Beliefs

Bible – We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and declares His  design and plan for mankind.

The Trinity – We believe in one God, revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ – We believe Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity; was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin; and lived a sinless life.

Christ’s Atonement – We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was buried. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

Christ’s Resurrection – We believe Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for us today.

Creation – We believe God created the universe, and that He created man in His image.

Sin and Hell – We believe all men have disobeyed God and are justly condemned as sinners to an eternal punishment in hell.

Regeneration – We believe a person must be born again by the Holy Spirit to be saved, and that the indwelling Holy Spirit enables him to live a godly life.

Justification – We believe that a person is saved by grace through repentance and faith in the completed work of Christ; His death on the cross and resurrection three days later.

The Church – We believe the church is the body of Christ made up of millions of people around the world who have received salvation through repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ.

Water Baptism – We believe Christians should be baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit which name corresponds to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit – We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation, is evidenced by speaking in tongues, and empowers us to be Christ’s witnesses.

Spiritual Gifts – We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12 – ­14, and as manifested in the early church.

The Lord’s Supper – We believe we are to remember the Lord’s death by celebrating the Lord’s supper.

Church Leadership – We believe the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher should exist and function in the church today.

Satan ​​– We believe in the reality and personality of our enemy, Satan. 

God’s Law – We believe there is continuity through the Bible of law, grace, ethics and salvation.

The Second Coming – We believe the Lord Jesus Christ will return again to the earth a second time to judge the living and the dead.

Resurrection and Judgment – We believe there will be a resurrection of the righteous to eternal life, and a resurrection of the wicked to eternal judgment.

COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF FAITH – (Affirmations and Denials)

THESE ARE DOCTRINES DESCRIBING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY

THE BIBLE

(A) We affirm that the Bible is the verbally (or word for word), plenarily (or completely) and concursively (by God through man) inspired word of God (2 Tim 3:16­-17) that it is inerrant in its original manuscripts, that it is truth and that it is the necessary and sufficient revelation to mankind of all that is needed for salvation, doctrine, life, godliness and good works (Rom 10:17). As such it is authoritative in all that it asserts and commands demanding faith and obedience by all men in every department of life, culture and society (Heb 4:12) We affirm that the principles of truth in the Bible are all we need for life and godliness, (2 Pet 1:3) and because of its authority, the Word of God is our source of belief and practice for preaching and teaching, for counseling and for the exercise of our faith. (2 Tim 4:2) & (John 8:31).

(B) We deny that only the thoughts or general ideas in the Bible were inspired (1 Thes 2:13) and further deny that the word of God is merely encountered in or contained by the Bible without being fully identified with it directly (1 Pet 1:25). We deny that inerrancy applies only to theological matters and not to scientific, historical and geographical matters of fact in the Bible as well. We deny that anything not explicit or implicit in Scripture is binding on the Christian and that truth may be attained with certainty apart from biblical revelation.

THE TRINITY

A) We affirm that there is one God who is eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who are each equally God, completely God and united inseparably as one God (John 8:58; Acts 5:3­4).

(B) We deny that there are three gods, (Deut. 6:4) that the Trinity is in any sense modalistic of a single divine person (Luke 3:22) or that any divine person is at all inferior to the others either by necessity or in attributes.

JESUS CHRIST

(A) We affirm that Jesus, God the Son and the Second Person of the Trinity, was virgin born (Mat 1:23) and henceforth lived a sinless life (1 Pet 2:21­22) as both truly and fully God and truly and fully man (Col 2:9).

(B) We deny that Jesus ceased to be God when he was incarnate, that he is in any way lacking in his divinity or humanity, that he is two persons in one body and that he gave up his manhood at any time after his incarnation. (Phil 2:5­-8).

CHRIST’S ATONEMENT

(A) We affirm that Jesus Christ died on the cross making just satisfaction to God for the penalty of the sins of those who believe in him and that only through his blood can men be reconciled to God (Rom 5:10). Christ’s blood purchased salvation (Eph 1:7).

(B) We deny that the Lord’s death served only or primarily as an influential example of God’s love, or as an example of his wrath (though these are indeed secondary aspects of Atonement) or that his death was in any way a ransom paid to Satan (Col 1:19­-20).

