Doctrinal Statement
Section 1: INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible in the original writings, consisting of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by divine inspiration and is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13); that it reveals man's state by nature and presents the only means of his salvation {Romans 3:10-12; Acts 4:12); that it constitutes the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice (Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20); and that it sets forth the principles by which man will be judged (Romans 2:1-3).
Section 2: BELIEF IN GOD
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Section 3: MAN: HIS CREATION, FALL, AND NEED FOR REDEMPTION
We believe that man was created by an immediate act of God in His own image as given in the Genesis account and not by process of evolution; that through disobedience to God, lost his first estate and thereby became a sinner in need of a Savior, and that since that time all men are born sinners, spiritually dead, alienated from God, and stand in need of personal redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-24; Romans 5:12, 3:23-24; Psalms 51:5; Ephesians 2:1, 4:18; Colossians 1:14, 1:21, 2:13; Hebrews 9:1).
Section 4: BLOOD ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace; that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins shedding his blood on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who repent and believe in Him receiving Him by faith as personal Savior, are thereby justified on the ground of His shed blood (Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5, 5:9; I Corinthians 15:3, 5:6; Isaiah 53:6; Acts 17:30, 10:43, 13:38-39; Matthew 9:14; John 1:12, Colossians 2:6).
Section 5: PERSONAL NEW BIRTH
We believe that in order to be saved, all men must be born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We believe that this new birth is instantaneous with faith in Christ, not a process. We believe that in the new birth God justifies the believer and that the Holy Spirit immediately indwells the believer with power for holy living and service. We further believe that every believer stands a priest before God (John 1:12-13; I Corinthians 5:17; Acts 16:30-34; I Peter 1:23, 2:5; Titus 3:5-7; Galatians 5:22-23).
Section 6: JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is a judicial act of God by which He imparts to the born-again believer complete pardon of sins, and imputes to the believer His own righteousness. We believe that justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which the believer had done, but solely because of his faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:6-8, 3:21-25, 5:9; Acts 13:38-39; John 5:24, 6:47; Philemon 3:8-9; Titus 3:5).
Section 7: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and wicked. The righteous are those who have been born of the Spirit of God through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the wicked are those who have never been born of the Spirit of God. We believe that the righteous are assured of eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ whereas the wicked are destined to everlasting conscious suffering in a real and literal lake of fire eternally separated from God (Psalms 1; Malachi 3:18; I John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15; Luke 16).
Section 8: SATAN
We believe in the reality of Satan, a living personality who is the unholy prince of this world, the ruler of all powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire (Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).
Section 9: THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally secure since they have been saved by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are kept by the power of God (I John 5:1; John 10:26-29; Romans 10:9-13, 8:31-39; I Peter 1:3-5).
Section 10: THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ and is manifested through local congregations of immersed believers observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that their officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Scripture (Acts 2:41-47, 20:17-28; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:30; II Timothy 3:17).
Section 11: THE ORDINANCE OF THE CHURCH
We believe that Christ as the Head of the church commanded two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Section 12: ATTITUDE TOWARD CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is ordained of God for the punishment of evildoers and for the protection of the good. We ought, therefore, to be obedient to their authority except in things opposed to the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. We believe in the separation of church and state (Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 23:10).
Section 13: THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord and in His bodily ascension into heaven where He now is at the right hand of God as our high priest, mediator, intercessor, and advocate (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; John 20:27; Luke 24, 36-40, 50-51; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 8:1, 9:15, I Peter 1:3).
Section 14: THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, and imminent return of Christ. This will be accomplished in two stages: first, the rapture—Christ’s coming for His saints—when Christ will descend into the air to catch away his waiting bride, the church. Second, the revelation—Christ’s descending with His saints to establish the long-promised kingdom and to reign upon the earth for a thousand years. Between these two stages the great tribulation judgments are visited upon the apostate and rebellious world (Acts 1:10-11; I Thessalonians 4:14-18; I Corinthians 15; Revelation 3:11, 5:9-10, 19:14, 20:4-6; Daniel 7:13-14; II Corinthians 1:3-10).
