We believe in one God 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.

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the final authority for faith and practice.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his substitutionary death on the cross; our salvation is made sure by his literal physical resurrection from the grave.

We believe that man was created in innocence, but fell in Adam, and is now totally unable to remedy his lost condition.

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the eternal salvation of the believer and the eternal judgment of all who reject Jesus Christ.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into truth; and, that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling, and sealing them until the day of redemption.

We believe that the Church is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age. We believe that the establishment of local churches is clearly taught and defined in Scripture.

We believe in the resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment.

We believe in the personal coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones.

1. The Holy Scriptures.
We believe the Bible is God's written revelation to man, and thus the sixty six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (equally inspired in all parts) Word of God (1 Cor. 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20,21). We believe the Word of God is verbally (every word) inspired (2 Tim. 3:16), absolutely inerrant, infallible, and God breathed. The Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice for the believer and the church (Mt. 5:18; John 16:12; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12).

2. The Godhead.
We believe there is but one living and true God (Dt. 6:4; Is. 45:5-7), an all knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14); the members of the trinity are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections--each equally deserving obedience.

3. God the Father.
We believe that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8,9; 1 Cor. 8:6). As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Rom. 11:36). He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Eph. 1:11). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (1 Chron. 29:11).

4. God the Son.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies, and in these He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father. God the Father created through His Son--"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him" (John 1:1-3; 10:30; 14:9; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:2). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God; Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. In His incarnation, Christ accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God Man (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9). We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born (Is. 7:14; Mat. 1:23-25; Lk. 1:26-35), and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God, redeem men, and rule over God's kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9; Is. 9:6; John 1:29; Phil. 2:9-11). We believe that our Lord accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood on the cross. His death was voluntary, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive (Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pt. 1: 3-5; 2:24; Eph. 1:7). Our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Mt. 28:6; Lk. 24:38, 39; Acts 20:30, 31; Rom. 4:25; 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1).

5. God the Holy Spirit.
We believe that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation, the incarnation, the written revelation, and the work of salvation (Gen. 1:2; Mt. 1:18; 2 Pt. 1:20,21; John 3:5-7). We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost (Jn. 14:16, 17; 15:26; Acts 1:8; 2:1ff) to initiate and complete the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). The broad scope of His activity includes: convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn. 16:8-11); magnifying the Person of Christ (Jn. 16:13-14); acting as the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling, and sealing them until the day of redemption (2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 14); and illuminating the believer, guiding him to truth, as he reads Scripture (Jn. 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-16). Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Jn. 16:13; Rm. 8:9; Eph. 5:18; 1 Jn. 2:20,27). We believe the Holy Spirit sovereignly administers spiritual gifts to the church so that the Body of Christ is edified and the saints are matured unto works of service (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11-16). We believe that speaking in tongues and other sign miracles were for the early church, pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and that they were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 2:20; Heb. 2:14).

6. Mankind.
We believe that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God (Gen. 2:7, 15-25; Jms. 3:9). God's intention in the creation was that man should glorify God, enjoy God's fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish God's purpose for man in the world (Is. 43:7; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11). In Adam's sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. Man is hopelessly lost. Man's salvation is thereby wholly of God's grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 2:16,17; 3:1-19; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Jn. 1:8).

7. Salvation.
We believe that salvation is wholly of God's grace on the basis of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ's shed blood for the forgiveness of sins, and not on the basis of human works or merit (Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pt. 1:18, 19).

7a. Regeneration. We believe that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given (Jn. 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God (Jn. 5:24), when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (Jn. 15:1-15; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God.

7b. 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 (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pt. 1:1, 2). Sovereign election does not negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ex. 18:23; Jn. 3:18, 19, 36; 5:40; Rm. 9:22, 23; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Rev. 22:17). 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 (Eph. 1:4, 7; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Pt. 1:2). God exercises His sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love (Rom. 9:11-16). This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:225-28; 2 Tim. 1:9).