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

(A) We affirm that Jesus was bodily and physically raised from the dead on the third day after his death (1 Cor 15:3) securing and guaranteeing the salvation and resurrection of those united to him through faith and by the Holy Spirit. He then ascended to the right hand of God the Father (Col 3:1). Where he intercedes on behalf of saints (Rom 8:34) and exercises all authority.

(B) We deny that the resurrection of Jesus was only spiritual, that he was not raised with a physical and material body, that he simply “lived on in the hearts of his disciples”, and that Christ’s resurrection is a mythical or otherwise legendary event which conveys timeless but unhistorical truths (1 Cor 15:16­18).

CREATION

(A) We affirm that God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1) in six days (Exo 20:11) out of nothing by a mere command (Psa 148:5), that man was made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Consisting of a rational and  immaterial soul capable of moral judgments, reason and the knowledge of his Creator (Mat 10:28).

(B) We deny that the universe in general or man in particular evolved from inferior states of existence (Gen 2:7) as asserted by either the secular or theistic theories of evolution and further deny that man is simply physical or material in nature (1 Thes 5:23).

SIN AND HELL

(A) We affirm that all men, except for Jesus Christ, are sinners (Rom 3:23), and merit eternal punishment in hell (Mat 10:28) which is a real post­mortem state of unending and conscious torment (Mark 9:43).

(B) We deny that sin can be forgiven by any amount of human effort (Eph 2:8­-9) and deny that hell is merely an imaginary place, or an invention of human minds, or consists in

personal extinction (Jude 1:7).

REGENERATION

(A) We affirm that regeneration or new birth by the Holy Spirit is required for personal salvation (John 3:3) and enables a Christian to live a godly life manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-­23).

(B) We deny that true regeneration results in the immediate perfection of the individual (1 John 1:8­9) but also deny that it leaves one bound to his former way of life (2 Cor 5:17)

without freeing him from sin (Rom 6:1­4).

JUSTIFICATION

(A) We affirm that men are justified by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone (1 Cor 15:3­4). Men are saved unto, not by good works (Eph 2:10). Those who continue in faith to the end will be saved (Col 1:22­-23).

(B) We deny that good works result in, contribute to or enhance justification in any way and deny that grace infused into men enable them to perform good works that then merit their justification before God (Eph 2:8­-9).

THESE ARE ADDITIONAL DOCTRINES WE HOLD TO BUT DON’T SEE AS A BARRIERS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH THOSE WHO MAY DISAGREE

THE CHURCH

(A) We affirm that the church, also known as the body of Christ (Col 1:24) is an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ and is God’s invention (Mat 16:18) We affirm that the church exists both in a global setting (Eph 1:22-­23) as well as local, (Acts 14:23) and it is through the church that Jesus is working to make His people holy (Eph 5:25­-27). We affirm that the church is both a spiritual covering for believers (Eph 3:10) and is a place for worship, teaching, spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:26) care (Acts 20:28) and correction (Mat 18:17; 1 Cor 5:12).

(B) We deny that church is merely an option for the believer, (Heb 10:25) or that any one church group expresses the embodiment of the global church (1 Cor 12:13) or that any one man is the head of the church other than Jesus Christ (Col 1:18).

WATER BAPTISM

(A) We affirm that Christians should be water baptized by immersion (John 3:23) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) which name corresponds to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Heb 1:3) (Col 2:9) (Phil 2:9) (Acts 10:47) (Acts 19:5).

(B) We deny that those who are incapable of a profession of faith (such as infants) are eligible for water baptism (Matthew 28:19) (Acts 2:38) (Acts 2:41) and deny that baptism regenerates or is necessary for salvation (Acts 10:47).

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

(A) We affirm that baptism in the Holy Spirit is available to all genuine believers, (John 7:38­-39) is generally subsequent to conversion (Acts 8:12, 17) is evidenced by speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4) (Acts 10:45­46) (Acts 19:6) and empowers them for witnessing (Acts 1:8).

(B) We deny that baptism in the Holy Spirit is the same as being born of the Spirit, that it is necessary for salvation and that the Spirit does not dwell in those believers who have not

experienced this event (John 3:8, 18).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

(A) We affirm that every Christian is a member of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 3:15) (Romans 12:4-­5), that each member has certain gifts that are to be used in ministry for the edification of the body and for the glory of God, and that each of the spiritual gifts enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are to operate in the church today according to the Lord’s will.

