Section 1— The Scriptures
This Church believes the Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is verbally (every word) and plenarily (fully) inspired (Exod. 24:4; Deut. 18:20) and inerrant in the original writings and is the supreme and final standard against which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions are measured (II Sam. 23:1-2; Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; I Cor. 2:10-13; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet 1:19-21).
Section 2 – The Triune God
This Church believes there is one triune God, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of which is identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possesses the same attributes (Deut. 6:4; Micah 5:2; Matt. 28:18-19; John 1:1-14; Acts 5:3-4).
God the Father
This Church believes God the Father is a person separate from the Son and the Spirit and invisible to man in this life. With God the Father, the Son has had an eternal relationship as Son; and from the Father and Son proceeds eternally the Holy Spirit. God the Father has a personal relationship with each believer as Father (John 15:26; 17:21; Rom. 8:14-16; Eph. 1:3; I Pet. 1:17).
God the Son
This Church believes the eternal Son of God became incarnate and united God and man in one person – Jesus Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; was born of the virgin Mary; was and is sinless; revealed the Father in His person, words, and works; died on the cross for all men’s sins; provided bodily salvation by His resurrection; ascended bodily into heaven where He ministers as each believer’s high priest in intercession and advocacy; and saves all who call upon Him in repentance and faith. He is to return imminently for His body, the church, prior to the seven-year Tribulation yet to come and will return subsequently for a thousand-year reign over Israel and the nations, which reign will begin shortly after the Tribulation ends (II Sam. 7:12-16; Zech. 14:4-11; Luke 1:30-35; 2:11; John 1:13-14; 8:18-19; 14:6-11; Acts 1:10-11; 3:19-21; 15:14-18; Rom. 5:8; I Cor. 15:3-4, 42-47, 51-52; Col. 1:15; I Thess. 4:13-18; I Tim. 2:5; 3:16; Heb. 1:2- 3; 4:14-16; 10:12; I Pet. 1:18-19; I John 2:1-2; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:6).
God the Holy Spirit
This Church believes the Holy Spirit reveals the Father and the Son; convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; regenerates sinners at the moment of faith; baptizes them into the church – the body of Christ; indwells and seals them permanently; bestows spiritual gifts upon each believer for the edification of the church; and fills and illumines those yielded to Him (John 3:8; 14:16; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 10:44; 11:16; Rom. 3:9; I Cor. 12:4-11, 13; Eph. 4:30; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27). This Church believes certain gifts of the Spirit – such as apostleship, prophecy, and tongues – were temporary in nature, were needed only in the infancy of the church, and are not to be experienced today (Eph. 2:20; Heb.2:2-4).
Section 3 – The Angels
This Church believes that the word “angel” means messenger. Angels are messengers of God for many purposes. The Word of God clearly teaches that they are created beings created by our Lord Jesus Christ for Him and His purposes (Col. 1:16-19). There are different duties that Angels have depending on their status. For example, there are angels named Cherubim that are related to protecting the throne of God. They surround the throne of God and the facsimile of them covered the mercy seat in the Tabernacle and the Temple (Ezek. 25:18-22; 28:14-16). Another classification of angels is the Seraphim as seen in Is.6:1-7. They exist above the throne of God to worship God and in one incident to act as a servant to anoint Isaiah as a prophet of God. A third classification of angels is Arch angels. These are messengers of Divine Revelation, and they are powerful prince-like messengers who fight against Satan’s princes (demons) (Lk. 1:26-38; Dan. 10:13-20). There are also myriads of other angels who act as ministers to those who shall be the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). Angels are not to be worshiped because they are created to worship and serve both God and men (Col. 1;16; Rev. 19:10).
Section 4 – The Devil or Satan
This Church believes Satan is a person and was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels (now called demons). He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this age. This Church holds him to be man’s greatest tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the children of God, and the chief of all the powers of darkness – destined, however, to final defeat at the hand of God’s Son and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, a place prepared for him and his angels (Is. 14:12-15; Ezek.28:14-17; Matt. 25:41; Eph. 2:2; 6:11-12; II Thess. 2:3-11; Rev. 12:7-9; 20:1-3, 10).
