Doctrinal Statement
Section 1: Scriptures-- We believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of God and as originally written was verbally inspired, and the product of Spirit controlled men and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds, and opinion (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 68:11).
Section 2: God-- We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Section 3: Jesus Christ-- We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary and is the true God and true man; that He is the only Savior of mankind, and the proper object of our worship.
Section 4: Holy Spirit-- We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts men of sin, righteousness and judgment bears witness to the truth, is the agent of the new birth, that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God (John 14:16-17; 16:12-15; Rom. 8:14-27; II Cor. 13:14).
Section 5: The Devil or Satan-- We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the god of this age, author and prince of all powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Matthew 4:1-3, 25; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10).
Section 6: Creation-- We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "Each after its own kind," by direct act and not by the process of evolution (Genesis 1-2; Ps. 33:6-9; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17).
Section 7: The Fall of Man-- We believe that man in the person of the first Adam was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become practical sinners with the first expression of personal choice (Genesis 3:5; 1-4; Romans 5:10-19; Eph. 2:1-3).
Section 8: The Atonement-- We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is thru the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body, being made in the likeness of men (Romans 8:3; Phil. 2:7), yet without sin, and by His suffering, death and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice required by God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess, it being their duty to improve these offers of mercy (John 3:1-19; Acts 4:12; 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-13; II Cor. 5:17).
Section 9: Salvation-- We believe that faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died, was buried, arose from the dead, and was ascended to the right hand of the Father is the only hope of salvation (Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5) that this faith is begotten thru hearing the Word of God, wholly apart from human works (Eph. 2:8-9) that by a new birth one dead in trespasses and sins is quickened unto eternal life, made righteous, justified (II Cor. 5:21; I Cor. 1:30; Romans 3:21-26) and is made partaker of the Divine nature (II Pet. 1:4) eternally secure unto the praise of His glory.
Section 10: The Church-- (a) We believe every born again believer is by the mystical act of God accorded a place in the body of Christ, and that this body is biblically identified as "The Church" (Eph. 3:3-7; Col. 1:24; I Cor. 12:12-13).
(b) We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are pastors (elders, bishops) (Eph. 4:10-11; Acts 20:26-32; I Tim. 3:1-7; I Pet. 5:1-4; Titus 1:5-9; Phil. 1:1) and deacons (Acts 6:1-7; I Tim. 3:8-13) that it has the absolute right of self government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolences the will of the local church is final (Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-24; Col. 1:18; Acts 20:17-18).
(c) We believe in the absolute separation of church and state (Matthew 22:21).
Section 11: Church Ordinances-- We believe that there are two church ordinances-- baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion).
(a) Mode of Baptism-- The Pastor or some person authorized by the church shall administer the ordinance of baptism by a single immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior with its effect in our life of death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.
(b) The Lord's Supper-- The Lord's Supper shall be served to the congregation by the Pastor, or some person appointed by the church, through its deacons on the first Sunday morning of each quarter, and -- or at the discretion of the deacons. Since it is the Lord's Table, none who are His shall be barred, but the pastor shall frequently state the spiritual order, which places baptism or a prerequisite to communion and shall explain the meaning of the ordinance. Believers who through no fault of their own are unable to participate in the public observance of the Lord's Supper, may request private administration of this ordinance at a time and place of mutual convenience.
Section 12: The Lord's Return-- We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, premillenial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven year tribulation period to catch away His church, coming only into the air, and that He will come with His church at the close of the Tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His Kingdom (I Thes. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21).
Section 13: Resurrection-- We Believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final sentence to doom (John 5:21-30; I Thes. 4:13-16; Rev. 7:9-17; 20:11-15).