This doctrinal statement reflects the broad, mainstream, conservative evangelical tradition which is consistent with the teachings of the Bible and which has stood the test of history and experience. We specifically affirm the following doctrinal truths: 

 

        I.  The Scriptures 

 

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired word of God and that men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture. The Bible is therefore without error (inerrant) in the original writings. God has supernaturally preserved the Bible and it is the sole and final authority for faith, life and conduct providing encouragement, guidance, comfort and instruction for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16 – 17; 2 Peter 1:20 – 21). 

 

      II.  The Godhead (Trinity) 

 

We believe in the one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:14, 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 

 

      III.  God the Father 

 

We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers (Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:6; John 1:12 – 13, 5:19 – 21; 17:1 – 5; Isaiah 40:21 – 28; 43:10 – 13; 46:8 – 11; Romans 8:14 – 16) 

 

      IV.  God the Son 

 

We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and is the only begotten eternal Son of God Who became flesh to reveal God to man, to fulfill prophecy, and to become the Savior of the lost world. In becoming man Jesus did not cease in any way to be God so that He is fully God and fully man inseparably united in one person forever. 

 

Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin; lived a sinless life; died on the cross as the substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of all men of all time; was buried; bodily rose from the dead; physically ascended into heaven in His glorifies, resurrected body; is seated at the right hand of the Father performing His ministry of intercession; will return in the air to claim His bride the church; and will come again to earth in bodily form, personally and visibly, to conclude human history and consummate God’s eternal plan by executing judgment and ushering in His millennial Kingdom reign to be followed by the eternal state (John 1:1, 14, 18, 3:16; Philippians 2:5- 8; Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Romans 3:25 – 26; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; Philippians 3:20 – 21; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18; Matthew 24:44; Revelation 19:11 – 21; 21 – 22). 

 

     V.  God the Holy Spirit 

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity Who specially came into the world on the day of Pentecost to glorify Christ and to enable men to appropriate the salvation wrought by Christ. 

His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict of sin and regenerate the sinner upon believing in Christ, at the time of regeneration baptizing the believer into the one body of which Christ is the head; and to indwell, guide, instruct, fill and empower the believer for godly living and service. 

​

We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. (1 Corinthians 13:8; 14:22; John 16:7 – 15; Ephesians 1:13 – 14, 4:30; Galatians 5:16 – 17, 22 – 23; Romans 12:3 – 8) 

 

     VI.  Man 

 

We believe that man was directly created by God in His own image. Man was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Man fell through sin by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him from God. The entire human race is, therefore, lost, and only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration of the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Genesis 1:26, 2:6, 17, 3:17 – 24; Isaiah 59:1 – 2; Romans 3:9 – 19, 23, 5:6 – 8). 

 

    VII.  Satan 

 

We believe that Satan is the instigator of evil and a real spirit being, not simply the personification of evil. He is a fallen angel who, under the sovereign permission of God, has been given temporary rulership of the earth. He was utterly defeated at the cross, but the execution of his judgment has been postponed by God until after the Millennial Kingdom when he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. In the meantime, he deceives the world and seeks to establish his counterfeit kingdom on earth to discredit and blaspheme God and to tempt, accuse, attack and destroy the believers. He can be resisted by the believer through faith and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 3:1 -5; Isaiah 14:12 – 17; Job 1 – 2; 1 Timothy 3:6; James 4:7; Revelation 12:9; 20:1 – 3, 7 – 10) 

 

     VIII.  Salvation 

 

We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s grace. The atoning death of Jesus Christ, and His resurrection, provide the only ground of  justification and salvation for all who believe, and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by personal faith  are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus, become children of God. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and is a part of but not separated from believing faith. (Ephesians 1:7; 13 – 14; 2:8 -10; John 1:12 – 13; Acts 26:20; 1 Peter 1:3 – 5) 

 

      IX.  The Christian Life 

 

We believe that every Christian should live for Christ and not for himself and should, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, allow Christ to manifest His life through him to God’s glory. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, each believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus. In the power of the Spirit, each believer should live a holy life; not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, exercise his spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ; witness for Christ; be personally involved in making disciples to fulfill the great commission; separate from false doctrine and sinful pleasures, practices and associations; perform good works and bear fruit to the glory of God. (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:15 – 16, 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:14 – 15; Romans 6:11 – 13; 1 Peter 4:10 – 11; Acts 1:8; John 15:8, 16) 

 

     X.  The Church 

 

We believe that the Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the head. The local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the body of Christ are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men, to make disciples and glorify God on earth (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:12 – 27; Ephesians 1:20 – 23, 4:1- 6, 4:12 – 16; Colossians 1:24 – 29). 

 

     XI.  The Ordinances 

 

We believe that believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. Water baptism by immersion is an act of obedience following salvation which symbolically pictures the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection of new life. The Lord’s Supper celebrates fellowship and communion with Christ, symbolically commemorates His death, and anticipates His second coming (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47 – 48; Luke 22:19 – 20; 1 Cor. 11:23 – 28; Romans 6:3 – 4). 

 

     XII.  Eternal Destiny of Men 

 

We believe that at death every believer consciously and immediately enters into the presence and fellowship of the Lord to wait for the physical resurrection and glorification of his body at Christ’s return. The believer will thus enjoy life eternal with God – fellowshipping, serving and worshipping Him forever (2 Cor. 5:6; 1 Cor. 15:12 – 58; Luke 23:39 – 43; 1 Thess. 4:13 – 18; John 3:16; Rev. 21 – 22). 

We believe that at death every unbeliever consciously and immediately enters into separation from the Lord to wait for the physical resurrection of his body to everlasting condemnation, judgment and punishment (Luke 16:19 – 31; John 3:18, 36; Rev. 20:5, 11 – 15; 2 Thess. 1:5 – 10). 

 

     XIII.  Future Things 

 

We believe the next prophet event will be the rapture of the Church when the Lord Jesus Christ will return in the air to receive unto Himself all Church Age believers (John 14:1 – 3; Titus 2:11 – 14; 1 Cor. 15:51 – 52; 1 Thess. 4:13 – 18; Phil. 3:20 – 21). The rapture of the Church will be followed by the seven-year Great Tribulation period in fulfillment of Daniel 9:24 – 27 and as described in Rev. 6:1 – 19:21 during which Israel will be purified, the whole world tested, and the wrath of God poured out against sin (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24; Rev. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:9 – 11). 

 

We believe that at the end of the Great Tribulation the Lord Jesus Christ in His second coming will personally and physically return to the earth just as He ascended with great power and glory to execute judgment and usher in the Millennial Kingdom, during which He will reign on earth for 1000 years with righteousness, justice and peace to fulfill God’s covenant promise to Israel (Acts 1:8 – 11; Rev. 19:11 – 21; Ezekiel 37:21 – 28; Isaiah 11:9; Rev. 20:1 – 6). 

 

We believe that the 1000 –year reign of Christ on earth will be followed by the final judgment of Satan when he is cast into the lake of fire forever; the Great White Throne Judgment and bodily resurrection for unbelievers; the creation of a new heaven and new earth; and the eternal state (Rev. 20 – 22; 2 Peter 3:1 – 14). 

​

​

​