Section 5 – The Creation
This Church believes in the account of creation as presented in the book of Genesis, and that this account is to be accepted literally; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s existence on earth is not attributable to any evolutionary process, but is the result of a direct creative act of God (ex nihilo, that is, out of nothing). This Church believes that the days referenced in Genesis 1 were literal twenty-four hour days. This Church believes that God sustains His creation (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Exod. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; Rev. 10:6).
Section 6 – The Fall of Man
This Church believes God created Adam in pristine holiness; however, by a voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his sinless and happy state. Each individual is accountable for original sin (Adam’s) as well as his own personal sin and therefore is under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Man in his natural state is in a condition of total depravity; that is, sin touches every aspect of his being, and he is utterly incapable of receiving the things of the Spirit of God apart from the quickening grace of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18, 28; 3:10-19, 23; 5:12, 19; Eph. 2:1-3).
Section 7 – Christ’s Sacrifice for Sin
This Church believes the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediation of the Son of God, who, by the appointment of the Father, freely became man; yet, without sin, Christ kept the divine law on our behalf by His personal obedience and, by His death, made a full and vicarious sacrifice for our sins. His sacrifice did not consist of setting an example by His death as a martyr but rather was a voluntary substitution of Himself in our place – the just dying for the unjust. This Church believes that after He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He was and continues to be enthroned there and unites in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is qualified in every way to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior and High Priest (Is. 53:4-7; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16; Rom. 3:24-25; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; 4:14-16; 7:25; I John 4:10).
Section 8 – Grace in the New Creation
This Church believes that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again by faith alone in Jesus Christ. The new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus. In the new birth, the one who is dead in trespasses and sins is made an immediate partaker of the divine nature and instantaneously receives eternal life – the free gift of God. This Church believes that the new creation is brought about in a manner which is beyond human comprehension, and that our voluntary obedience to the gospel is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. The proper evidence of salvation is demonstrated in and by repentance, faith and newness of life (John 3:3, 6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 6:23; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; I Pet. 1:23; II Pet 1:4; I John 5:1).
Section 9 – The Freeness of Salvation
This Church believes in God’s electing grace. The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the immediate duty of all mankind to accept these blessings by a cordial, repentant, and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of even the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel. His rejection results in his aggravated condemnation (Is. 55:1, 6-7; Matt. 11:28; John 3:15-16, 36; 6:37; Acts 13:39; I Tim. 1:15; Rev. 22:17).
Section 10 – Justification
This Church believes the great gospel blessing, which Christ secures to those who believe in Him, is justification. Justification is the judicial pardon of sin and imputation of righteousness. Justification is not bestowed in consideration of any works of righteousness undertaken by a believer but is solely the result of faith in the once-for-all blood sacrifice of Christ (Is. 53:11; John 19:30; Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:23-28; 4:13-24; 5:1, 9; 8:1; Heb. 10:10,12).
Section 11 – Repentance and Faith
This Church believes that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and inseparable graces, which the quickening Spirit of God accomplishes in a believer’s soul. This work of the Spirit is evidenced by deep conviction of guilt, danger and helplessness, and the realization that the way of salvation is by and though Christ. As a result, each sinner must repent and turn to God from his sin with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy, while at the same time receiving heartily the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and openly confessing Him as his only and all-sufficient Savior (Ps. 51:1-4, 7; Is. 55:6,7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Rom. 10:9-11, 13).
Section 12 – Sanctification
This Church believes positional sanctification is that act of God whereby a believer is, at the time of regeneration, eternally set apart (declared holy) as belonging to Him and is thereby placed in the family of God as God’s child with his sins (past, present and future) forgiven (I Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:10-14; I John 3:1).