Section 15: SEPARATION
Section 16: TONGUES
We believe the speaking of tongues in the New Testament was a special gift of the Holy Spirit of the ability to speak in a contemporary language for the purpose of witnessing and as a sign of God's authority. They are not in use today (I Corinthians 13-14; Acts 2).
Section 17: MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:5-9; Ephesians 5:31-33).
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 15:19; 5:27-28; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:17-19; Colossians 3:5).
We believe that all of our members, employees, and volunteers must affirm and adhere to this Doctrinal and Religious Absolute statement on marriage and human sexuality to qualify for involvement with the ministry. This is necessary to accomplish our religious mission, goals and purpose. Behavior or counter-witnessing that does otherwise will impede and burden our integrity and religious mission.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9; 21:2).
Section 18: ABORTION
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
Section 19: DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
We believe God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. We believe that God’s legal guidelines for divorce were reluctant and given only because of man’s sinful nature. Although divorce and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, we believe Scripture prohibits them from holding the offices of Pastor or Deacon (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim 3:2,12; Titus 1:6).
Section 20: LAW SUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32; Matt. 18:15-17).
Section 21: EUTHANASIA
We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28).
Section 22: GIVING
We believe every Christian, as a steward of the portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).
We believe that the Bible in the original writings, consisting of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by divine inspiration and is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13); that it reveals man's state by nature and presents the only means of his salvation {Romans 3:10-12; Acts 4:12); that it constitutes the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice (Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20); and that it sets forth the principles by which man will be judged (Romans 2:1-3).
Section 2: BELIEF IN GOD
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
- God the Father: We believe in God the Father who created the universe in six solar days, who sustains all things visible and invisible, who is true holiness, eternal power, infinite love, perfect justice, and absolute truth (Genesis 1:1; Leviticus 19:2; Romans 1:20, 3:26; Titus 1:2; 1 John 4:8-9).
- God the Son: We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His bodily ascension to the right hand of the Father where He ever liveth to make intercession for His saints, His pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, and imminent coming for His saints, and His return to earth to reign in power and glory (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18-23, 28:6; Acts 1:9-11, 10:38; Hebrews 4:15, 7:25; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-9).
- God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person who moved holy men of God to write the Scriptures, who convicts of sin, who quickens in the new birth, who seals and is the earnest of our inheritance, and who indwells the believer with power for holy living and service (John 14:16-17, 16:8-9; II Peter 1:21).
Section 3: MAN: HIS CREATION, FALL, AND NEED FOR REDEMPTION
We believe that man was created by an immediate act of God in His own image as given in the Genesis account and not by process of evolution; that through disobedience to God, lost his first estate and thereby became a sinner in need of a Savior, and that since that time all men are born sinners, spiritually dead, alienated from God, and stand in need of personal redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-24; Romans 5:12, 3:23-24; Psalms 51:5; Ephesians 2:1, 4:18; Colossians 1:14, 1:21, 2:13; Hebrews 9:1).
Section 4: BLOOD ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace; that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins shedding his blood on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who repent and believe in Him receiving Him by faith as personal Savior, are thereby justified on the ground of His shed blood (Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5, 5:9; I Corinthians 15:3, 5:6; Isaiah 53:6; Acts 17:30, 10:43, 13:38-39; Matthew 9:14; John 1:12, Colossians 2:6).
Section 5: PERSONAL NEW BIRTH
We believe that in order to be saved, all men must be born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We believe that this new birth is instantaneous with faith in Christ, not a process. We believe that in the new birth God justifies the believer and that the Holy Spirit immediately indwells the believer with power for holy living and service. We further believe that every believer stands a priest before God (John 1:12-13; I Corinthians 5:17; Acts 16:30-34; I Peter 1:23, 2:5; Titus 3:5-7; Galatians 5:22-23).
Section 6: JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is a judicial act of God by which He imparts to the born-again believer complete pardon of sins, and imputes to the believer His own righteousness. We believe that justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which the believer had done, but solely because of his faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:6-8, 3:21-25, 5:9; Acts 13:38-39; John 5:24, 6:47; Philemon 3:8-9; Titus 3:5).
