The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible in its entirety to be the inspired and infallible Word of God written by divinely inspired men and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instructions; it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
The Godhead
We believe there is one and only one living and true God who is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being that is the Creator, preserver, and ruler of the universe and is infinite in holiness and all other perfections to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and that there is one God. (Genesis 1:1-3, 26; I John 5:7-8; John 4:24, John 10:30)
The Fall of Man
We believe man was created by the special act of God as recorded in Genesis. He was created in a state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but through the temptation of Satan, he voluntarily transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Man’s posterity thereby inherited a corrupt nature, came into bondage to sin, and is under condemnation. (Genesis 1:27, 2:7; Romans 5:12)
Salvation
We believe in the personal salvation of sinners through the shed blood of the one and only begotten son of God, Jesus the Christ, and his mediatorial office of the Son of God who by the Holy Spirit was born of the virgin Mary and took upon Him our nature. Yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by His death. Being risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all sufficient Savior. We believe the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel and it is the duty of all to receive them by penitent and obedient faith. (Romans 10:9-13; Acts 4:12; John 3:16; Luke 24:7; I Corinthians 15:12-23; Ephesians 2:8; Isaiah 53:4-5; Hebrews 7:25)
Security of the Believer
We believe that a true believer is eternally secure and he cannot lose his salvation, however, sin may interrupt the joy of his fellowship with God and bring the loving discipline of our Heavenly Father. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 10:22-30)
Perseverance of Saints
We believe only true believers endure unto the end, their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professions, a special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:20)
A Gospel Church
We believe a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers who are bound by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel and observe the ordinances of Christ governed by His laws and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. (Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:20)
Church Ordinances
We believe in water baptism through immersion as an act of obedience and in Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) and that they should be observed by all believers until His return. (I Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:3-7; Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
The Christian Sabbath
We believe the first day of the week is the Lord’s day, or Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes by worship service on that day for the people of God. (Acts 20:7; Exodus 20:8)
Civil Government
We believe civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Responsibility of Leaders
We believe that God anoints leaders (Senior Pastor, Elders, and Deacons) to guide His church in the understanding and application of the Holy Scriptures. It is their responsibility to be examples of Godliness as they see to the spiritual well being and protection of the flock over which God has given them charge. (Acts 6:1-8; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:1-3)
Evangelism and Missions
We believe it is the duty of every Christian man, woman, and church of Christ to seek to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constanly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by other methods sanctioned by the gospel of Christ.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life and is empowered for witness and service. We believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are operative today. (Galatians 5:16-25; I Corinthians 12:4-11)
Justification
We believe justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ. (Acts 13:39; Romans 5:12)
Grace in Regeneration
We believe the blessings of salvation, or the new birth, is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit whereby we become partakers of divine nature and a holy disposition is given leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of God’s free grace condition upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God. (John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17)
Repentance and Faith
We believe repentance and faith are sacred duties and inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our prophet, priest, and king and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Mark 1:15; Romans 10:9)
God’s Grace and Purpose
We believe election is the gracious purpose of God according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man and in no way interferes with the salvation of an individual. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness and that He is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. (Romans 8:28-31; II Peter 1:10-11)
Sanctification
We believe sanctification is the process by which believers are made partakers of God’s holiness and it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Healer, and the Comforter in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. (I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:28; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 12:14)
Social Service
We believe every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ relevant in their own life and in human society, to oppose in the Spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness and vice, to provide for the orphaned, the aged, the helpless, and the sick, to seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love, and to promote these ends. Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Stewardship
We believe God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, all that we have and are we owe to Him. We have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in our possessions. We should recognize that all of these are entrusted to us to use for the glory of God and helping others. Christians should bring of their tithes and offerings cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally contribute of their means to advancing the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
The Resurrection
We believe that scriptures clearly teach that Jesus rose from the dead. His grave was emptied of its contents, he appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations, he now exists in His glorified body at God’s right hand, there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, and the bodies of the righteous will conform to the glorious body of Jesus.
The Return of the Lord
We believe the New Testament teaches in many places the visible and personal return of Jesus to this earth. It is the duty of all believers to live in readiness for His coming and by diligence in good works to make manifest to all men the reality and power of their hope in Christ.
The World to Come
We believe the end of the world is approaching, at the last day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution, a solemn separation will then take place, the wicked will be judged to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy, and this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell on principles of righteousness. (Acts 1:11; Acts 25:15; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 25:31-46)