What We Believe:
The Bible
WE BELIEVE in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments (II Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, I Peter 1:23-25, II Peter 1:19-21).
The Trinity
WE BELIEVE in the One God revealed in three Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16, 17, Matthew 28:9, John 17).
Apart From God...
WE BELIEVE that man, in his natural state, is a sinner, lost , undone, without hope, and without God (Romans 3:19-23, Galatians 3:22, Ephesians 2:1, 2, 12).
Jesus Is God
WE BELIEVE that Jesus is God come in the flesh and that He is both divine and human (Luke 1:26-38, John 14:1-3, Acts 2:36, Acts 3:14, 15, Philippians 2:5-12, John 1:1, 14).
His Blood
WE BELIEVE in the saving power of the Blood of Jesus and His imputed righteousness (Acts 4:12, Romans 4:1-9, Romans 5:1-11, Ephesians 1:3-15).
The Resurrection
WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:39-43, John 20:24-29).
Christ's Ascension and Beyond
WE BELIEVE that Christ Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in preparing a place for His people and interceding for them (John 14:1-6, Romans 8:34).
Christ's Return
WE BELIEVE in the visible, bodily return of Christ Jesus to the earth to rapture His Church (Bride) and judge the world (Acts 1:10, 11, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, II Thessalonians 1:7-10, James 5:8, Revelation 1:7).
Salvation
WE BELIEVE that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which results in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by grace of our Lord and not of works. Works are excluded EXCEPT AS FRUIT of salvation (Acts 3:19, 20, Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-10).
The Church
WE BELIEVE the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a Body of believers who have been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who are under recognized, delegated authorities; and who assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission, and minister as the Holy Spirit leads (Matthew 16:18, Matthew 28:19, 20, Acts 2:40-47, Ephesians 5:22-32, I Timothy 3:15).
Ordinances
WE BELIEVE that the two ordinances of the Church are WATER BAPTISM and COMMUNION (The Lord's Supper).
Water Baptism – Immersion in water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:15, 16, Matthew 28:19, 20, Acts 8:38, Romans 6:1-4). A symbol of identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Communion – A memorial of the death, resurrection, and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 22:13-20).
In the World, But Not Of It
WE BELIEVE that believers should seek, as the early disciples did, to practice the separated life from the world and unto Christ and to set standards of conduct which shall exalt our Lord and His Church (Romans 12:1-3, II Corinthians 6:17, Galatians 6:14, Ephesians 5:11, Colossians 3:17).
Eternity
WE BELIEVE the Scriptures clearly set forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal bliss and service for the saved -- Hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the saved (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46, Luke 16:19-31, John 14:1-3, Revelation 20:11-15).
The Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit to be the third person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict men of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into ALL truth, indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in I Corinthians 12:8-11 shall operate in the present day churches which yield to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 11:13, John 7:37-39, John 14:16, 17, John 16:7-14, Acts 2:39-48). We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, for power and witness, is for all believers as promised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11) and Jesus (Acts 1:4, 5, 8) and Peter (Acts 2:39-48), was witnessed by the early disciples of Christ (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 19:1-6), and is evidenced by many present-day disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Healing
WE BELIEVE that God has given us doctors, medicines, and other material means for healing. But we also believe that God heals people today through prayers of faith and the laying on of hands (James 5:14-16, John 14:12). Therefore, we encourage all believers to pray for those who are sick in spirit, soul or body (Mark 16:18). Such healings are promised in the Scriptures, although the Scriptures neither state nor imply that everyone will be healed. Nevertheless, we expect to see sickness in whole or in part healed by the power of God in response to our prayers (James 5:14-16, I Corinthians 12:9, Mark 16:8, John 14:12, John 9:1-5, II Corinthians 12:7-9).
Offerings of the Believer
WE BELIEVE that each believer is a priest of the Lord (Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:6) and has direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. The priestly offerings of each believer to God include: (1) Himself (Romans 12:1, Philippians 2:17, II Timothy 4:6); (2) The lost (Romans 15:16); (3) Praise to God (Hebrews 13:15); (4) Intercession for others (Ephesians 1:15, 16); and (5) Service to the Church (Philippians 2:17).
Intimate Relations
WE BELIEVE that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman (Deuteronomy 22:22). We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality and incest are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
Our Elders and Leadership
WE BELIEVE that the Head of each Church is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:8), whose work is overseen by elders and those gifted with leadership (Acts 14:23). When it is deemed best for the life of the Church and testimony of the Lord, these authorities may discipline, in the spirit of love, any member who departs from the doctrines set forth in the Articles or whose conduct is contrary to the spirit and practice of this Body (Galatians 6:1).
The Great Commission
WE BELIEVE that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:9).
Stewardship
WE BELIEVE that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church with his time, talent and treasure (Malachi 3:8). We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel (II Corinthians 8 & 9). We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.
Ordained Officers
WE BELIEVE that the ordained officers of the Church are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, local (counseling) elders and deacons (Ephesians 4:11, I Timothy 3, Titus 1:5-9). Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers shall not necessarily all function in one local church. However, it is believed that all of these officers shall function under the covering of a local Church and all local (counseling) elders are under the supervision of the five fold ministry listed in Ephesians 4:11 (Acts 15, I Timothy 5:17-21, Titus 1:5-9).
Section 3. Authority of Statement of Faith. The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.