Section 7: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and wicked. The righteous are those who have been born of the Spirit of God through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the wicked are those who have never been born of the Spirit of God. We believe that the righteous are assured of eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ whereas the wicked are destined to everlasting conscious suffering in a real and literal lake of fire eternally separated from God (Psalms 1; Malachi 3:18; I John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15; Luke 16).
Section 8: SATAN
We believe in the reality of Satan, a living personality who is the unholy prince of this world, the ruler of all powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire (Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).
Section 9: THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally secure since they have been saved by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and are kept by the power of God (I John 5:1; John 10:26-29; Romans 10:9-13, 8:31-39; I Peter 1:3-5).
Section 10: THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ and is manifested through local congregations of immersed believers observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that their officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Scripture (Acts 2:41-47, 20:17-28; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:30; II Timothy 3:17).
Section 11: THE ORDINANCE OF THE CHURCH
We believe that Christ as the Head of the church commanded two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
- Baptism: We believe that baptism is by immersion, is not necessary for salvation, yet is the privilege, step of obedience, and duty of every child of God as an open confession of his identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Mark 1:9; John 3:23).
- The Lord's Supper: We believe that the Lord's Supper is to be observed by the church in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ showing forth His death 'til He comes and picturing a life of dependence upon Him. It should always be preceded by self-examination (Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24).
Section 12: ATTITUDE TOWARD CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is ordained of God for the punishment of evildoers and for the protection of the good. We ought, therefore, to be obedient to their authority except in things opposed to the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. We believe in the separation of church and state (Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 23:10).
Section 13: THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord and in His bodily ascension into heaven where He now is at the right hand of God as our high priest, mediator, intercessor, and advocate (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; John 20:27; Luke 24, 36-40, 50-51; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 8:1, 9:15, I Peter 1:3).
Section 14: THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, and imminent return of Christ. This will be accomplished in two stages: first, the rapture—Christ’s coming for His saints—when Christ will descend into the air to catch away his waiting bride, the church. Second, the revelation—Christ’s descending with His saints to establish the long-promised kingdom and to reign upon the earth for a thousand years. Between these two stages the great tribulation judgments are visited upon the apostate and rebellious world (Acts 1:10-11; I Thessalonians 4:14-18; I Corinthians 15; Revelation 3:11, 5:9-10, 19:14, 20:4-6; Daniel 7:13-14; II Corinthians 1:3-10).
Section 15: SEPARATION
- Ecclesiastical: We believe that the Bible demands ecclesiastical separation from liberalism in any of its compromising forms as well as from those churches and organizations deviating in doctrine.
- Personal: We believe this world system to be controlled by Satan and so opposed to Christ. The Christian is to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; abstaining from any appearance of evil.
Section 16: TONGUES
We believe the speaking of tongues in the New Testament was a special gift of the Holy Spirit of the ability to speak in a contemporary language for the purpose of witnessing and as a sign of God's authority. They are not in use today (I Corinthians 13-14; Acts 2).
Section 17: MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:5-9; Ephesians 5:31-33).
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 15:19; 5:27-28; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:17-19; Colossians 3:5).
We believe that all of our members, employees, and volunteers must affirm and adhere to this Doctrinal and Religious Absolute statement on marriage and human sexuality to qualify for involvement with the ministry. This is necessary to accomplish our religious mission, goals and purpose. Behavior or counter-witnessing that does otherwise will impede and burden our integrity and religious mission.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9; 21:2).
Section 18: ABORTION
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
Section 19: DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
We believe God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. We believe that God’s legal guidelines for divorce were reluctant and given only because of man’s sinful nature. Although divorce and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, we believe Scripture prohibits them from holding the offices of Pastor or Deacon (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim 3:2,12; Titus 1:6).
Section 20: LAW SUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32; Matt. 18:15-17).
Section 21: EUTHANASIA
We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28).
Section 22: GIVING
We believe every Christian, as a steward of the portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).