Scriptures

I believe the plenary, verbal, Divine inspiration of Scripture, consisting only of the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, in the original language, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and as the Word of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and practice. For English speaking people, God has divinely preserved His Word in the King James Bible.  (1Th.2:13;  2Ti.3:16;    Ps.12:6-8

The Godhead

I 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 (De.6:4;  2Co.13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ

I 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 (Jn.1:1-2, 14;  Lu.1:35;  Is.9:6; 7:14;  Ph.2:5-8;  Ga.4:4-5).

I 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 (Ro.3:24-25;  1Pe.2:24;  Ep.1:7;  1Pe.1:3-5).

I 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 (Ac.1:9-10;  He.9:24, 7:25;  Ro.8:34;  1Jn.2:1-2).

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 judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers the moment he is born into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Jn.16:8-11;  2Co.3:6;  1Co.12:12-14;  Ro 8:9;  Ep.1:13-14).

I 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 (2Co.12:12;  1Co.13:8;  He.2:3-4;  Mk.16:17-20;  1Co.1:22, 14:21-22).

Man

I 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 (Ge.1:26-27;  Ro.3:22-23;  Ep.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. (Ps.8:4-9;  Col.3:9-11).

The Way of Salvation

I believe that the clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ac.20:21). I believe that salvation is “by grace” plus nothing minus nothing. I believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Ep.2:8-10;  Jn.1:12;  1Pe.1:18-19)

I believe that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. I believe that eternal life is the present possession of every believer (Jn.6:37-40; 10:27-30;  Ro.8:1; 38-39;  1Co.1:4-8;  1Pe.1:4-5;  Jude1:2).

The Church

I believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age which began with Christ and the Apostles, was empowered at Pentecost, and will be caught up to be with Christ at the Rapture (Ep.1:22-23; 5:25-27;  1Co.12:12-14;  2Co.11:2).

I believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Ac. 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Ti. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-11).

I believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Ac.13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Ro.16:1,4;  1Co.3:9,16; 5:4-7,13;  1Pe.5:1-4).

The Ordinances of the Church

I believe the two ordinances of the church are: (1) The baptism by immersion in water of the saved and (2) The Lord’s Supper, as a Scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age (Mt.28:19-20;  Ac.2:41-42; 18:18;  1Co.11:23-26).

Biblical Separation

I 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. (2Ti.3:1-5;  Ro.12:1-2; 14:13;  1Jn.2:15-17;  2Jn.9-11;  2Co.6:14-7:1).

The Return of Christ

I believe the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennial, and pretribulational. He will rapture His Church 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. (1Th.4:13-18;  Tit.2:13;  1Th.1:10;  Re. 3:10;  Zec.14:4-11;   Re.19:11-16; 20:1-6;  Ps.89:3-4)

Our Eternal State

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

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 (Lu.23:43;  Re.20:4-6;  2Co.5:8;  Ph.1:23; 3:21;       1Th.4:16-17).

I 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 (Lu.16:19-26;  Mt. 25:41-46;  2Th.1:7-9;  Jude1:6-7;  Mk.9:43-48;   Re.20:11-15).