Our Statement of Faith

Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is God's revelation to man. The Bible as originally written was verbally and plenarily inspired and the product of men controlled by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). The Bible is inerrant and infallible (John 10:35; Romans 7:12) and is the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which any question which relates to faith and practice shall be adjudicated. We believe that the Bible is historically, geographically, and culturally accurate in every detail.

Of the True God

We believe that there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 5:7).

Of God the Father

The Father is the originator of creation, revelation, our salvation, and Jesus’ earthly ministry. Through the salvation works of Christ, we become children of God and are no longer children deserving the wrath of the holy God (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; John 3:16-17; John 5:17; John 14:10; Ephesians 1: 5; Galatians 4:4-5; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:15; Romans 8:1).

Of the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Eternal Son, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-3, 10:30; Ephesians 1:4; Micah 5:2). Prior to His incarnation, He appeared in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:9-11; 22:11, 15; Numbers 22:22-35; Judges 13:13-21; 2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 1:3, 15). He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20, 23-25). He lived a sinless life, and in His death He became the complete and perfect substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, the just dying for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave (1 Corinthians 15), and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) where He now intercedes for us as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). He will return bodily to earth to establish His Kingdom (Revelation 19).

Of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person (Acts 5:3-4), equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation (Genesis 1:1-3); that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled (2 Thessalonians 2:7); superintended the writing of Scripture (John 14:26, 2 Peter 1:21); that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11); that He does the work of regeneration (Titus 3:5); that He indwells (Romans 8:9), baptizes into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), seals (Ephesians 1:13-14), fills (Ephesians 5.18), teaches (1 John 2:27), leads (Romans 8:14), and prays for (Romans 8:26) believers.

Of the Devil (or Satan) and Angels

We believe that Satan is a fallen angel and was created without sin and enjoyed heavenly honors as Lucifer. However, through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after him a host of angels (Isaiah. 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17); that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians. 2:2). He is man's great tempter (Matthew. 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:5); the enemy of God and His Christ (Revelation 20:1-3); the accuser of the saints (Revelation 12:9); and the author of false religions (2 Corinthians. 11:13-15; Revelation 13:13-14). Satan is destined to final defeat at the hands of Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 24-28), and to the judgment of eternal torment in the lake of fire which was prepared for him and his angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10).

Angels are created beings which possess intellect, emotion, and will (1 Peter 1:12; Luke 2:13; Jude 6). They neither reproduce nor die (Mark 12:25; Luke 20:36). They worship God (Isaiah 6:1-3; Hebrews 1:6).They are messengers of God (Daniel 9-12; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-33, 2:13 Revelation); ministers of God (Hebrews 1:6, 7, 14; Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43; Acts 12:7); and the military of God (2 Kings 6:17; Matthew 13:36-43; 26:53). Fallen angels are those who chose to follow Satan, known as demons (Matthew 12:24). They may be divided into those who are free to oppose God (Daniel 10:13: Revelation 16:13, 14) and those confined for later judgment (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6).

Of Creation

We believe that the triune God created all things in the universe during the six literal twenty-four hour days as recorded in the Genesis record. This record is the literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process (Genesis 1 & 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Job 38:4).

Of Man

We believe that man was created directly by God out of the dust of the ground, and God breathed into him the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Man is both body and spirit. He was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). He was created sinless. Adam and Eve are the parents of the human race (Genesis 1-2).

By the voluntary transgression of Adam, man fell from his sinless state, so now all men are born with a sin nature received from Adam (Genesis 3:l-6; Romans 5:12). Man is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3), and is totally depraved, having no ability to please God. All men are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Romans 1:18-3:20).

Of Sin

God is not the author of sin; He utterly abhors sin (Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 34:10; James 1:13). However, He created beings with a capability to sin. Sin entered into the world with Satan (1 John 3:8; John 8:44), but sin corrupted the human race and the world when Adam sinned (Genesis 3:1-7).

The word "sin" means to fall short of the standard which God has established. 1 John 5:17 states that "all unrighteousness is sin;" and 1 John 3:4 defines sin as lawlessness. Sin is also a failure to do what is right (James 4:17). Sin resulted in the separation of the entire human race from God (which is spiritual death), the separation of the body from the immaterial part of man (which is physical death), and, after judgment, eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:10-15).

