STATEMENT OF FAITH

I. The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be THE Verbally and Plenary Inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are Inerrant, Infallible and God-Breathed, and therefore are the FINAL AUTHORITY for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the COMPLETE and Divine Revelation of God to man. The 1611 King James Authorized Version of the Bible shall be the ONLY official translation used by the True Bible Believing Church. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)

II. Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their Supernatural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successful ages. These dispensations are NOT ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to HIS purpose. Three of these dispensations–The Age Of The Law, The Age Of The Church, and The Age Of The Kingdom — are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; I Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10, 3:2-10; Colosians 1:24-25,27; Revelation 20:2-6)

III. The Godhead

We believe in ONE Triune God, eternally existing in Three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:10,26; II Corinthians 13:14)

IV. The Person and Work of Christ

1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, became man, WITHOUT CEASING TO BE GOD, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (Isaiah 7:14,9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,14; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8)

2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by his Literal, PHYSICAL Resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 2:24)

3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is NOW exalted at the Right Hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; I John 2:1-2)

V. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

1. We Believe that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body Of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14)

2. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:17-18, 5:18; I John 2:20,27)

3. We believe that God is Sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God calls and ordains Pastors, Evangelists, and Teachers to equip believers in the Local Church in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-12, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)

VI. The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the Image of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell. inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is TOTALLY DEPRAVED, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; 6:23)

VII. Salvation

We believe that salvation is the GIFT of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose PRECIOUS BLOOD was shed on Calvary for forgiveness of our sins. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19)

VIII. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

1. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are KEPT by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ FOREVER . (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)

2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the ASSURANCE of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. ( Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 10:22)

IX. The Church

1. We believe that the LOCAL CHURCH, which is the BODY and the Espoused BRIDE of Christ, is solely made up of ONLY those who have been born-again. (John 3:3-8; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27)

2. We believe that the establishment and continuance of the Local Churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

3. We believe in the autonomy of the Local Church free from ANY external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; I Corinthians 3:9,16, 5:4-7,13; I Peter 5:1-4)

4. We recognize Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural Ordinances of obedience for the Church in this age. (Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

X. Separation

We believe that ALL the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, thatTOTAL SEPARATION from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is COMMANDED of God. (Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14-17; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

XI. The Second Advent of Christ

We believe that our BLESSED HOPE is the PERSONAL and IMMINENT return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the Seven-Year Tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation Period, Christ will PERSONALLY AND VISIBLY RETURN with His saints, establish His Earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalms 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zecheriah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

XII. The Eternal State Of Man

1. We believe in the Bodily Resurrection of all men, the SAVED to eternal life, and the UNSAVED to judgment and Everlasting Punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28,29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)

2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND PRESENT WITH THE LORD, where in conscious bliss they await the First Resurrection, when the spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-16; Revelation 20:4-6)

3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with the souls and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast ALIVE into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16: 19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15)

XIII. The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be ETERNALLY PUNISHED in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11, 25:41)

XIV. Creation

We believe that God created the universe in Six LITERAL 24-hour Periods. We reject Evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11)

XV. Civil Government

We Believe that God has ordained and created ALL AUTHORITY consisting of three basic institutions: 1) The Home; The Church; and The State. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and State are equal and Sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2: 13-14)

XVI. Missions

We believe that God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to ALL nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As AMBASSADORS of Christ we must use all available means to bring the gospel of Christ to the lost, beginning at home and reaching throughout the world. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)

XVII. Giving

We believe that EVERY Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his Local Church financially. We believe that God has established the TITHE as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that the Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe. A Christian may specifically designate an offering or other contributions for certain occasions. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; Hebrews 7:4-7; I John 3:17)

XVIII. Heaven and Hell

1. Heaven

We believe Heaven is a LITERAL PLACE that Jesus has gone to prepare, a place for the SAVED ONLY, and that it is the eternal home of all those who have trusted in Christ as their personal Saviuor. (John 14:1-6; Hebrews 12:22; I Peter 1:4; II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-22:8)

2. Hell

We believe Hell is JUST AS LITERAL AS IS HEAVEN. It is that place of EVERLASTING TORMENTS Jesus Himself describes, where the lost shall be forever separated from friends, family, and loved ones in its darkness and literal flames of fire. (Isaiah 5:14; Mark 9:44-48; Revelation 20:11-15)

XIX. Church Discipline

We believe the Local Church has the designated authority to exercise DISCIPLINE according to the scriptures, when necessary, to protect the Body of Christ from those who cause division and who show themselves immoral or otherwise in their conduct. (Romans 16:17; I Corinthians 5:1-7, 9:13; I Timothy 5:20, 6:5; II Thessalonians 3:6)

XX. Church Authority

We believe that the PASTOR is the “head” of the church, submitting himself to the authority of God ONLY, and not to man. He is the UNDER SHEPHERD to Christ, who is the CHIEF SHEPHERD and Lord of His church. (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:3, 17)