Articles of Faith

The Scriptures

We believe in the Old and New Testaments alone as verbally, plenarily inspired of God, and that they are the sole perfect authority for faith and practice, and are preserved in the Authorized Version (KJV 1611) of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Godhead

We believe there is but one true and living God, an eternal Spirit existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – yet one in essence and equal in every divine perfection. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7

Jesus Christ

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and that He is truly God and truly man, that in His life He was sinless, one Person with two natures, divine and human. Matthew 1:18-21; John 1:1-5,14

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins according to Scriptures, and all who receive Him are justified through His shed blood. Romans 3:21-26; John 3:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His bodily ascension into heaven, and in His present life there as our intercessory High Priest. Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25-28

We believe in the imminent return of Christ, prior to the great tribulation, at which time all believers in Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be kept from the time of divine wrath upon the earth. Romans 5:8-9; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; I Thessalonians 5:9

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who is one of the three Persons of the Godhead. We believe that among His ministries are included the following: the conviction of the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment; the regeneration of all believers; the indwelling of those who are saved who are truly yielded to Him. John 3:6; 16:7-11; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Salvation

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby brought upon himself not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all of mankind is born with a totally depraved nature, and in practice expresses this sin nature in thought, word, and deed. Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3

We believe that salvation is the gift of God given to mankind by grace and received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is solely through faith in the blood of Christ and cannot be received through human merit. All those who believe are regenerated sons of God through the experience of the New Birth. John 1:1-13; 3:5-7,16-18; Ephesians 2:4-9

We believe that all who are saved are the elect of God and that they are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever with eternal life. All those who are not saved receive eternal condemnation in Hell and the Lake of Fire. John 3:18,36; 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; Revelations 20:13-15

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is presented in this way in the Scriptures: every saved person has been sanctified through the death of Jesus Christ and until He comes is being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We also believe that every believer has two natures, an old and a new; the old nature, during this life cannot be eradicated. John 17:17; Romans 7:18; Galatians 5:17; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 10:10

Separation

We believe the doctrine of separation is Biblically taught in three ways: (1) the separation of the individual believer and local church from all fellowship and association with those who deny the fundamentals of the Christian faith and from those who purposely walk in fellowship with unbelief and inclusivism; (2) the separation of the individual believer from all worldly sinful practices that would bring dishonor upon the Saviour; and (3) the separation of the church and state. Matthew 22:21; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 1:9-11

Local Church

We believe that the local church is and functions as the Body of Christ, that it is an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, immersed upon a confession of faith, and associated for worship, fellowship and service. We believe that the local church is the center of God’s program for this age, and that every Christian should be a faithful participating member of a local church. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1 Timothy 3:15-16

Ordinances

We believe that there are two ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ for His churches – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer and solemn way our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and shows forth our responsibility to “walk in newness of life”. Baptism is a prerequisite to church membership. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of the Lord’s death until He comes, a reminder of the great price of our redemption, and should be preceded by careful self-examination. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

The Great Commission

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded local churches to send forth Holy Spirit called missionaries into all the world with the gospel, and that evangelism, baptism, and instruction of believers and the establishing of churches should be the primary program both at home and abroad. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 13:2-3

The End Times

We believe in the pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the imminent rapture of believers to heaven followed by a period of seven years of tribulation upon all the earth. At the end of this period of great tribulation, Jesus Christ shall come back to earth in power and glory with His saints to establish the promised kingdom. He shall reign for one thousand years, during which time peace and righteousness will cover the earth, Satan will be bound, and Israel shall be established in her own land. At the end of this glorious reign, Satan shall lead a rebellion against Christ, shall be defeated, and shall be forever banished to the Lake of Fire. The wicked dead shall be judged at the Great White Throne, and shall be condemned to everlasting conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire. The righteous in resurrected bodies shall be in eternal conscious blessedness in the presence of the Lord in the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 24:21; John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 19:11-16; 21:1-27