Of Salvation

We believe that the basis of our salvation is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Romans. 3:24-26). It has been purchased by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:16-19). Christ is the sinless, substitutionary Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24) who suffered in our place for our sins.

Salvation is totally by the grace of God, which is freely given. We cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved by His grace through faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, convicts “the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-11), and the sinner repents (Acts 20:21). God gives the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8), the person believes in Christ (Romans 10:13), and the Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration (Titus 3:5).

The results of salvation are manifold. We are redeemed (Romans 3:24). We are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). We are delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). We are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). We are assured of future glorification (Romans 8:30). We are justified or judicially declared righteous (Romans 3:24). We have our citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). We receive the Spirit of adoption and so are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians. 1:3). We receive the position of sonship and are legal heirs by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7). We are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). We are positionally sanctified or set apart unto God (1 Corinthians 6:11). We are eternally secure (John 5:24; 10:27-30).

Of the Local Church

We believe that the local church is an organized body of believers who have been baptized by immersion and who have covenanted together for the purposes of maintaining the apostles' doctrine, continuing in fellowship, worship, prayer, and the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), and being discipled to make disciples of Christ (Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). We believe that these activities are to be carried out by each member through a holy lifestyle and an active verbal witness to build up believers and to reach the unsaved for Christ.

We believe that the two offices of the local church are the elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Peter 5). The qualifications for these offices are listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:1-10, and clearly indicate that only men can fill these two church offices. We believe that a congregational form of church government has the best support in Scripture (1 Corinthians 5:5; Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Peter 2:5, 9).

Of Future Events

We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness (1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Hebrews 1:10-12; Matthew 24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 13:39-40; 2 Peter 3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; Luke 14:14; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; John 6:40; John 11:25-26; 2 Timothy 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 13:37-43; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 22:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Peter 2:9; Jude 7; Philippians 3:19; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; John 4:36; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Rom 3:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; Hebrews 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:2-16; Revelation 20:11-12; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 4:17; 2 Peter 3:11-12).

Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government was established by God for the interests and good order of human society (Romans 13:1-7, Genesis 9:1-6). Our Biblical responsibilities include praying for those who have authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and respecting and obeying them except in those things opposed to the Word of God (1 Peter 2:13-17; Acts 5:17-42; Daniel 3; 6). 

Of the Value of Human Life

We believe in the sanctity of human life, as God has created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27; 9:6). We believe that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:14-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44), and therefore abortion, the taking of a human life while in the womb, is murder and is sin. Euthanasia, the taking of the life of a person who is considered hopelessly ill or injured, is also sin.

Of Marriage and Family

We believe that God has established marriage and the family (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-33). As God created male and female and gave them the responsibility to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:27 -28), we believe that marriage is between one man who was born genetically a male and one woman who was born genetically a female. As God has given the husband and the wife the responsibility to care for the sexual and intimate needs of one another (1 Corinthians 7:2-5), and the marriage is honorable and the bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4), any sexual activity condemned by God’s Word is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9).

We believe that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-17; Mark 10:1-12), and intends a marriage to last until one of the spouses dies (Romans 7:1-3). God does permit divorce, but only on certain grounds (Matthew 19:8-9; 1 Peter 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 7).

Of Separation

We believe that the Bible teaches personal separation from worldliness (James 4:4), the sinning brother (1 Corinthians 5:11-13), and all appearance of evil (1 lThessalonians 5:22) to maintain a proper testimony before the saved and unsaved for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31-32).

We believe the Bible also teaches ecclesiastical separation from those who teach false doctrine (I Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 2:16-18). Therefore, a Biblically sound church can cooperate only with churches of like faith and practice.

Of Sign Gifts

We believe that the sign gifts were used by God in early church history to present the gospel to various people groups, to confirm the message of the messengers, and to establish the church (Acts 2:5-13, Acts 10:45-46). These gifts are not normative in the life of the church today and are superseded by the canon of Scripture (1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12-14). 

Of The Ordinances

We believe that a local, autonomous Baptist church is a voluntary association of baptized believers, equal in rank and privilege, subject to the Word of God, and independent of any external ecclesiastical or associational control whatsoever. We believe God’s Word commands every believer (and only believers) to be baptized, and that scriptural baptism is by immersion in water.

We believe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers as Christ said, in remembrance of His broken body and shed blood for us, and that the supper has no sacramental virtue (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).