We believe that the Bible is the literal Word of God from start to finish. It is inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative in everything it says and we believe that the same God who inspired it is the God who has preserved it for each generation.
This Statement of Faith is covers the basics of Bible-believing Christianity and we believe the Holy Bible, as translated in the Authorized King James Version.
I. THE BIBLE.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God and are the only infallible, inerrant rule of faith (what we believe) and practice (how we live). We believe it to be authoritative in every matter it addresses. It is the eternal message of God to man. (Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:89; II Timothy 3:16,17; Isaiah 8:20; I Thessalonians 5:21)
II. GOD.
We believe in one God; Who is eternal, self-existent, infinite, and immutable. We believe He has one nature, one essence, and one substance; yet manifests Himself to man in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; I John 5:17; John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Exodus 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:18)
III. JESUS CHRIST.
We believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Saviour of mankind. We believe Jesus Christ to be eternally God and to possess all the attributes of Deity. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin-born, that He was God incarnate, and that the purposes of the incarnation were to reveal God, to redeem men, and to rule over God’s kingdom. We believe Jesus Christ never relinquished any attributes of His Deity, but merely veiled them. We believe He lived a perfect, sinless life, at the end of which He was offered for all mankind as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin. This sacrifice was a just payment to God for the forgiveness of sin. It was activated by His death through the shedding of His blood on the cross and was accepted by God upon His resurrection. We believe He ascended into Heaven after His resurrection to be seated at the right hand of the Father and is now waiting for the time of receiving His church at the rapture, which is followed by His return seven years later to earth to rule and reign as King for 1,000 years. (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 43:11; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1, 1:3, 14, 18, 29; Romans 3:19-25; Romans 5:6-15; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:10-15; Hebrews 7:26, 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:19, 2:2; 1 John 1:3; Revelation 20:1-6)
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God. He is personal and indwells every believer. He is the Reprover, Comforter, Guide, Sanctifier, and the Seal of our Redemption. (John 16:7-14; John 14:16, 17, 26; Matthew 3:16, 17; Ephesians 1:13, 14)
V. THE SINFULNESS OF MAN.
Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, as a result of the Fall, inherit a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to the age of accountability sin and become guilty before God. (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:12)
VI. TERMS OF SALVATION.
The conditions of Salvation are found in two inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, those graces being repentance and faith. Repentance being the turning of trusting self to trusting Christ, and Faith being the personal acceptance of Christ as Savior. Salvation is provided by the grace of God and appropriated by faith, without any works performed by man. (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16, 36; Luke 13:5; Acts 16:31)
VII. FREEDOM OF WILL.
The human will is free and self controlled, having power to yield to the influence of truth and the Spirit and live, or to resist them and perish. (Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:3; Romans 6:16)
VIII. PERSEVERANCE.
All believers in Christ are saved by grace through faith and kept by the power of God through faith. Salvation results when a man exercises faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. In doing so, the finished works of Christ settle his account in heaven. Perseverance is the sustaining grace of God that assures the true believer’s continued act of faith in Christ as his Lord and Savior. (Ephesians 2:8; I Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 10:38, 39; Jude 24; Philippians 1:6)
IX. RESURRECTION, JUDGMENT, AND FINAL RETRIBUTION.
The Scriptures teach us the resurrection of all men. The saved go to heaven as soon as they die, but do not receive their resurrected bodies until all Christians do at the return of Jesus Christ for His church at the rapture. They will then stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive the rewards that Christ has promised for those who labor with Him. After ruling and reigning with Christ for 1,000 years, they will then enjoy an eternity with Christ in the literal new heaven and new earth. Those who die without Christ will go straight to hell to await the final White Throne Judgment where they will be sentenced to spend eternity in the literal Lake of Fire and Brimstone. (John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 5:10; I Corinthians 15:51-57; I Corinthians 3:11-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 20:11-15)
X. HEAVEN.
The Scriptures declare that Heaven is a definite place reserved for the saved. It is indescribably beautiful and the eternal reward that God has for all who have been born again. (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10, 11; Revelation 21:1, 2)
XI. HELL.
The Scriptures tell us that Hell is a terrible, eternal reality for all who die in their sin. As Heaven is indescribable beauty, Hell is indescribable horror. The Bible states the fire and torment of Hell to be an inescapable, eternal reality. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 19:20 & 20:10; Luke 16:23, 28; Luke 13:27, 28)
XII. GOSPEL ORDINANCES.
Baptism is the immersion of believers in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; also expressing to the world the Christian’s death to sin and being raised into newness of life. It is an outward symbol of what takes place on the inside as one trusts Christ as his Savior. Baptism takes place only after conversion. (Romans 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5)
The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is an ordinance given the church by Christ to remind us of His broken body and shed blood for our sin. The use of unleavened bread and grape juice are representative of Christ’s body and blood and only serve as a reminder of His great sacrifice for us. This is to be partaken by all believers after self examination of our own lives. This ordinance, as baptism, extends no grace or merit to one’s salvation. The Bible states no timing upon the frequency of the Lord’s Supper, but several times a year we hold its observance. (Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-24)