Doctrinal statement

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We believe that all Scripture is inerrant in the original writings and is verbally inspired by God. (II Peter 1:16-21; II Timothy 3:16,17; Matthew 5:18).
 

ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS

We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5,6; Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19, 20; John 10:30; I Corinthians 8:5,6).

THE PERSONAGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary and became man without ceasing to be God in order to reveal God and to redeem man. (John 1:1-3; Matthew 1:18-23; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 13:8). We believe that in His death, the Lord Jesus Christ provided a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and that He arose in the same body from the dead. 

THE WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

He is our Great High Priest and Advocate at the right hand of God; He is the Head of the Church, and the Lord of the individual believer. (John 3:16; Romans 10:8-11; Luke 24:36-43; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Ephesians 1:19-23; Colossians 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1).

THE HOLY SPIRIT 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, who convicts “the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment,” and regenerates and indwells the believing sinner. (John 16:7-14; Matthew 28:19; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9-1

We believe that man is created in the image of God. We believe that when Adam sinned he brought physical and spiritual death upon the whole race. As a result, all men are sinners and separated from God. (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12-14;

SALVATION 

We believe that salvation describes the means provided by God for man to escape the penalty resulting from Adam’s disobedience to God’s instructions, and obtain eternal life. Man is incapable of salvation through his own works. Salvation is received only by God’s grace resulting in the confession and placement of personal faith in the completed redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 5:8,9; Romans 10:9-11; I John 5:10-13).

OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 

We believe that true faith in Christ Jesus produces obedience to and maturity in Christ through: frequent reading of the Scriptures, exercising a consistent prayer life, regular fellowship with other Christians, ministering to one another, confessing to others the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ, making disciples, living a lifestyle that confirms one’s faith and looks forward to the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:42; Colossians 4:2; Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8; James 2:22, John 14:21; Titus 2:11-13; Philippians 3:20, 21).

We believe that the true Church is the body of Christ, and was established on Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. All true believers have been baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 3:11; I Corinthians 12:12, 13).

THE LOCAL CHURCH 

We believe the local church exists to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and building up of the body of Christ. All true believers are encouraged to fellowship and serve others in the local church. The New Testament church is to be led by a plurality of elders and deacons. (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; Romans 12:10-13; I Timothy 3; Titus 1).

ORDINANCES 

We believe that the believer’s life follows the Lord in obedience to His commands of Baptism as a public proclamation of one’s faith in Christ and through partaking in the Lord’s Table, proclaiming Christ’s death until He returns again. We believe that the local church is to be faithful in practicing these Christ ordained ordinances. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Romans 6:3,4; Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 11:26)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to receive His own to Himself, that there will be a great tribulation, and that He will come again to set up His earthly Kingdom in a thousand year reign. (John 14:1-4; Matthew 24:7-14; Hebrews 9:27, 28; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15).

We believe that those who die in Christ go immediately into His presence and remain there until the resurrection of the body. We believe that those who die apart from Christ will be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power. (II Corinthians 5:5-8; Philippians 1:21-25; I Thessalonians  4:13-18;II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:14, 15; Isaiah 66:22-24).

We believe marriage is ordained by God to be between one man and one woman as biologically created. Marriage was created to provide procreation and companionship between man and woman. Through marriage the man and woman spiritually become one flesh. Marriage is also a picture of Christ and the Church. (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22-33).

We believe that God created man in His own image which makes man sacred to God. This life begins at conception and should end only at the direction of God. We believe that the intentional taking of human life such as murder, manslaughter, suicide, abortion, euthanasia, etc. are abhorrent to God. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:6; Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 1:5; I Corinthians 3:16, 17; Genesis 4:8-13; Genesis 9:6; Isaiah 49:1; Deuteronomy 5:17).

 Additional scriptural support for our doctrinal positions is available upon request.