The Holy Bible
We believe and teach that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments as originally given, is the divinely-inspired, supernaturally-given, sufficient revelation of God; having God for its Author, the glory of God in the gracious redemption of sinners for its end, Jesus Christ for its focus, and truth without any mixture of error for its content. The Bible gives revelation of God: His being, nature, character, will, and purposes; and revelation of man: his nature, need, duty, and destiny. Preserved by God and handed down throughout generations, the Bible serves as the only supremely authoritative and absolute standard of truth by which all human conduct and thought should be tried. Although there may be several applications of a Bible text, the meaning of that text, as intended by its Author, has but one true and unchangeable interpretation. This meaning is found under the illumination of the Holy Spirit through the literal, grammatical, contextual, historical, and canonical interpretation of the text in its literary form.
Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:17-19; John 17:17; 20:31; Acts 20:27; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Titus 1:1-3; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19
The Trinity
We believe and teach that there is only one true, living, and sovereign God, Who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Supreme Ruler over heaven and earth. This infinite and self-sufficient God is absolutely perfect in character and work, and is, therefore, infinitely worthy of all praise and honor forever. God has eternally existed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three Persons, thus united in joyous fellowship, are co-equal in Their essential nature, attributes, and perfections, yet each has a distinct but harmonious office in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31; Isaiah 45:18-23; Matthew 5:48; 28:19; John 1:1-3; 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:1-14; 4:4-6; Hebrews 1:1-3
God the Father
We believe and teach that the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, is God and that He is Spirit, infinite and personal, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. The fatherhood of God involves both His designation within the Trinity from eternity past and His relationship with mankind as his Creator. As sovereign Lord, the Father infallibly knows, righteously governs, and directs all things, having ordained all that shall come to pass according to His sovereign will and for His glory. In this, the Father is neither the author of sin, nor does He diminish the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. The Father has graciously chosen from eternity past, those whom He would have as His own, saving from sin all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who come to the Father in this way are adopted by the Father as sons and daughters and given the full benefits of His fatherhood forever.
Psalm 145:8-9; Daniel 4:34-35; Isaiah 46:8-11; Luke 10:21-22; John 1:12; 3:16; 6:27, 35-37, 44; Acts 13:47-49; Romans 8:14-17; 9:6-24; 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:1-12; 4:4-6; Titus 1:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-11; James 1:13, 17; Revelation 13:7-8
God the Son
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the one and only eternal Son of God, Who, in obedience to the Father, humbled Himself and became a man. Conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Jesus is fully God and fully man. The sinless life of Jesus, His miracles, and His teachings culminated in His atoning death on the cross as the substitute sacrifice for sinners. He was buried, was bodily resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven just as the Scriptures record. Jesus is the only Savior and Lord, the only Mediator between God and man, and He is the Head of the Church, the Heir of all things, and the Judge of the entire world. Presently He sits at the Father’s right hand as the Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate for His people. Jesus will return personally and visibly to this earth to judge the living and the dead at a time appointed by the Father.
Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-4, 14; 20:28; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10;1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7-10, 20-22; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28
God the Holy Spirit
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is fully God, coequal with the Father and the Son, eternal, and of the same essence. He was active in the creation of the world, the incarnation of Christ, and the writing of Holy Scripture. He continues to be personally active in the work of salvation, accomplishing all the Divine will, and glorifying the Father and the Son. God the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and is the divine and sovereign Agent in regeneration, baptizing (placing) all believers into the Body of Christ, the Church. The Holy Spirit permanently dwells in all believers from the moment of salvation, illuminating and teaching them the truth of God’s Word, gifting and empowering them for the building of the Church, and sealing and sanctifying them unto the day of redemption. All believers are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, giving clear evidence of a spirit-controlled life.
Genesis 1:2; John 3:5-7; 4:24;6:63; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13; 6:11, 19; 12:4-13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18-21
Creation, Humanity, Gender, and Marriage
We believe and teach that God the Father, by the word of His power, supernaturally created out of nothing the universe and all it contains, according to His own will through Jesus Christ His Son. God’s creative work was sovereignly accomplished in six days, not through naturalistic evolutionary processes requiring long periods of time. Everything God created was good, containing no sin or evil in its original condition. God created the universe and everything in it for the praise of His glory and the display of His perfections.
We believe and teach that the first humans were created by God directly and immediately, Adam from dust and Eve from Adam’s rib. Adam and Eve were created distinctly male and female, yet equally in the image of God. Similarly, each person is wonderfully and unchangeably created by God to be distinctly male or female and the rejection of one’s God-given gender is a sinful rejection of His image within that person.
