DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

 

1.         We believe in the Bible, accepting fully the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error in the original writings.  We further believe God has inerrantly, infallibly and completely preserved His inspired Word and therefore we believe that it is the supreme and final authority in faith and life.  II Tim. 3:16-17, II Peter 1:21, John 13:35, 17:17, Ps. 19:7, Is. 8:20

 

2.         We believe in one Triune God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Matt. 28:19, John 1:1, 4:24, 5:25-26, 10:30, Matt 3:17, Is. 45:21, Jer. 10:10

 

3.         We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man, that He died for our sins and on the third day arose from the dead and was glorified in the same body in which He suffered and died.  He is now our High Priest in Heaven appearing before the presence of God as our advocate and intercessor.  Is. 53:6, Gal. 3:13, John 1:1, 14, 20:25-26, Heb. 9:24, I John 2:1, Is. 7:14, Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, Gal. 4:4, I Tim. 2:5

 

4.         We believe in the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Triune God, who convicts of sin, regenerates, indwells, enlightens, empowers, baptizes, guides, teaches and sanctifies all who become children of God through Christ.  Matt. 28:19, Gen. 1:2, John 16:8-11, I Cor. 3:16, 6:19, Rom. 8:14

 

5.         We believe that Adam was created in the spiritual image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred upon the human race not only the physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.  We believe that all those descended from Adam are born with sinful natures and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought and deed.  Gen. 26-28, 3:1-24, Eph. 2:3, Rom. 3:23, 5:12, 3:19, John 8:42-44

 

6.         We believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Men are justified on the single ground of personal acceptance of the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 3:16, Acts 13-38, 16:31, Eph. 2:8-9

 

7.         We recognize the existence and personality of Satan as the powerful supernatural enemy of God, and his evil influence in the world.  Job 1:6, Jude 9, Rev. 20

 

8.         We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.  I Thes. 4:13, I Cor. 15, Rev. 20:1-6, 11:15, Phil. 1:21-23, I John 3:2, II Cor. 5:8, Matt. 25:46, Jude 13

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9.         We believe in:

a.  “That blessed hope” – the Rapture.  Tit. 2:11-13, John 14, I Thes. 4:14-18

b.  The personal and visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth to establish His Kingdom.

Ps. 24, Is. 9:6, 24:22-23, Zech. 14:4, Acts 1:10-11, Jude 14-15, Rev. 20

 

10.       We believe that baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, picturing the believer’s separation, identification and union that has already happened at the moment of conversion.  All members of a Local New Testament Church are to be baptized believers, thereby picturing “outwardly” what has already taken place “inwardly”.

Matt 28:19-20, Acts 8:34-39, 16:30-33, Rom. 6:1-11

 

11.        We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service and is the setting forth in a sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf.  The emblems of the memorial service are not literally the body and blood of Christ, nor do they contain His blood and flesh.  The service is for the participation of baptized believers only, who are presently purged, having examined themselves of any/all sins.  It shall be observed on a regular basis.  Matt. 26:26-29, I Cor. 11:20-34

 

12.       We believe in the universal church, which consists of all those who have been born again during this dispensation of grace and that they are members of the body of Christ, whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and who will be submissive to the local headship of their individual church.

Eph. 1:10, 22-23, 2:21-22, I Pet. 2:5, 9-10

 

13.       We believe that a local New Testament Church is a group of born-again, baptized believers bound together for the purpose of doing the will of Christ, including fellowship, worship, mutual edification and the winning of souls.  We believe that a Local New Testament Church is a self-governing body subject only to Jesus Christ and His Word.  We further believe in the authority and headship of the Pastor and Elder board in each local body.  Acts 4:18-19, 6:3-6, 5:29, 13:24, 15:22-31, I Cor. 12:12, Acts 2:41-47

 

14.       We believe that the Scriptures teach that Christians should set their minds on things above, not on things on earth.  I Thes. 5:22, II Tim. 2:11-22, Col. 3:2-17