7c. Justification. We believe that justification is an act of God (Rom. 8:33) by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:28; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10) and confess Him as Savior. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves the imputation of our sins to Christ (Col. 2:14; 1 Pt. 2:24) and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21).

7d. Sanctification. We believe that every believer is set apart unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous; it has to do with the believer's standing, not his present walk or condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Pt. 1:2). We believe there is also a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer enjoys positionally through justification. Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:17, 19; Rom. 6:1-22; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Thess. 4:3, 4; 5:23). In this respect, every saved person is involved in a daily conflict--the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh--but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. However, eradication of sin is not possible (Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Phil. 3:12; Col. 3:9-10; 1 Jn. 3:5-9).

7e. Security. We believe that all the redeemed once saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ (Jn. 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 13:5; 1 Pt. 1:5; Jude 24). It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (Rom. 6:15-22; 13:13, 14; Gal. 5:13, 25, 26; Titus 2:11-14).

7f. Separation. We believe that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout Scripture, and that the Bible indicates in the last days apostasy and worldliness will increase (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us and because our glorious God is worthy of our total consecration, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God. Therefore, separation from all religious apostasy, worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1, 2; 13:14; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

8. The Church.
We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into the one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Cor. 12:12, 13), the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32; Rev. 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18). The formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). The church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born again believers in this present age (Eph. 2:11; 3:6). The church is distinct from Israel (1 Cor. 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age (Eph. 3:1-6; 5:32).

The establishment and continuity of the local church is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1) and the members of one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Cor. 11:18-20; Heb. 10:25).

The one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18) and the church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-5). We teach that these leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ and have his authority in directing the church (1 Tim. 5:17-22). The congregation is to submit to their authority (Heb. 13:7, 17).

We believe in the importance of discipleship (Mt. 28:19, 20: 2 Tim. 2:2), the mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Mt. 18:5-14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Mt. 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thes. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority of control, with the right of self-government and freedom from any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). It is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with one another for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The elders should determine all matters of membership, policy, discipline, and government (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).

We believe the purpose of the local church is to glorify God by worshipping Him in spirit and truth, by building itself up in the faith, by instruction of the Word, by fellowship, by keeping the ordinances, by doing good to all men, by keeping itself pure, and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Mt. 28:19; Lk. 22:19; Acts 1:8; 2:47; Eph. 3:21; 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17).

We believe the church is to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, He gives spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:7-12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor, 12:4-31; 1 Pt. 4:10, 11).

We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:38-42). Christian baptism is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer demonstrating his faith in Christ, and his union with Him. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the Body of Christ (Acts 2:41, 42). The Lord's Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:28-32). The elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ.

9. Last Things.

9a. Death. 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; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thes. 4:16, 17; Rev. 20:4-6). We believe the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Rev. 20:13-15), when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15; Mat. 25:41, 46), cut off from the life of God forever (Dan. 12:2; Mat. 25:41-46; 2 Thes. 1:7-9).

9b. The Rapture of the Church. We believe in the "Blessed Hope," the personal, imminent, pretribulation, and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).

10. Angels.

10a. Holy Angels. We believe that angels are created beings and are therefore not to b worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation, they are created to serve God and to worship Him (Lk. 2:9-14; Heb. 1:6,7; 14; 2:6,7; Rev. 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9).

10b. The Personality of Satan. We believe that Satan is a Person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he took numerous angels with him in his rebellion; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6,7; Is. 14:12,17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

11. Civil Government and Religious Liberty
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and is for the maintenance of good order in human society. Believers are to pray for, honor and obey civil authorities except where to do so would be to violate plain commands and principles of the Word of God. The Church and the State have separate spheres of authority and the state has no valid jurisdiction over the ministry of the church. The State should not favor one ecclesiastical group over another nor should the State impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free Church in a free State is the Christian ideal (Rom. 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Pt. 2:13-14; 1 Tim. 2:1-3; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Matt. 22:21).