Our Official Doctrine

The scriptures - we believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Tim 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20,21; Matt 5:18;John 16:12,13).

The Godhead - we believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deut 6:4; II Cor 13:14).

The Person and work of Christ - we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom 3:24; I Peter 2:24; Eph 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9, 10; Heb 7:25, Heb 9:24; Rom 8:34; I John 2:1-2).

The Person and work of the Holy Spirit - we believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Cor 3:6; I Cor 12:12-14; Rom 8:9; Eph 5:18).

The absolute depravity of man - we believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen 1:26,27 Rom 3:22, 23, 5:12; Eph 2:1-3, 12).

Salvation - we believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Eph 2:8-10; John 1:12; Eph 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19).

Eternal security and assurance of believers - we believe that those who are truly redeemed are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. we don't believe in "once saved, always saved", we believe in "if saved, always saved". (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom 8:1, 38, 39; I Cor 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5). We believe it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom 13:13,14; Gal 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

The ministry and spiritual gifts - we believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and is the placing of the believer into the Body of Christ. We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential (proving the presence of the Holy Spirit), nor an indication of deep spiritual experience (I Cor. 12:7,11,13 & Eph. 4:7-8). We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7 & I John 5: 14, 15). We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God given to him (Rom 12:1-8; I Cor. 13; I Peter 4:10-11).

The Church - we believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Eph 1:22,23; 5:25-27; I Cor 12:12-14; II Cor 11:2). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures (Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17, I Tim 3:1-3 & Titus 1:5-11). We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Rom 16:1,4; I Cor 3:9, 16, I Cor 5: 4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4). We recognize believer's baptism and the Lord's supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age (Matt 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 18:8; I Cor 11:23-26