We believe and teach that Adam and Eve, enjoying the fullness of sinless intimacy with God, were appointed differing but complementary roles in marriage by God as living illustrations of the planned relationship of Jesus Christ with His Bride the Church. God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman. God also created sex and commands that all sexual activity is to occur exclusively within the union of marriage between one man and one woman. All other forms of sexual activity are immoral, sinful, and offensive to God. In His grace, God lovingly offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sins, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1-2:25; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 24:1-2; 19:1-6; 148:1-6; Proverbs 31:10-31; Isaiah 43:7; 45:18-23; Matthew 15:18-20; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:25; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20; 7:2-5; 11:5-12; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-6, 22-33; Colossians 1:16-17; 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; 4:4; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3; 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Jude 1:7
The Fall
We believe and teach that through Adam’s voluntary disobedience to the revealed will of God, the entire human race fell, incurring the penalty of spiritual and physical death, and becoming subject to the righteous wrath of God toward sin. All humans are therefore guilty sinners by nature, choice, and divine declaration; inherently and totally depraved, enslaved to sin, darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance, hardened in heart, morally and spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, facing eternal conscious torment in hell, unable to see or enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again of the Holy Spirit. Because of man’s rebellion, God also subjected creation to futility, allowing adversity and suffering to serve as a constant reminder of man’s sinful condition and need for salvation.
Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 14:1-3; John 3:3-8, 19-20, 36; 6:44, 63-65; 8:34; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-23; 5:6-21; 6:23; 8:7-8, 19-23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:21-22; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:17-19; James 2:10; 1 John 1:8
Salvation, Regeneration, and Security
We believe and teach that eternal salvation from sin, death, and hell is the free gift of God, received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, Who has made the full payment for our sins through His atoning death on the cross. The blessings of this great salvation are made free to sinners by the Gospel and the only appropriate response by sinners is immediate submission to God in repentance and faith. The inherent total depravity of sinners, however, is displayed in their ongoing, voluntary rejection of God and the Gospel. Therefore, God’s free gift of salvation is not based upon any merit or initiating work on the part of the sinner, nor is it based upon God’s anticipation of what a sinner might do by his own will, rather it is based solely upon the sovereign grace and mercy of God to save His elect, giving not only the gift of salvation but also the means to receive it. This fully eliminates any boast in man and fully establishes forever the glory of God alone in the salvation of every justified sinner from beginning to end.
We believe and teach that salvation comes only through the divinely initiated, supernatural work of regeneration (new birth) by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This sovereign and instantaneous work overcomes the sinner’s depraved resistance, enabling and securing the sinner’s willful response to the Gospel displayed in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ not only as Savior, but also as Lord.
We believe and teach that all sinners who are sovereignly regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit are genuinely, securely, and eternally saved. They are sealed by God’s Spirit, washed by God’s Word, kept by God’s promise, and held by God’s power as they live their lives in persevering faith unto the end by God’s sustaining grace.
Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 1:11-13; 3:3-8, 16-21; 5:24; 6:37-40, 44, 63-65; 8:12; 10:16, 25-30; 14:6; 17:1-26; 20:25-29;Acts 2:37-39; 13:48; 16:30-31; 20:21; Romans 3:19-28; 5:8-11; 6:23; 8:1, 28-39; 9:14-16; 10:9-11; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 21; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-10; 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:11-14; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Hebrews 7:24-25; 13:5-6; 1 Peter 1:1-5, 17-19; 2:24-25; 1 John 1:9, 2:1-3; 4:10; 5:11-13; Jude 1:24-25
Justification
We believe and teach that justification is the act of God by which He declares righteous, at the moment of salvation, those who through faith repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This legal declaration of God recognizes the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us, showing that God is both just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Christ.
Romans 3:20-26, 28; 4:2-6; 5:1-2; 8:30; 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:11, 24; Colossians 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 2:23-24
Sanctification
We believe and teach that sanctification is the process by which every believer is made a partaker of God’s holiness. Believers are positionally sanctified, having been set apart by the sovereign and saving work of Christ to stand secure in the righteousness of Christ. Believers are also progressively being sanctified each day by the power of the Holy Spirit and the living Word of God as they live surrendered and obedient lives under the Lordship of Christ. Every believer is involved in a daily battle, their new nature in Christ at war with the power and deception of sin and the flesh that continues to reside within them. Believers can be confident that divine provision has been made for the victory of their new nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Believers, therefore, should make deliberate choices to deny the flesh, put off sin, and avoid temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, seeking instead to love and obey God by putting on Christ, living in agreement with His commands, and bringing Him glory in all aspects of life.
