Holding to the Truth
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What We Believe

  1. THE SCRIPTURES
    • The Word of God, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and divine revelation of God to man. Its records are true and can be relied upon because it is verbally and plenarily inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16). While different men were used to write the Bible, each was empowered and controlled by the Holy Spirit so that the Scriptures are both inerrant and infallible as originally given by God (II Peter 1:20-21). Thus, the Bible is the ultimate and supreme rule for one’s life and practice (II Timothy 3:16-17).
    • Since The Bible is God’s Word, it is assumed that God said what he meant and meant what He said. The Bible must be interpreted literally, which means normally, grammatically, historically, and contextually. This rules out spiritualizing or allegorizing. Figures of speech in the Bible must be interpreted normally.
  2. GOD
    • The God of the Bible is one God in essence (Deuteronomy 6:4), yet He manifests Himself in three persons, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17). Each person of the Godhead is equal in power and glory, yet each executes a distinct office, harmonized in the great plan of God (John 14:26). God is a spirit (John 4:24) and is omniscient (Romans 11:33), omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), eternal (Psalm 90:1-2), immutable (Malachi 3:6), self-existent (John 5:26), holy (I Peter 1:16-17), and love (I John 4:16).
  3. JESUS CHRIST
    • Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). He came into this world, being born of a virgin and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, 22-23), and thus was both God and man (Philippians 2:5-8). His life was one of absolute sinlessness (I Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15). Christ’s death was substitutionary (I Peter 2:24) and His resurrection was bodily (Luke 24:36-43). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), and now presently ministers in our behalf (Romans 8:34), and he will come again (Acts 1:11).
  4. HOLY SPIRIT
    • The Holy Spirit is God and thus possesses all the attributes of Deity (Acts 5:3-4). His work in relation to the world is one of restraint (II Thessalonians 2:7) and conviction (John 16:8-11). His work in relation to the believer is regeneration (John 3:5-8), baptism (I Corinthians 12:13), sealing (Ephesians 5:18), strengthening (Ephesians 3:16), illuminating (I Corinthians 2:12-14), and interceding (Romans 8:26).
    • Believers are responsible to be led (Galatians 5:16-18), empowered (Acts 1:8), taught (John 14:26), and controlled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Christians are also responsible not to lie to (Acts 5:3-4), quench (I Thessalonians 5:19), or grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Christ-like character is the evidence of the Spirit-controlled life (Galatians 5:22-23).
    • The Holy Spirit gives to every believer a gift, or an ability for service (I Corinthians 12:11; I Peter 4:10). The gifts given correspond to the need in the body of Christ, and thus there are some gifts which were essential for the foundation of the Church, but are not necessary and thus not in existence today (Hebrews 2:3-4; Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:8-10).
    • The modern movement which emphasizes the Holy Spirit should be avoided and a correct view of the ministries of the Holy Spirit should be taught in churches. The purpose of Spirit baptism is to bring us into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13), and this occurs at salvation. Nowhere does Scripture show or teach that it is to be sought or prayed for as a second blessing.
    • The gifts of speaking in tongues, healing and any other sign gift (supposedly the authentication of one’s Spirit baptism) is to be rejected as false because the purpose for them no longer exists (Acts 2:4-8; I Corinthians 13:8-13; 4:22).
  5. MAN
    • Man was created by God in His own image (Genesis 1:27). By personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature and the progenitor (father) of a fallen race (Genesis 3:1-24; 5:3), who are universally sinful in both nature and practice (Ephesians 2:3; Romans 3:23; 5:12), under the righteous judgment and wrath of God (Romans 3:19; 1:18), and have within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation (Mark 3:21-23; Matthew 19:24-26; Romans 7:18).
    • We believe the Scriptures to teach a single, recent creation by God of all that exists. This was accomplished in six, 24-hour days (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:11).
    • The traducian view of the origin of the human soul, to which we ascribe, accurately states that a complete human being is formed at conception. Thus, abortion takes the life of a living person and is sinful. Exodus 21:22-23; Psalm 139:13-16; and Jeremiah 1:5 indicate that the unborn child is a human life and the death penalty was required for the killing of an unborn child.
    • We believe that the Bible specifically places man and woman in a biblical, God-commanded relationship. God instituted the marriage relationship between man and woman (Genesis 2:23-24; Ephesians 5:22-33) and the creation of the biblical family. We believe it is totally against the command and teaching of the Word of God to in any way change or pervert this order. Thus, we must biblically conclude that homosexuality and lesbianism and any other contra-Bible relationships are contrary to the Word of God and we do not accept these as an alternate life style (Romans 1:18-32).
  6. SIN
    • Sin is transgression of the law (I John 3:4) and also simply falling short of God’s perfect holiness (Leviticus 19:2; Romans 3:23). Sin is passed down from generation to generation since Adam (Romans 5:12), thus all men are sinners by nature and choice (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23). The result of this is a lack of holiness and an inclination toward evil (Romans 3:12), and a just condemnation of eternal death, separation from God in hell (Romans 6:23).
    • We believe that repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation (Luke 13:3; John 14:6). Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith (Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14-17; Isaiah 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24).
