Doctrinal Statement
- In the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21), and inerrant in the original writings (Matthew 5:18), and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6; Jude 20-21; Revelation 1:8; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:1, 8-9; Matthew 1:23).
- That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man (Luke 1:35; John 1:14, 10:30).
- That man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:23-24, 5:5); and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12-15, 6:6), and, in the case of those who reach the age of moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed (Romans 3:23).
- That the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3) as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21); and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood (Romans 3:23-25, 5:9).
- In the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:20), in His ascension into Heaven and in His present life there as High Priest and advocate for us (Hebrews 4:15, 7:25-8:1).
- In “That blessed hope,” (Titus 2:13), the personal (Zechariah 14:4), premillennial (Revelation 20:4b, 6) return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:20-21).
- That all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 1:12).
- In the prominence of the local and visible Church (Acts 15:22; Revelation 1:4), baptism by immersion for believers (Acts 8:36-39, 10:47) and the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34).
- In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust (John 5:28-29), the everlasting blessedness of the saved (Revelation 20:6) and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15).
- That God created an angelic being and named him Lucifer-Son of the Morning (Isaiah 14:12). He rebelled against God because of the sin of pride, and God cast him out of Heaven. He is the enemy of God and of every believer (1 John 3:8). The believer is admonished to resist him (James 4:7; 2 Corinthians 11:13-14).
- That all redeemed, once saved, are sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept by God’s providential power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 1:5).
- That God has given the Church a Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9). It is every Christian’s responsibility to use every means possible to take the Gospel to as many as possible (Romans 1:16-17).
- That all legitimate authority is granted by God (Romans 13:1-2) and that God has granted authority to three basic institutions: The Home (Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:1-3), The Church (Ephesians 5:23; John 20:23) and The State (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
- That church members are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against this Church or other members of this Church to resolve personal disputes (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). We believe that the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members (Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 18:15-17). We believe, however, that a member may seek compensation for injuries from another member’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander.
- That every church member is a steward of God’s wealth and in the spirit of giving is to regularly support their Church financially (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Each one is to give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
- That men and women are spiritually equal in position before God (Galatians 3:28) but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and for women in the home and the Church (1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Ephesians 5:22-23). The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (Pastors and Deacons) of the Church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the Church (1 Timothy 2:8-15, 3:1-13).
- That the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24), intended by God to last until one of the spouses dies (Romans 7:2-3). Jesus did have two exception clauses: If a spouse is found to be sexually immoral (Matthew 19:9); or if an unbelieving spouse leaves, then the believer is not bound (1 Corinthians 7:15).
- That God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).
- That we have a right to practice and teach these beliefs without fear of government intrusion because of federal Constitutional protection afforded in the 1st and 3rd Amendments. Should these rights be removed, we will hold fast to the Scriptures (Acts 5:29), because God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17).