Our Statement
of Faith
The original writings were inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21) There are no original writings still extant today, so we depend on faithful translations. Whenever we are using a translation where the composers have diligently labored to be faithful to the manuscripts available (which are copies of portions of the original writings) we can know that we have the Word of God. We do not believe that any one translation has received some special divine preservation above all others; nor do we believe all translations are equal as some wander far from being a more literal translation and thus are very subjective. God has preserved His word through the many manuscripts that diligent translators study, compare and use to stay faithful to God's Word.The original writings are inerrant (completely without error)! So, once again, as long as we can trust our translation, (know your translation) we can have great confidence that we have the Word of God which is completely sufficient in all matters of life. (John 10:35; II Peter 1:3-4;I John 5:11-13)
THE BIBLE
Sole authority for faith & practice!
We believe in the Trinity, one God in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 20:2, 3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7)
We believe in a literal 6 day creation accomplished by the Godhead. (Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17) We do not support any combination of evolution with creation, such as a day-age theory, in an effort to give enough time for evolution to work. God created the earth with apparent age and fully developed plants and animals that could procreate and also have the ability to adapt as needed. (Gen. 1-2)
Grace emphasizes that we are sinners, separated from a Holy God, and undeserving of His salvation. Grace in salvation shows that it is an undeserved gift that God provides through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-7; Titus 2:11)
Faith is believing that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to take our sin upon Himself, die in our place, and rise again victorious over sin and death! Faith is simply believing what God says in His Word. The Bible says that no one can earn salvation but must simply believe.
(John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7;Romans 5:8; Matthew 20:28)
A genuine believer cannot lose his salvation! (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; I John 5:13)
We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!
We believe in congregational church government. (Acts 6:1-7; 15:1-35; Matthew 18:15-17)
Local churches should glorify God by both edifying (building up) believers and evangelizing (witnessing to) unbelievers. (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Thessalonians 1:8)
Believers in Christ should be baptized (through immersion) and then join a local church so as to grow in and serve the Lord. (Acts 2:41-47; Colossians 3:12-17; Hebrews 10:24-25)
The first institution created by God was family! Family is the building block of society.
We believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and is intended to be for life.
(Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6)
We believe that those who have been divorced are no longer qualified to be Pastor or Deacon (as they are no longer the husband of one wife). They are not rejected by God, but instead are able to serve in other ways. While not scorning those who do so, we do not encourage people to seek divorce and remarriage, as we believe that God is a God of reconciliation. He can help us work through problems if we will seek His help, which often comes through His people who counsel with His Word.
In the early church, miraculous gifts like speaking in tongues, healing, and revelation- given especially to the Apostles- were used of God to validate the Gospel message and messengers. Once the Bible was completed, these gifts were no longer needed; the Bible is complete, completely sufficient and is the standard for all teaching. (Acts 2, 10, 19; I Corinthians 12-14; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:1-4)
We believe in the rapture, when Christ returns for His church just before the tribulation.
(John 14:1-4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe in a literal 7 year tribulation, which culminates with Christ’s return to Armageddon for the judgment of the nations.
(Daniel 9:20-27; Matthew 24; Rev. 6-19; Zechariah 14:1-11; Rev. 19:11-21) After the battle of Armageddon is over, the Lord will establish His 1000 year kingdom.
(Rev. 20:1-10)
The Millennial Kingdom ends with Satan and his host being cast into the Lake of Fire. Then we see the Great White Throne Judgment, where unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire also.
(Rev. 20:10-15)
The book of Revelation ends with the description of the new heaven and new earth where we will spend eternity with God. (Rev. 21-22)