  7. SALVATION
    • Salvation is divinely initiated (James 1:18), wholly through grace, completely apart from any meritorious work, and received as a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:23). It is a miracle of regeneration (John 3:16), which produces a change in life (II Corinthians 5:17). Salvation includes a pardon from the penalty of sin (John 3:16), a declaration of a righteous standing before God (Romans 3:24) and a promise of a future holiness (Romans 8:23-30). This possession of salvation is eternally secure (John 10:28-29).
    • The atonement is unlimited in its sufficiency in that Christ died for all men (I Timothy 2:5-6) but limited in its efficacy in that it is applied only to the elect (Acts 20:28).
    • The Scriptures teach that every believer, by the help of the Holy Spirit should progressively set himself apart from sin to holiness (I Thessalonians 4:3-7; Romans 12:1-2). This is a work accomplished through the Word of God (John 17:17). The mark of a Christian then is not worldliness (James 4:4), but the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, believers today should not participate in practices which are marked by worldliness (I Thessalonians 5:22).
  8. CHURCH
    • The Church of Jesus Christ, inaugurated at Pentecost (Acts 2), is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and is composed of all “called out” believers in Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-13). A local church is a group of baptized believers joined together for the purpose of edification, fellowship, worship, and observance of the ordinances (Acts 2:41-42). Another responsibility is that of evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20). The offices of the church are two, namely Bishops (Elder, Pastor) and Deacons (I Timothy 3). The ordinances are two, Believers Baptism by single immersion (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5) and the Lord’s Supper or Communion (I Corinthians 11:23-24).
    • The local church has the absolute right of self-government free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only Head of the Church of Christ (Ephesians 5:23-24). It is scriptural for churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel, with each local church being the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation (Acts 15:22-23). On all matters of membership, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Acts 6:1-6; 15:1-2, 22-23; I Corinthians 5:13; 6:1-5).
    • In a day when many are crying for its demise, we believe God’s method for reaching the world today is through His ordained institution, the Church, which functions through the organized local assemblies, as outlined in the New Testament (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 4:11-13). God blessed the faithfulness of His disciples when they followed His pattern (Acts 2:47). Thus, any group which is not under local churches is to be approached very cautiously.
    • The Scriptures teach that those of the Church should be wary of those who do not teach the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) and avoid them (Romans 16:17). They are not to unite for any purpose with those who do not hold to the truths of the Word of God (II Corinthians 6:14). Neither is a local church to have fellowship with a fellow believer living in sin (I Corinthians 5:9-13). Thus, the Bible believing churches today should have no part in functions which include apostate churches.
    • God’s Word clearly states that the offices of Bishop (Elder, Pastor) and Deacon are to be held only by men (I Timothy 3:2, 12). Women are not to exercise authority over men in the church (I Timothy 2:11-12) and the man is to be the head of the woman (I Corinthians 11:3).
  9. SATAN
    • Satan is a personal devil who is very wise and subtle (John 13:2). Created by God, he was of the highest rank among angels (Revelation 12:7-9) but through pride fell from his high position (I Timothy 3:6). He continually tries to thwart the plan of God by ensnaring men (I Peter 5:8), binding the minds of the unbelieving (II Corinthians 4:4), disguising himself as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15), destroying (Revelation 9:11), tempting (I Thessalonians 3:5), accusing the brethren (Revelation 12:10), lying and murdering (John 8:44). While his power and wickedness are great, they are not limitless because God has him under control (Luke 22:31). Satan has already been judged and defeated (John 12:31) and awaits everlasting internment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
    • Demons are the angles who followed Satan in his rebellion (Matthew 12:24; 25:41) and assist him in his activities today (Ephesians 6:12). Their destiny has been predetermined and reserved for them (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
    • The participation in witchcraft, divination, etc., is strictly forbidden by the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The modern rise in the popularity of the occult is explained by I Timothy 4:1, “…in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons.” One might be easily ensnared in this practice because of its deceiving nature (II Corinthians 11:14-15), yet the result is tragic (Mark 5:2-5). Demons are real as is demon possession (Matthew 9:32-33). Demons, in light of the clear teachings of Scripture, however, cannot possess one who is truly born again (John 14:16-17; I Corinthians 6:19 with II Corinthians 6:14-15; I John 4:4).
  10. ANGELS
    • Angels are personal spirit-beings that were created in holiness (Jude 6) before the creation of the world. They do not die (Luke 20:36) nor reproduce (Mark 12:25). They have great power (II Peter 2:11), are infinite in number (Hebrews 12:22), and perform various ministries in relation to Christ, to believers, to the nations, and to unbelievers (Acts 12:23; Daniel 10:21; Hebrews 1:14).
  11. FUTURE EVENTS
    • We believe in the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial view of eschatology.
    • Jesus Christ will personally and bodily come again to earth (Acts 1:11). This may happen at any time (Titus 2:13). His return will be twofold:
      1. To remove His body, the Church, from the earth and take it to be with Him (John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:16-17), before the Tribulation (I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10).
      2. To establish His millennial kingdom upon the earth (Revelation 19:11-16) and bring judgment to the wicked (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
    • Immediately after the Kingdom Age, the wicked dead shall be resurrected and stand before the Great White Throne in judgment, after which they shall be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
    • The Saved will spend eternity in endless joy (Revelation 21-22) in the places Christ has prepared for us (John 14:1-3).
  12. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
    • We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of kings (Romans 13:1-7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:19-20; Daniel 3:17-18).