What We Believe

This doctrinal statement is not exhaustive but it does provide a foundation for the Bible teaching we put out. We believe there is room for disagreement if handled in love.

God’s church is very big and we can disagree with charity. We don’t require everyone to agree entirely with this statement it simply explains why we teach what we do.

Concerning the Scriptures:

We believe the Bible to be the written revelation of God. It is complete and sufficient in all respects. The Scriptures are without error, “God-breathed” and therefore fully authoritative in and of themselves.

The Scriptures rely upon no church, council, or creed for their authority but are authoritative simply because they are the Word of God. The Scriptures, as they embody the very speaking of God, partake of His authority and His power.

Concerning the inspired text we believe these Old Testament books to be the true and preserved Word of God. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Concerning the inspired text we believe these New Testament books to be the true and preserved Word of God. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation.

The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.

Concerning God:

We believe in one true and eternal God, unchanging, unchangeable. God is the Creator of all that exists in heaven and in earth. The God of the Bible is unique; He is unlike anyone or anything else in all the universe. God has all power, all knowledge, all wisdom, and is due all glory, honor and praise.

The Bible teaches that there is but one being of God, yet there are three Divine Persons who share this one being of God: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Each Person is fully and completely God, each is described in Scripture as possessing the attributes of God. The Father, Son, and Spirit have eternally existed in the relationship described by the word “Trinity.”

Concerning the Father:

He is the first person of the Triune God. He is infinite and eternal in His being, holiness, love, wisdom and power. He orders all things according to the council of His will.

Concerning Jesus Christ:

He is the second person of the Triune God, the Eternal Word, and the only begotten Son of the Father. He became flesh by the miracle of the Virgin birth. He lived as a man yet was without sin. He gave himself in death and shed his blood for the sins of all mankind. The Bible calls Him God and affirms His equality in the Godhead.

Concerning the Holy Spirit:

He is the third person of the Triune God who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes and seals all who become children of God through Christ. The Bible calls Him God and affirms His equality in the Godhead.

Concerning the nature of man:

We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell through sin, bringing not only physical death, but also spiritual death or eternal separation from God. Now all of mankind exists as a fallen race, with an inherited sinful nature.

Concerning salvation:

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died as a substitutionary payment for the sins of the whole world. He physically arose from the dead and then ascended into Heaven.

Salvation comes through regeneration by the Spirit of the unregenerate heart. Faith and repentance are the means of receiving this grace of God and those are themselves gifts given by God.

Concerning election:

We believe that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies.

We believe that sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord.

Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive.

We believe that the unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own nor to God’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy.

Concerning the priesthood of all believers:

We believe that all believers have direct access to God’s presence through prayer and the Word of God and have no need of a human priest or mediator.

Concerning the gifts of the Spirit:

We believe that the Holy Spirit communicates gifts of various kind to the body of Christ. This gifts are to be used for the building up of the body and in accordance with Scriptural guidelines.

We reject hyper-cessationism and hold to a historic cessationism which believes the extraordinary gifts are still of use to the church. We reject any new revelation that would equal the authority of the Scripture nor do we believe the canon is still open.

We believe the baptism of the Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation that is available for believers which is given for assurance, service and empowerment.

Concerning the return of Christ:

We believe that Jesus will consummate the current age at a time of His own choosing. We believe He is reigning now from the throne of David and He will reign until all of His enemies are made His footstool.

At the consummation Jesus will judge the living and the dead. The redeemed will enjoy eternity with God in a restored heavens and earth while the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire.

Concerning the Church:

The local church is an assembly of believers united in organization to meet together for singing, prayer, fellowship and teaching. We believe each local church should be free to govern itself without outside interference and controls.

The Pastors, Bishops or Elders as they are called in Scripture are given to lead, and equip the believers for service in the work of the ministry as well as give oversight to the flock of God.

Concerning Satan and Angels:

We believe Satan is a spiritual being created by God who fell through rebellion against God. He will one day be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.

Holy angels are those angels that abide in heaven while still having access to the earth. These holy angels minister to God and specifically to the incarnate Christ. They also minister to believers.

In relation to God, there are angels that worship, praise, serve, and punish His enemies. In relation to believers, they are actively watching over and ministering to individuals and congregations. Their ministry is in urging unto holiness, aiding, answering prayers, observing worship, rejoicing in salvation, and giving revelation.

Unholy angels are those angels that left their first estate and rebelled against God. Unholy angels abide in imprisonment. Unholy angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

Concerning Abortion:

Human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, inexcusable 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. We believe the taking of human life is only acceptable in the case of the death penalty, just war or in cases of self defense if no other solution can be reached.

Concerning Marriage, Divorce and Human Sexuality:

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. We believe that God intends marriage to last until one spouse dies and the Scriptures allow for divorce only under two specific circumstances and even these should only occur only if all other avenues of reconciliation have failed.

We believe sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed within the marriage relationship. We believe that God has commanded abstinence from any form of sexual/intimate activity outside of a marriage between one man and one woman.

We believe that participation in any activity related to fornication, pornography, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, or adultery is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex.

We believe that God created human beings male and female; therefore we hold the distinction between the two sexes to be sacred. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to change the appearance of one’s sex by hormones, surgery, or any other means.

Concerning Creation:

We believe that God created the universe in an act of direct creation. We reject Secular Evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution.

Concerning Giving:

We believe giving oneself to God is of first priority. Christians are also commanded to give to the poor and needy as well as other saints in need, and missionaries who carry forth the Word of God.

Believers should give to the support of their local church for the spread of the Gospel and the needs of the body of Christ.

Concerning Evangelism:

We believe It is the responsibility of each believer to share the Gospel with the lost.