John 17:17-19; Romans 6:12-19; 7:15-23; 8:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11, 15-20; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 6:14-7:1; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:11-16; 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 5:22-23; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 13:12; James 4:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 3:2-3
Assurance
We believe and teach that believers can be assured and confident that they indeed have been chosen by God to eternal salvation as they daily continue trusting Christ alone for their right standing before God, and as they examine their hearts and lives to find increasing evidences of God transforming them and producing fruit in them that is consistent with the character of Christ. This transforming work of the Holy Spirit confirms the new birth and the ongoing sanctification of believers until they are fully glorified at the time of physical death or the rapture.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 1:5-10; 2:3-6, 10-12, 15-23, 29; 1 John 3:5-9, 13-14, 17-19, 24; 4:6-8, 15-16, 20-21; 5:1-4, 10, 13
The Church
We believe and teach that all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are united together immediately by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual Body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head and the Builder. The members of this one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together as local expressions of this larger Body.
We believe and teach that the local church is an organized community of baptized believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Submitted to the headship of Christ, organized under biblically qualified elders, associated by a biblical covenant of faith, unified by the Word of God, and empowered by the Spirit of God, the purpose of the church is to glorify God. This is accomplished as the church is progressively sanctified by God, built up in the faith, faithfully teaching and preaching the Word of God, equipping each believer as a minister of God, sharing together in Christian fellowship, exercising spiritual gifts, keeping the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and testifying about the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:38-47; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:1-6, 20-21; 4:1-16; 5:19-21; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 15; 3:16-17; 4:1-5; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 10:23-25; 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5
The Ordinances
We believe and teach that the two ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be practiced by the church as instituted by Jesus Christ. These ordinances are reserved for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Believer’s Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by immersion in water is a beautiful and visible testimony of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, showing our union with Him in our death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ, as well as our obedience and submission to Him as Lord and Savior. This visible testimony also displays the believer’s identification with the Church. The Lord’s Supper, likewise as instituted by Jesus Christ, serves as a visible testimony to commemorate and proclaim His atoning death for sin on the cross until He returns. In preparation for the Lord’s Supper, every believer is to carefully examine his life and confess known sin before he eats and drinks of the elements.
Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:14-20; John 5:24; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38; 10:47-48; Romans 6:3-14; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12
Angels
We believe and teach that God created all angels as spirit-beings. Though not created in the image of God, angels possess power and intellect for the purpose of worshiping and serving God. As created beings, angels are not to be worshiped. Satan is a fallen angel who incurred the righteous judgment of God by rebelling against Him, taking numerous angels with him in his fall. As the open and declared enemy of God and man, Satan subjected Adam and Eve to temptation leading to humanity’s fall. He continues his rebellion, masquerading as an angel of light through deceit, seduction, and destruction; yet the reach of his power is always subject to God’s sovereign rule over him. Those angels, who fell with Satan, became demons, actively participating with him in the promotion of evil. Satan and his demons have been defeated for eternity by Jesus Christ through His death and victorious resurrection, sealing their everlasting damnation. At the time of final judgment, they will be consigned to eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire. Those angels, who remained faithful to God, continue to serve before God’s throne, where they are sent by Him to minister to believers. While man was made lower than the angels and Jesus humbled Himself to this lower position for a time, the resurrected and exalted Savior has now lifted believers to His own sphere above the angels for eternity.
2 Samuel 23:3-4; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; 14:7-9, 12; 1 Timothy 6:15; Titus 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Revelation 19:16
Civil Government
We believe and teach that Civil Government is appointed by God for His purposes and for the good order of human society. Government officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the King of Kings.
2 Samuel 23:3-4; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Romans13:1-7; 14:7-9, 12; 1 Timothy 6:15; Titus 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Revelation 19:16
Last Things
We believe and teach the Blessed Hope, the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom. All mankind, both saved and lost, will share in a literal physical resurrection: the lost to everlasting conscious torment in the Lake of Fire and the saints to everlasting conscious joy and blessedness with the Lord in a newly created heaven and earth.
Matthew 16:27; 25:31-46; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5; 15:50-58; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 3:10; 7:9-11; 20:1-6, 11-15; 21:1-8; 22:1-7
