1.  We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. (Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

2.  We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in essence, eternally equal in power and glory. (Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19-20; John 4:24; 10:20)

    a. God the Father – We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness,         boundless in love, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power.  We believe that God is the Creator of the universe through His Son Jesus Christ, and that He created it within seven literal, twenty-four hour days (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:17).  We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son. (Job 37:16; Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 32:17; John 14:6; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 4:8)

    b. God the Son – We believe that Jesus Christ is one of the Persons of the Godhead, eternally existent (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8) and equal in essence with the Father (John 5:23, 26; 14:9-11; Colossians 2:9).  He became the God-man by means of the incarnation (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-7).  He possessed a complete and perfect human and divine nature while being only one Person (1 Timothy 2:5; 3:16).

We believe that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25), solely making atonement for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross.  We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people, and His glorious second coming according to promise.

    c. God the Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Godhead; equal in essence with the Father and the Son, and that He was active in the creation (Genesis 1:2; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9-11).  In the world, He restrains Satan until God’s purpose is fulfilled (2 Thessalon-ians 2:7).  He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony.  He is active in the new birth.  He seals, empowers, guides, teaches, bears witness to, sanctifies, and helps the believer.  (John 3:1-8; 14:16-17; Romans 8:14, 16, 26; 1 Corinth-ians 2:12-14; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; Titus 3:5)

3.  We believe that mankind was created in the image of God as a special act on the sixth day of creation.  Man sinned by his own choice, resulting in the total depravity of the human race.  Man’s sin resulted in physical death and spiritual death, which is separation from God.  All mankind is born with a sinful nature and, because of this, is totally dependent upon God’s mercy and grace for redemption. (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; Exodus 20:11; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)  Since God created mankind into genders (distinctly male and female), we believe that the only legitimate marriage is marriage between a man and a woman.  He has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage.  We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex.  We believe that God rejects any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery, or through appearance. (Genesis 1:27; 2:22-25; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2;
1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9)

4.  We believe that God in His love gives physical life, which begins at conception and continues until death.  Therefore, we affirm that human life is to be cherished and honored in the fear of God, regardless of what mankind might choose to condemn.  Abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and mercy killing are contrary to God’s Word.  (Genesis 2:7; Exodus 4:11; 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 9:20)

5.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ physically died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who repent of their sin and believe in Him as their personal Savior are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. (Luke 24:47; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:22)

6.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate. (Matthew 27:53; Acts 1:9; Romans 6:5; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 7:25)

7.  We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior are spiritually born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.  These then are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit and so are eternally secured unto the day of redemption. We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is that act whereby the Holy Spirit places the one believing in Jesus Christ into the body of Christ.  This takes place the moment one is saved, and there is no subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; 3:3, 5; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30)

8.  We believe in the priesthood of all believers.  Jesus Christ is the High Priest, and through Him every born again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest.  Each believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit.  (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:9)

9.  We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ was begun at Pentecost; is composed solely of believers in Christ; is the Body and Bride of our Lord; is distinct from the nation of Israel; and that its mission is to complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ.  We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit.  In contending for the faith and the furtherance of the Gospel, every church is the sole and only judge of the extent and method of its cooperation, matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and stewardship, and that the will of the local church is final, with the Word of God being the supreme and final authority in all matters. (Matthew 16:18; 18:15-17; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Timothy 3:15)

10.  We believe that baptism by immersion is an ordained testimony, portraying the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:22-23; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:1-14)

11.  We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper to symbolically commemorate His death until He comes.  We believe that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood, and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him ought to partake of it (1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

12.  We believe in the personal and imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air for His saints.  This event is known as the blessed hope, or Rapture.  We believe in the personal, visible, and glorious return of Christ to the earth with His saints. We believe that between these two events will occur the seven years of intense tribulation.  During this seven-year period of tribulation, God will specifically work with His covenant people, Israel.  Though in this present age Israel is dispersed throughout the world, they will continue to be regathered in the country of Israel (Isaiah 14:1; 27:13; 43:5-7; Jeremiah 16:14-16; 30:1-7; 32:37-44).  At the end of the tribulation period, one-third of the nation of Israel will turn to the Lord and, at His Second Coming, these believing Jews will be permitted to enter the millennial kingdom.  At this time, they will experience the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.  We believe in the positions known as the pretribulational and premillennial return of Christ. (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 25:31; Acts 1:11; Romans 11:25-27; 1 Thessal-onians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)

13.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (John 5:28-29).  We believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell.  The spirits of the saved immediately upon death enter into the presence of the Lord forever to enjoy eternal bliss with Jesus Christ and fellow-believers        (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; John 14:1-3; Philippians 1:23).  The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades, where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Peter 2:9).  At that time, their bodies shall be raised from the grave.  They shall be judged according to their works, and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment.  This place involves eternal torment, and excludes the idea of any forms of annihilation.  (Mark 9:43-48; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Jude 13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8)

14.  We believe that Satan is a fallen angel.  He was originally created by God and known as Lucifer.  Because of pride and rebellion, he was judged by God.  Presently, Satan is the god of this age and the adversary of Jesus Christ and His Church.  His eternal destiny is eternal punishment in the lake of fire.  (Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:7-10)

15.  We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that governmental officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed.  The exception to obedience is only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Genesis 9:6; 2 Samuel 23:3; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17)