STATEMENT OF FAITH
1.) We believe the Scriptures consisting of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God's standard for holy living and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21)
2.) We believe in one God existing eternally in three distinct yet equal persons of the same essence - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Mark 12:29; I Peter 1:2; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7)
3.) We believe that Jesus Christ, the Divine Son of God and perfect Man, was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; lived on Earth in a body, being fully human; was tempted and tried in all things as we are, yet without sin; willingly obeyed the Father's will, going to the cross and dying to make complete atonement for our sins. We believe that He was bodily raised from the dead and that He ascended to the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for us as our Mediator and High Priest. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-3, Luke 2:11; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 4:14-15; Luke 22:39-42; Romans 5:8; 8:34; John 20; Acts 1:1-l1; Hebrews 9:25-26; 10:11-14)
4.) We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts, saves, teaches, justifies, and sanctifies believers and empowers them for service.(Acts 5:3-4; John 16:7-13; Titus 3:5; John 14:26; Phil 1:6; Acts 1:8)
5.) We believe that all men, being descendants of Adam who willfully disobeyed God's command, are by nature slaves to sin destined for eternal torment in Hell. We believe that all may be saved, that the means of salvation is the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross at Calvary, and that personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is both necessary and sufficient for salvation. We believe that the redeemed are delivered from both the present power of sin and the eternal punishment for sin. (Romans 3:21-28; 5:12-19; 6:16-23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; John 3:16-18; Colossians 1:13.14; Revelation 20:11-15)
6.) We believe in the personal, visible, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:11; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; Luke 17:24; Revelation 1:7; James 5:8; Hebrews 10:37; Revelation 3:11)
7.) We believe the true Church of God, the Bride of Christ, is composed of believers called out from all nations, created anew in Christ Jesus. We also believe the ordinances of the Church are two: baptism of believers by immersion, and the Lord's Supper. (Ephesians 5:23-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Matthew 3:15-17; Acts 8:12 and 36-39; I Corinthians 11:23-29)
8.) We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust; the just to the everlasting presence of God in Heaven, and the unjust to everlasting separation from God in Hell.(I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6 and 12-13; Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Job 19:25-26)
9.) We believe that God created mankind male and female that they might be joined in marriage, one *man with one **woman as long as both shall live, and that any sexual union outside of such a marriage is detestable to God. We believe that anyone who practices homosexuality, bestiality, incest, or adultery is under divine judgment. These, as well as fornication, pornography, and lewd behavior or speech, make those who practice them unfit for Christian service. (Genesis 2:18-25; Hebrews 13:4; Leviticus 20:10-23; Romans 1:25-32; Ephesians 5:3-7)
*Biological Man by birth
**Biological Woman by birth
10.) We believe that God created mankind in His own image and that each human being is therefore of infinite worth. There is no place in our teaching or practice for racial or national prejudice. While it is self-evident that different areas of service are available to people of different abilities, we believe that all men are to be respected equally. Likewise, while God has ordained differences of service between men and women at home and in the church, they are equal in receiving God's grace. We believe that human life is to be protected from the time of conception until its natural end. We believe that a society which permits induced abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia for any reason brings upon itself God's judgment for murder. (James 2:1-9; Colossians 3:9-11; Galatians 3:28; Genesis 9:6; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 24:11-12; Deuteronomy 19:11-13; 21:1-9; II Kings 23:36-24:4)