(B) We deny that the power of any supernatural gift resides in the believer (Acts 1:8) that physical healing or material wealth is insured by “positive confession” (Mark 9:24) that our human words create realities in the supernatural realm (1 Cor 1:17), or that a miraculous healing has taken place when symptoms persist (Mark 8:23­25). We further deny that the gift of prophecy is infallible (1Thes 5:19­-21) or authoritative (1 Cor 14:32) for the modern church.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

A) We affirm that the Lord’s death should be remembered when we partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23-­26).

(B) We deny that the elements used for The Lord’s Supper are literally the body and blood of Jesus (1 Cor 11:20­-22).

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

(A) We affirm that church leadership is comprised of elders and deacons (Phil 1:1). Deacons serve the needs of the people (Acts 6:2­-3), and elders shepherd the flock (Acts 20:28­-29). Some elders are uniquely gifted and called to the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher (a.k.a. the five­fold ministry) (Eph 4:11). We affirm these five gifts should exist, (Eph 4:11), function and be recognized in today’s church and that their purpose is to equip believers for service (Eph 4:12). All elders, deacons and five­fold ministers should be filled by biblically qualified men only (1 Tim 3:1­-7) (Titus 1:7­-8) (1 Tim 3:8-­13). These men must represent the Kingdom of God and not be engaged in willful and unrepentant sin such as those listed in (1 Cor 6:9-­10).

(B) We deny that anyone holding one of these offices today is infallible in their teaching or authoritative in matters not specifically addressed in the biblical revelation (Gal 2:11). We also deny that the work of ministry is to be performed exclusively or primarily by those who hold these offices since all saints should take part in ministry (Eph 2:10) (Eph 4:12).We also deny that men who continue in unrepentant sin such as those listed in (1 Cor 6:9­10) should continue in the ministry.

SATAN

(A) We affirm that Satan is the real and personal enemy of God and the church and that he is a real deceiver (Gen 3:13) (Rev 20:7­-8) tempter (Mark 1:13) persecutor and accuser (Rev 12:9-­10).

(B) We deny that the devil is omnipotent, (James 4:7-­8) omniscient (Mat 24:36) or even omnipresent (1 Pet 5:8).

GOD’S LAW

(A) We affirm the law is a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24) that righteousness in Christ is apart from the law, (Rom 3:21) and that no one can ever be justified by keeping the law (Gal 3:11) (Gal 2:16) & (Rom 3:20). We also affirm that the righteous requirements of the law are fully met in those who walk after the Spirit (Rom 8:4). As to the purpose of the law in society, we affirm that the law (as expressed in the Ten Commandments) provides a basis for civic laws, and is also a standard by which the lost can be convicted of their sin (1 Tim 1:9) and recognize a need for a Savior (Jas 2:10).

(B) We deny any conflict between the Old and New Covenants, that the law ever could or did redeem, or that salvation was ever other than by grace through faith (Eph 2:8­9). We further deny that the Old Covenant can be fulfilled apart from the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant and that the ritual or ceremonial law was not fully and finally fulfilled by Christ. We are not without law, but we are under law to Christ (1 Cor 9:21) & (1 John 5:3).

THE SECOND COMING

(A) We affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ will return again to the earth a second time bodily, in glory and visibly (Acts 1:9-­11), at the end of this present age (Mat 24:3), to raise the dead (John 6:40), judge mankind (Acts 17:31), establish justice (Isa 42:1) and reign forever (Luke 1:32).

(B) We deny that Jesus will return in spirit only, or secretly (Acts 1:11). We further deny any doctrine of the second coming which asserts two or more stages to his return as in the pre­tribulation and midtribulation rapture theories (1 Thes 4:17).

RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT

(A) We affirm that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked (Acts 24:15) that the righteous will be raised to incorruptible everlasting life (John 6:40) and that the wicked will be raised to eternal judgment (2 Thes 1:8­-9).

(B) We deny ​that the resurrection will be in spirit only (1 Cor 15:42), or that only the righteous will be raised (Acts 24:15), or that ultimately all men will receive salvation and eternal life (Mat 25:41).