What We Believe
OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1. We believe the Bible is God's Word.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16.
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" 2 Peter 1:20-21.
2. We believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one, infinitely perfect, existing eternally, revealed as three distinct persons without divisions of essence, nature, or being.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" Deuteronomy 6:4.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19.
3. We believe in the deity, virgin birth, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. He came to earth, conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary as a man, was tempted as we are, yet without sin. As the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself for the sins of the world on the cross. He arose in a glorified body and ascended to heaven as our Great High Priest.
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" I Corinthians 15:3-4.
Also, Luke 1:36-38; John 1:1; Acts 2:23-24; Romans 5:9; Phil 2:6-11; Heb 2:9; 4:14-16; 8:1; I Peter 3:18.
4. We believe all men by inheritance, nature, and choice are sinful and lost.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12.
5. We believe salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing and minus nothing. It is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any of man's virtues or religious works.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7.
6. We believe in a future life, bodily resurrection, and eternal judgment.
Souls saved will be in God's presence, with their works brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Unsaved are kept under punishment until the day of the Great White Throne, at which time final and everlasting punishment will be meted out.
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29.
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." I Corinthians 3:11-14.
7. We believe that according to God's Word, a Christian should be separated from the world and unto God and should maintain a good Christian testimony to bring glory to His Name.
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:19-20.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" Titus 2:11-13.