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STATEMENT OF FAITH
SECTION 1 - THE TRUE GOD
- We believe that there is one God, the creator of heaven and earth. That he is revealed in the Holy scriptures by his various attributes as reflected in His name - God (Elohim, the strong one); LORD God (Jehovah or Yahwe, the self existent one, the “I AM”); Lord (Adonai, master); Almighty God (El shaddai, the strength giver); LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth); Everlasting God (El Olam). We believe that God is infinite, immortal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, righteous, immutable, glorious, loving, merciful, graceful, infinitely wise, and we are unable to fully understand, or describe Him.
Genesis 1:1; 2:4; 15:2; 17:1-8; 28:2,3; 1 Samuel 1:3; Psalm 24:10
SECTION 2 - THE SCRIPTURES
- We believe that the Authorized King James Bible, as translated from the Majority Text (New Testament) and the Masoretic Text (Old Testament) and consisting only of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is God's only preserved and inspired Word in the English language. We believe that it is entirely without any error, and is our ONLY rule for faith and practice. We believe that every word within the Book is there for a purpose and has been preserved for that purpose. We believe that all scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments "are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works." We believe that if the foundation of God' s Word is sure and unshakable, then there is less room for error to creep into the church. Rather than try to correct the Word, we will seek to be corrected by It. Modern versions will not be used in any aspect of the ministries of this church, but only the Authorized King James Bible will be used by all for preaching and teaching.
Psalms 12:6,7;119:89; Ecclesiastes 3:14; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
SECTION 3 - THE TRINITY
- We believe that there is only one true God to be worshipped. He, while being One God, is distinct in Three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While we don't understand how One can be Three, we accept this is so because His Word declares it so. Each Person of the Trinity is alike in attributes, differing slightly in sphere of ministry and work, yet united in common purpose.
Genesis 1:26;3:22; Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; John 1:1,2;10:30; Ephesians 4:4-6; Tittus 2:13; 1 John 5:7
The Deity, Virgin Birth, & Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ
- We believe that Christ was God manifested in the flesh, His body being miraculously conceived in the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. We believe that thus He was simultaneously both and equally the Son of God and the Son of Man. We believe that Christ lived a perfect, sinless life and gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice to please God and to pay the penalty for our sins and also for the sins of the whole world. We believe that the same Holy Spirit that worked Christ's conception, also raised Christ up from the dead, bodily and literally, and that Christ ascended to Heaven, where He now sits at God's right hand, interceding for His Bride, the Church.
Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3,14; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:15
The Holy Spirit
- We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, equal with God in all attributes, a Personality and not merely a force of influence. We believe that He was an active participant in Creation with both the Father and the Son. We believe that He filled and empowered Old Testament saints and that His work toward the sinner is to convict of sin, righteousness, and of judgment to come. We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament believer is regeneration and sanctification (both at conversion and progressively until we meet the Lord). We believe that He seals, indwells, fills, guides, strengthens, blesses, bears fruit, and teaches us the way and the Word of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit endues us with gifts and talents to be used in God's service and to His glory. We believe that the evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling is not the speaking in tongues or any other of the charismatic "signs", but rather the fruits of the Spirit, a changed life, and a desire for God's Word, His people, and the things of God.
Genesis 1:2,26; John 7:39;14:16,17,26; Acts 1:5,8; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31;13:8-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13,14;4:7-11
SECTION 4 - CREATION
- We believe that creation was a literal and actual act of a sovereign, Triune God. We believe that this world and universe, and all that is therein, were created by God in six( 6) literal (twenty-four hour) days and that He rested on the seventh. We believe that the genealogies provided in scripture are literal and can be used to obtain an estimate of the date of creation, that is, approximately 4000 years before the birth of Christ. We believe that God created everything perfect and that man's sin ruined all of God's creation. We believe that God created man in His own image, and that woman was made out of the rib of man. All other philosophies, theories, and religious ideologies of creation, such as the gap theory, day-age theory, theistic evolution, atheistic evolution, and the framework hypothesis are rejected as being unscriptural.
Genesis 1,2; John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 1:2
SECTION 5 - SATAN AND HELL
- We believe that Satan was created as a holy angel, a covering angel for the throne of God, then he was lifted up in sinful pride and rebelled against God. Consequently, he was cast out of Heaven to earth, where he began his destructive, deceitful work in the Garden of Eden. He drew many angels with him, who are the demons. He is the enemy of God and man, and seeks to destroy mankind. We believe that his purpose is to try to thwart the work of God and to delude as many as he can before the Second Coming of the Lord, when Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, and afterwards into the literal Lake of Fire together with all of his fallen angels. Today he operates as the great deceiver, the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the father of all lies, etc.
Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah 14:12-23; Ezekiel 28:13-14; Matthew 25:41; Revelations 12:9-10;20:10
- We believe in the reality of Hell. Hell is the eternal place of torment, suffering, fire, pain, and separation from God and other people. We believe that it is a real place reserved for the Devil, his angels, and all those who reject God's offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that there are levels of punishment based on how one lived on earth.
Matthew 8:29, 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Thessolonians 1:8,9; Revelations 20:10-15;21:8
SECTION 6 - MANKIND
- We believe that mankind was created perfect in the image of God by God Himself and that by voluntary choice they fell from that state of perfection into a state of perpetual sin (inherent in every person). We believe that when Adam and Eve sinned, they not only brought upon themselves( and all subsequent generations) physical death, but also separation from God or spiritual death. We believe that all mankind are totally depraved or without any good or merit in themselves. We believe that no person has any merit before God by good works they may have done.
Genesis 1 :26;3:14-19,22-24; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-12,23;5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-12
SECTION 7 - SALVATION
- We believe that salvation of mankind was accomplished by the Triune God. God the Father so loved the world that He sent the Son to die. God the Son came and gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men, women, and children. God the Holy Spirit works in regenerating the hearts and lives of everyone who believes. We believe that salvation is freely offered to all mankind, and that it is up to the individual person to either accept or reject God's offer of salvation. We believe that salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to make peace with God. We believe that upon acceptance of salvation from God, the person is instantaneously born again into God's family and is regenerated, justified by God, and set apart for a new life. We believe that salvation is a gift and cannot be earned by good works, what ever form they may take. We believe that salvation is only by God's mercy and grace. We further believe that once one is saved, that they cannot lose that position in Christ. It is an eternal gift of eternal life.
John 3:5,6,16;5:4;10:28;13:10;14:6; Acts 2:21,37,38;16:30,31; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 10:7,9; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 3:9; Jude 24
- We believe in the reality and eternity of Heaven. We believe that Heaven is the place where God dwells and to where each and every believer will go immediately upon death or the rapture of the church. We believe that it is a prepared place and a place free from the presence of sin, sickness, and sorrow.
Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalms 73:25; Luke 11:2; John 14:1-14; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelations 7:9;21:22
SECTION 8 - RAPTURE, TRIBULATION, MILLENIUM
- We believe in a pre-tribulational, pre-millennial coming of the Lord for His redeemed ones. In this event, known as the rapture, all believers will be taken up to be with the Lord. We believe that it will be soon, for the signs point to a soon return. We believe that it will be a sudden or swift return for His Word says that it will be "in the twinkling of an eye". We believe that it will be a sure return, for His Word declares He will return. Also we believe that it will be a sad return for those who have rejected God, and they will not have the opportunity again. Immediately following the rapture will be a seven year period of trouble upon the earth, known as the tribulation period. Christ subsequently returns to earth with his saints to establish His millennial kingdom, which is a literal one thousand year reign.
Matt 24 and 25; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16,17; Rev 22:7,12,20;
SECTION 9 - THE LOCAL CHURCH
- We believe that the local church is a self-governing group of believers (two or more), with Christ as the Head, free from control by any denominational hierarchy, deacon board, or board of trustees. Its mandate is for the glorification of God, the carrying out of Church ordinances, the teaching of doctrine, the training of Christians, the fellowship of believers, the exercising of discipline of the believer, the exercising of Christian service, and the fulfilling of the Great Commision, and edification of the saints.
Matthew 18:17; 28:19,20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Ephesians 5:23,24; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 6:3-5, 15:22
SECTION 10 - CHURCH ORDINANCES - Baptism & the Lord's Supper
- We believe that those who are saved must follow their Lord in obedience to be baptized by immersion. This is an outward symbol of what has transpired inwardly (at conversion). We believe that it symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and also the Christian's death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ. We believe that there is no age restriction, but there must be a clear understanding of what baptism is all about.
Matthew 28:19,20; Luke 3:21,23; Acts 2:38,41;8:36-39;16:30-34; Romans 6:1-5
- We believe that communion or the Lord's Supper is to be practiced periodically by baptized believers, who have carefully examined themselves before the Lord before partaking. The elements of the fruit of the vine (non-alcoholic grape juice) and the unleavened bread are but symbols of the shed blood and broken body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptural reason for the Lord's Supper is to remember His death until He returns and because we are specifically commanded to do so.
Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:41,42; 2 Corinthians 11:20-34
SECTION 11 - The Great Commission
We believe that God has commanded and ordained believers to go and preach the gospel to the whole world, beginning in their own local community and church.
Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; John 21:15-22; Acts 1:4-8
SECTION 12 - The Lord's Day
- We believe that the first day of the week(Sunday) is the Lord's Day. We believe that it is to be totally set aside for the Lord, His worship and His praise. We believe that this is in keeping with the example set by the early Christians and is in memory of His resurrection on that day of the week.
Psalms 118:24; Isaiah 58:13, 14; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 4:3-11;10:24,25
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