This Church believes progressive sanctification is the process by which the believer becomes practically holy on a day by day basis; the believer progresses in this holiness as he yields with joyful obedience to the Spirit’s control. This process is carried on in the life of each believer by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the study of the Word of God, self-examination, watchfulness and prayer (Prov. 4:18; John 17:17; Gal. 5:16-24; Eph. 5:8; 6:18; Phil. 2:12-13; I Thess. 4:3; I John 2:29; 3:7-10).
This Church believes perfect sanctification (glorification) will be realized when the believer is in the presence of the Lord, with renewed soul and resurrection body united and freed from every trace of sin (I Cor. 15:52-53; Eph. 4:30; 5:27; Phil. 3:20-21; I John 3:2).
Section 13 – The Security of the Believer
This Church believes the salvation of every believer is secure from the moment of regeneration and for all eternity. This security is not only promised in His Word, but it is also further guaranteed by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit and by the intercession of Christ (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Heb. 7:25; I Pet. 1:5; Jude 1).
Section 14 – The Church
This Church believes in the church universal, which is made up of those Jews and Gentiles who have received Jesus Christ as Savior. The church universal is the body and bride of Christ. Christ has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God and placed them into one spiritual body by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the spiritual body’s head. The church universal is a Holy Temple, an invisible, spiritual organism, and consists of all who are saved from Pentecost until the Rapture (I Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:14-16, 19-22; Col. 1:18).
This Church believes in the primacy of the local church, which is God’s ordained institution to fulfill His plans and purposes for the welfare of mankind. This Church believes that local churches are a manifestation of the church universal. A local church is distinguished from other Christian organizations by the fact that it is a fellowship of baptized believers who are organized, among other reasons, to observe the ordinances of Christ; are governed by His laws; and exercise the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its biblically based offices consist of elder (pastor, bishop) and deacon, whose qualifications, rights, and duties are outlined in the Scriptures. This Church believes that the true mission of the local church is to bring glory to God through Christ-honoring worship, fellowship, discipleship and world-wide proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This Church holds that the local church has the absolute right of self-government without the interference by or influence of any hierarchy of individuals, associations, or organizations. It is scriptural for local churches that are biblically based and operated to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and furthering the spread of the Gospel. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation as dictated by the Word of God (Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:3-6, 12, 22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; I Tim . 3:1-13).
Section 15 – The Ordinances
This Church believes that the Lord Jesus Christ established two ordinances to be observed until His return: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Neither ordinance imparts saving grace.
Baptism
This Church believes that Christian Baptism is the single immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41-42; 8:26-39)
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The Lord’s Supper
This Church believes that the Lord’s Supper is a partaking of unleavened bread and grape juice as symbols of Christ’s body and blood. The Lord’s Supper commemorates His suffering and death for the sins of mankind and causes us to focus on the continual benefit thereof. This ordinance is to be observed only by obedient believers in anticipation of His coming and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Anyone known to be under proper biblical discipline of this Church or any other local church should be excluded from participation (Matt. 18:15-17; 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; I Cor. 11:23-32; 5:9-13).
Section 16 – The Lord’s Day
This Church believes that the phrase “The Lord’s Day” is in reference to the day of Christ’s resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:1). On the day of Christ’s resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples in the evening (John 20:19). The disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ met on this day to break bread (Acts 20:17), and the offerings for the poor saints of Jerusalem were gathered on this day when the early believers met together (I Cor. 16:2). The Lord’s Day is the day after the Jewish Sabbath, and therefore, is not the Jewish Sabbath. It was and is the day in which God’s people meet to worship and fellowship together. Because of the importance of Christ’s resurrection, the early church sanctified this day to corporately meet together and fellowship; our desire should be to do the same. This is a special day in which to honor the Lord, therefore, we must be careful not to allow ourselves to be removed from the importance of this day. While the early church met on the Lord’s Day, they also met on other days of the week to worship, pray, learn the Word of God, and to do the will of God (Acts 2:46-47; 5:42; 16:5; 19:9).
