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Our Statement of Faith

What are your beliefs on the Bible? The Bible teaches  ALL scripture was given by verbal, complete, and inerrant inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and that God has promised to preserve every jot and tittle of what He inspired (Matthew 5:18).  What are your beliefs regarding One True God? The Bible teaches there is one true God who is manifest in three eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17;  28:19).  They are equal in every divine perfection, and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. What position does Jesus Christ hold? The Bible teaches the Lord Jesus Christ is fully and literally God in human form (1 Timothy 3:16), that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), and in the womb of a virgin named Mary (Isaiah 7:14) received a human body.  He was tempted by Satan in all points like as we are, yet did not sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:16).  He allowed Himself to be crucified in order to pay the penalty deserved for all men's sin (Romans 5:11-21) and He literally and bodily rose again from the grave on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and He now sits on the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Colossians 3:1). Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His Function? The Bible teaches the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature.  The Holy Spirit is the current earthly manifestation of God through the indwelling of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 16:7); and He seals the believer and baptizes (immerses) him into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13); with the goal of teaching God's Word and conforming the believer to the very image of Christ (Ephesians 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).  The Bible is clear that the modern tongues movement is not according to scripture (1 Corinthians 14). How is Satan looked at during our place in time? The Bible teaches Satan is a real, historical being, a fallen cherub who was lifted up in pride and rebelled against God, leading an army of angelic beings with him (Isaiah 14:12-17).  He is the tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5), the enemy of God and the accuser of the saints (Revelation 12:10).  Satan is now the malignant prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and the unholy god of this world (John 14:30). Satan is the author of all false religions, the chief power to back the present apostasy (2 Corinthians 11:13-15); the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11, Revelation 13:1-13). His defeat was sealed by the work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 2:14).  His final destiny is the Lake of Fire, which was created for him and his angels (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10). What are your beliefs regarding creation? The Bible teaches the Genesis account of creation is historical, not allegorical or figurative.  Adam was an historical person, created by the direct act of God and in His image (Genesis 1-2).  Adam chose to sin against God through the free will God gave him and reaped the wages of death.  As the originator of the human race, Adam passed his sinful nature to all mankind (Romans 5:12).  All men are sinners by birth and become sinners in experience (Romans 3:23), for which the wages are death (Romans 6:23). How does one become “Saved” or a believer? The Bible teaches salvation is by God's grace alone on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in His resurrection, appropriated by the faith of anyone who will personally believe in his heart and confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10).  The act of salvation is just as definite and decisive as physical birth (John 3:1-7).  This salvation cannot be reversed or lost. Believer’s salvation is preserved by the power of God (John 10:28-29; 1 John 2:19; Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5). What is the Local Church and how do I fit in? The Bible teaches the local assembly of believers (church) is God's instrument in this age of grace.  While all genuine, born again believers in Christ share an organic, family relationship, the overwhelming number of references of the word "church" in the Bible apply to a local, visible assembly of believers (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16).  At the Second Coming of Christ, all genuine believers from the time of Christ's ascension will be united together as the Body of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2).  Until then, it is the responsibility of each local church to continue in evangelism, discipleship and missions both independently and interdependently (Matthew 28:18-20).  Each local assembly should be self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating, practicing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and operating under the leadership of those who hold the office of pastor (also known as "bishop" or  "elder" in the Bible) and assisted by those who hold the office of deacon (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17).  Every member of the local church has the responsibility to minister the Word of God and support the ministry through prayer, holy living, tithes and offerings (1 Corinthians 16:2; Malachi 3:10; Acts 4:34-37; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-4). What are your beliefs regarding Christ’s return? The Bible teaches the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and great glory to judge the world and reign (Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).  Shortly before Christ's Second Coming all genuine believers will be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52), followed by a seven year period of tribulation on earth during which time God will judge His people, Israel, and all without Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11,  Matthew 24).  That period of tribulation will be ended by Christ's personal return to rule for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6; Matthew 25:31-46). What does the Bible say about Eternity? All men will spend eternity either with Christ or eternally separated from Him.  We believe that the lost that die wait in a literal hell for the day of final judgment where they will be assigned to the proper degree of punishment in a literal Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).  Those who have accepted Christ as their Savior will experience a bodily resurrection to everlasting life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

 

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