The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Bible, as it is in truth, the Word of God… (I Thessalonians 2:13). We believe in verbal, plenary inspiration in the original writings, and God’s preservation of His pure words to every generation (II Timothy 3:16, Psalm 12:6-8).

The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use; the King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.

God

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4, 11; II Corinthians 13:14).

God the Father – We believe Him to be perfect in holiness, boundless in love, infinite in wisdom and measureless in power. We believe that he concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men that He answers prayers according to His will (Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 6:6; Luke 1:37; John 10:29; Acts 15:18; Revelation 1:8).

The Lord Jesus Christ – We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, 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; I John 2:1-2).

The Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers for physical healing (II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8; Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22).

The Second Advent of Christ

We believe the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennial, 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 (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4).

Creation

We believe that the entire universe was brought into existence by the creative act of the great Triune God in a literal six-day period of time. (Genesis 1:1-2:3; John 1:1-3)

Satan

We believe in the literal existence of a fallen created angel called Satan, “the old serpent, the devil and Lucifer, who is the deceiver of the world and the arch-enemy of God and man.  We believe that in God’s appointed time he will suffer ultimate defeat by Jesus and will be tormented throughout eternity in the lake of fire.   (Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; Revelation 12:9-10; 20:1-2, 7-10)

Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that 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 (Psalm 8:4-9; Colossians 3:9-11).

Sin

We believe in the universality (affecting all mankind and creation) of sin and that there is no remission (forgiveness and cleansing) of sins apart from the shedding of the blood of the Son of God.   (Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; 7:13-14; Hebrews 9:22)

Salvation

We believe that the clear message of salvation is repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is “by grace,” plus nothing minus nothing. We 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; I Peter 1:18-19).

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every believer (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2).

The Church

The Body of Christ – We believe that the church is the living spiritual body, bride and building of Christ, made up of all born-again believers of this present age; that it was birthed and empowered by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; that it was purchased with the blood of Christ; that it was founded upon Christ; that its mission is to carry to the ends of the earth a Spirit-filled message of the judgment of God against sin and the salvation of sinners who repent towards God and exercise faith in Christ.   (Matthew 16:17-18; 28:18-20; Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 5:25-27; Colossians 1:18)

The Local Church – We 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; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. Christ is the only head of the church (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; I Peter 5:1-4).

Spiritual Gifts – We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, that every believer is granted a gift(s) for service in the local church, and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the edification and perfecting of the saints today. The apostolic gifts of healing, prophesying and the giving of knowledge beyond Scripture ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established.  Therefore, we will not allow the exercising of any so-called “gift” of healing, speaking in tongues or extra-Biblical prophesying (Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:2-4).  We believe that God does hear and answer “the prayer of faith” in accord with His own will for the sick and afflicted, but that healing in this earthly life is not guaranteed in the atonement.   (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15; James 5:13-18)

The Blessed Hope – We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture (sudden catching away) of living believers and the resurrection of church-age believers who have died, at which time both groups will meet the Lord in the air to forever be with Him.  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18;  5:9;  Revelation 3:10)  We believe that the Old Testament saints and the saints martyred during the Tribulation will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation at the Second Advent (the bodily, visible return of Christ to earth).   (Daniel 12; Zechariah 14)

Dispensationalism – We accept the dispensational (literal, not allegorical) view of Bible interpretation, but reject the extreme teaching known as “Hyper-dispensationalism” such as that teaching which opposes either the Lord’s Table or water baptism as a Scriptural means of testimony of the church in this age.   (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8;   Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Ordinances

We recognize the ordinances of baptism by immersion in water and the Lord’s Supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for local churches in this age.The church ordinances are twofold: We believe that every born-again believer is to be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Every born-again believer is to partake of the Lord’s Supper only after self-examination and repentance of sins. The elements served are to be unleavened bread and the fruit of the vice, symbolizing the sinless body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

Civil Government

We believe that governmental authority is ordained of God for the good of the citizens under its jurisdiction, that believers in Christ are to be the most ardent to obey its ordinances unless required to act contrary to our faith (Acts 4, 5), and that we are to faithfully pray for those who occupy positions of civil authority. We believe, however, in the absolute separation of church and state, that each has been ordained of God to render service in entirely different spheres and for different purposes, and therefore neither is to dictate to the other nor are they to form union whatsoever.   (Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-6)

World Evangelism

We believe that it is the heart’s desire of Almighty God to save sinners, that He has commissioned His people to be diligent and zealous in publishing the saving message of Jesus Christ throughout all the world so that sinners may be persuaded to repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.   (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9)

The Separated Life

We believe that all the 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 (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

Apostasy

We believe that men and conditions will become worse and worse until this age ends in a widespread apostasy (departure) from “the faith once delivered to the saints;” that man’s rebellion against God will reach its awful climax in the worship of Satan during the Tribulation, and the Lord Jesus Christ shall come to earth to destroy the armies of men, chain Satan, and claim His Messianic throne to rule in righteousness over the earth for one thousand years.   (Matthew 24:37-38; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:3-4; Revelation 19:11-20:6)

The Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost in their Scriptural order. The resurrection of the just as the return of Jesus Christ in the clouds to ever be with Him, and the resurrection of the unjust at the Great White Throne Judgment at which time they are eternally cast alive into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

Eternity

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).

We 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; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, 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; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).

Ecclesiastical Separation

We believe that unity and/or cooperation of born again believers with unbelievers in spiritual matters is forbidden by Scripture (Ephesians 5:11, Titus 3:10-11, II Corinthians 6:14 & 18, II John 9-11) and that fellowship and cooperation with other Baptist churches of like precious faith and Scriptural stand is sanctioned by Scripture (I Corinthians 12:12-26).

This church will not knowingly support, cooperate or unite with any individual or organization that denies the inspiration and final authority of the Bible or the essential doctrines of Scripture.  Examples of such organizations and movements may include: The World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, the modem Charismatic Movement, liberalism, Neo-liberalism, Neo-orthodoxy, Neo-evangelicalism, ecumenicalism, socialism, communism, Freemasonry, Roman Catholicism, or with others that are cults or hold to beliefs contrary to Scriptural principles (Matthew 22:21;  Romans 13:1-7;  1 Timothy 2:1-6).

Human Morality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage, and that any form of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, incest, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any deliberate attempts to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 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)

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

Sanctity of Life

We believe that human life begins at conception and the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).

Human Equality

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and are willing to forsake their sin, seeking mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, respect and dignity.  Hateful and harassing behavior, words, or attitudes are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the spirit and teachings of our church.   (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22-23)

This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our theology.  The Bible itself is the final authority for all that we believe.  The foregoing Statement of Faith shall govern all teaching and literature, whether print or electronic, that is used in or endorsed by this church.