Section 17 – Evangelism
This Church believes obedience to Christ includes the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel. Evangelism is completely consistent with God’s sovereignty in salvation and is the Biblical means of reaching the lost. This Church believes biblical evangelism must be followed by the discipleship of converts and the encouragement that they be baptized and added to a local church of sound doctrine and practice (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:5-9).
Section 18 – The Righteous and The Wicked
This Church believes that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the wicked justified (made righteous) and sanctified by the Spirit of God. All those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked and under the curse in His sight. The distinction between the righteous and the wicked remains among humans both in and after death: in the everlasting happiness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious torment of the lost (Gen. 18:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:15-26; John 8:21; Rom. 6:17-18, 23: 7:6).
Section 19 – Civil Government
This Church believes that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. Civil governments have authority to execute corporal and capital punishments and are to be supported materially through taxation. Civil magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, so long as such obedience does not oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ as found in His Word (Gen. 9:6; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20; Rom. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1-6).
Section 20 – Last Things
This Church believes the Lord Jesus Christ’s return is imminent (at any moment). He will return physically to the earth’s atmosphere to catch away His church prior to the Tribulation period, otherwise known as the Seventieth Week of Daniel. Following that “week” (seven years), Christ will return with His saints, raise all Old Testament and Tribulation saints from the dead, judge Israel and the nations, and establish His kingdom on the earth for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years, Satan and his angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire, to be joined subsequently by the unsaved dead of all dispensations after their appearing before the judgment at the Great White Throne. The saved will live eternally in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Physical Death
This Church believes that death is not the cessation of existence for any man. Death separates the soul and spirit from the body. For the unsaved, the soul and spirit is sent to Hell, a place of conscious torment, to await the Great White Throne judgment of God. For the saved, to be absent from the body is to be present immediately with the Lord, and there to await the judgment seat of Christ and then eternal rest and bliss (Luke 16:22-23; I Cor. 15:35-50; II Cor. 5:1-11; I Thess. 4:13-16; 5:10; Heb. 9:27; James 2:26; Rev. 20:14; 21:8).
The Rapture
This Church believes that the church will be snatched out of the world to be united with Christ at a time prior to the Seventieth Week of Daniel. At the end of the church age, the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to the earth’s atmosphere. At that moment, all church saints who have died will be raised first, and, immediately thereafter, those living believers will ascend with them to meet Jesus in the air. At this event, they will receive glorified bodies (I Cor. 15:51-58; I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev.3:10-14).
The Tribulation
This Church believes the Tribulation is the prophesied seven-year period of time between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ, during which the wrath of God will be poured out on the whole earth. The Tribulation will be a time in which the nation of Israel will be prepared to meet her Messiah and is also known as the time of “Jacob’s Trouble”. The duration and events of the Tribulation correspond to the Seventieth Week of Daniel, a term denoting the series of events that will take place in the latter days of the nation of Israel (Deut. 4:30; 30:1-6; Is. 34:2; Jer. 30:7- 10; Dan. 12:1; 9:24-27; Matt. 24:9-26; Rev. 3:10).
The Millennium
This Church believes that after His Second Coming, the Lord Jesus will establish a righteous reign of one thousand years. He will sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem and will thus fulfill both the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. During this time, Satanwill be bound in the Abyss, and the world will know peace, justice, prosperity, and glory. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released, will deceive many, and will lead a final revolt. This rebellion will be defeated supernaturally, and Satan with his angels will be condemned to the Lake of Fire (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:4-8; II Sam. 7:12-16; Is. 2:3; 11:1-9; Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:30-33; Rev. 20:1-15).
Transition to the Eternal State
After the millennium, the following events will transpire chronologically:
The battle of Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:7-9); Satan and demons will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10); The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:1-10); and The destruction of the present heavens and earth (II Pet. 3:10-18).
The Eternal State
The eternal state commences with the creation of the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1 – 22:5).