What We Believe
Bible
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired and infallible, authoritative Word of God and that God gave the words of Scripture by inspiration without error in the original autographs. God promises that He will preserve His Word; Jesus said, “my words shall not pass away”–Matt. 24:35. We believe God has kept His promise by preserving His infallible Word in the traditional Hebrew and Greek manuscripts and that the Authorized Version (KJV) is an accurate English translation of the preserved Word of God. We are committed to the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Bible. (Ps. 12:6-7; II Tim. 3:15-17; I Pet. 1:23-25; II Pet. 1:19-21).
God
We believe there is one triune God, eternally existent in the persons of Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit; these three are one in essence, but distinct in person and function (Deut. 6:4; I Tim. 1:17; James 1:17; I Jn. 4:4; 5:7).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, became the physical manifestation of the Godhead to mankind. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood and His bodily resurrection (Ps. 2:7-9; Is. 7:14, 9:6, 43:11; Micah 5:2; Matt. 1:25; Luke 1:26-35; Jn. 1:1, 1:3, 14, 18, 29; Rom. 3:19-25; 5:6-15; Phil. 2:5-11; I Thess. 4:13-18; I Tim. 2:5; 3:16; Tit. 2:10-15; Heb. 7:26, 9:24-28; I Pet. 1:19, 2:2; I Jn. 1:3; Rev. 20:1-6).
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, the Agent of conviction, regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sanctification, and illumination of all who are born into God’s family through Jesus Christ. We are opposed to the charismatic movement and its tongues and other sign manifestations (Jn. 3:5-6; 14:16; Acts 1:5; 11:15; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; 12:13).
CREATION
We believe that God created the universe in six literal days and that man was created in the image of God but chose to sin. Hence, all persons inherit a depraved nature and are lost sinners in need of salvation (Rom. 5:12). God created man and woman, and instituted marriage between one man and one woman for one life (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7-9, 16-17; 3:1-19).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift of God for “whosoever will”; it is by grace, through faith, plus nothing, and believers are eternally secure. Salvation is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work. “Whosoever will” may come to Christ; God does not pre-elect persons to heaven or hell (Gen. 5:1-5; Acts 4:19; 16:31; Rom. 3:10-23; 5:6-12; 6:23; 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-6; Rev. 20:11-14).
Church
We believe the local church is the "...pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15). We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ, and have voluntarily united together for the purposes of worship, fellowship, service, and the Lord's Table. We believe all true believers will be taken up at the Rapture, just prior to the Tribulation (Matt. 16:16-18; Acts 1:15; 2:41-43; 11:15; 20:28; I Cor. 15:51-58; Eph. 1:12-14; 5:25-30; I Thess. 4:13-18; I Tim. 3:4-15).
End Times
We believe in the imminent, pre-Tribulation return of Jesus Christ for all believers. This Rapture of the saints will be followed by a seven-year period of Tribulation, after which Christ will return in glory to judge the world and set up His millennial reign on earth(I Cor. 15:51-58; I Thess. 4:13-18; 5:1-9; Rev. 19-22).