John 3:2; Jude 24-25; Rev. 22:11).

We believe in the unity of all true believers in the one true church, which is the spiritual body and bride of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We believe the church was established on the Day of Pentecost and that all believers, from Pentecost to the rapture, both Jew and Gentile, are added to the church by baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:1-47; I Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:1-6; 5:23-32; Col. 3:11; I Thess. 4:14-17; Heb. 12:23).

We believe that the manifestation of the spiritual church is found in the New Testament local church, which is the local assembly of born-again, baptized by immersion, believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances; to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship and teaching; to have a united testimony; and to actively engage in carrying out the precepts, principles, commands and commission of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-47; 14:27; Eph. 4:11-16; 5:26-27; I Tim. 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-11).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, and that each assembly is independent of any outside domination by any centralized power whether from a denomination, another church, or the state; and is, therefore, free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference.  We believe the local church should cooperate with other fundamental churches of like faith as the Holy Spirit leads, but that each church is directly accountable to God for maintaining biblical New Testament doctrines and practices (Matt. 18:17; Acts 6:1-5; 13:1-3; 15:19-31; 20:17-18; Eph. 5:23-24).

We believe in the separation of church and state, each having different functions and fulfilling its duties free from the dictation and patronage of the other. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates and all in authority are to be honored and prayed for except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of kings (Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1-2).

We believe the scriptural ordinances given to the local church are two:

1. Baptism by Immersion– should be administered to only believers as a symbol of their belief in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and as a testimony to the world of that faith.  It is to be a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.
2. The Lord’s Supper – We believe that this is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and that it should be preceded always by a solemn self-examination, and that it is a continuing memorial of the body and shed blood of Christ, signifying the believer’s communion with him (Matt. 3:15; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 9:18-19; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-31; Col. 2:12).

We believe in the scriptural officers of the church to be two: Pastor and  Deacon. We believe the pastor is to have general oversight of the church in spiritual matters, and is to guard the church from error.  We believe that the deacons are to assist the pastor in promoting the spiritual welfare of the church and are to be his helpers and counselors (Acts 6:1-6; 20:28-29; Eph. 4:11-12; I Thess. 5:12-13; I Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17; II Tim. 2:24; 4:1-5; Titus 1:5-11; Heb. 13:7, 17; I Pet. 5:2-3).

We reject “Covenant Theology.” We see Israel and the church as being two distinctly separate entities with a different purpose and future.  We accept a dispensational and pre-millennial system of theology.  Believing that the church has a very unique position in God’s program during this “Dispensation of the Church” and the ages to come (John 14:16-17, Acts 2:1-4; Rom. 11:25-29; I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:16; 3:1-6; Col. 1:26-27; I Thess. 4:14-17; I Pet. 2:9-10; Rev. 19:11-16).

Marriage: We believe that marriage was established and ordained by God at creation as the sacred union of one man and one woman.  All sexual relations must therefore be reserved for that union.  Christian marriage is a representation of Christ’s relationship to His church.  We also believe that children are a blessing from the Lord.  Thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:24; Psalm 127 & 128; Matt. 19:1-10; I Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:22-33; Heb. 13:4).

We believe the Scriptures to be prophetic in nature, and that they reveal, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, the events concerning Israel and the church from now until the end of time.

1. Rapture – We believe in the “Blessed Hope,” the personal impending, pre-millennial and pretribulational return of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:2-3; I Cor. 15:51-57; I Thess. 4:13-17; Titus 2:12-13).
2. Tribulation – We believe in the seven year tribulation that will follow the rapture of the church, when God’s wrath will be poured out upon the earth, culminating in the revelation of Christ (Dan. 9:24-27; 12:1; Matt. 24:29-30; I Thess. 1:10; Rev. 6:16-17).
3. Judgment Seat – We believe in the “judgment seat” of Christ that shall take place in the heavens following the rapture of the church (I Cor. 3:9-15; II Cor. 5:10).
4. Revelation – We believe in the personal, visible and glorious return of Christ to the earth at the end of the tribulation with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom and to reign for one thousand years (Zech. 14:1-9; Matt. 24:27-31; Jude 14-15; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6).
5. Israel – We believe that the nation of Israel is God’s chosen covenant people, and at the present time they are blinded and are dispersed because of disobedience and rejection of Christ; that they as a nation, will be regathered to the promised land of Palestine, and that they will be saved at the second advent of Christ. Israel will then experience the millennial blessings under the personal rule of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:18; Ezek. 37:1-28; Rom. 11:1-32).
6. Reign of Christ – We believe in the literal reign of the Lord Jesus Christ for one thousand years over Israel as King, and as Ruler over all people, nations, tongues and the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Scripture, which foretells and assures the future regeneration and restoration of Israel as a nation (Ezek. 37:11-14, 21-28; Phil. 2:9-11; Jude 14-15; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-9).
7. Eternity – We believe in an eternal state of existence in a literal resurrected body, either to eternal bliss or eternal punishment (John 5:28-29).
   — We believe during this dispensation of the church that the spirit and soul of a saved person enter into the presence of Christ at death, and will return with Him at the rapture to rejoin the resurrected body, and enter into the state of glorification.  We believe that the spirit and soul of a lost person go into a place called Hades and there is in living, conscious torment until called out to join the resurrected body for final judgment (Luke 16:19-24; John 5:28-29; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Thess. 4:14-17; Rev. 20:11-15).
   — We believe the just (saved) of all ages will, either by resurrection or by direct translation at the rapture, enter a state of eternal glorification and will exist throughout eternity in heaven, a prepared place of eternal consciousness and bliss (John 11:25-26; 14:1-6; I Cor. 15: 20-25; Phil. 1:21-23; I Thess. 4:14-17; Rev. 21:22).

   — We believe that the unjust (lost) of all ages will be resurrected at the end of the millennial reign of Christ to be judged at the great white throne and cast into the lake of (literal) fire (second death) which is a prepared place of eternal conscious agony, suffering, punishment, everlasting regret, and separation from God (Matt. 8:12; 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, 41; Mark 9:48; Luke 13:28; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8).