Doctrinal Statement
The Scripture
We believe in the verbal (word for word) and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Bible. It is the Word of God, recorded by holy men chosen by God, who wrote under the moving and watchcare of the Holy Spirit. The sixty-six (66) books of Scripture stand as the final authority to the church and the individual in all matters of faith and practice. We further believe that these sixty-six (66) books and they alone, in the words of the original autographs, are the infallible, inerrant and immutable Word of God. (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 1:16.)
The Godhead
We believe God is the infinite and eternal Spirit; One whose knowledge, power, goodness, justice and other attributes are not limited by any imperfection or defect (Ps. 147:5). We believe God knows all things, every thought and intent of man's heart, every word, every action (Ps.139:2,4). We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections and are worthy of the same homage, confidence and obedience. (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:6-8; Matt. 28: 18-20, John 1: 1-4; Rev. 1 :4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1-3.)
God the Father
We believe God the Father is eternally God, co-equal and co¬existent with the Son and the Holy Spirit. The determinate will of the Godhead is the will of God the Father (John 4:34; Matt. 26:39). As we express saving faith in the death and resurrection of God the Son, we are forgiven and justified by the Father. (Rom 3:21-30; Rom 8:33.)
God the Son
We believe God the Son is eternally God, co-equal and co-existent with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the Son, not by the generation of the Father, but by the willing subjection of Himself to the will of the Father. God the Son, laid aside for a time, not His deity but the expression of the Glory of His deity. He was born of a virgin, lived as a man, tempted in all ways such as we are yet without sin, died as our substitute and rose in three days as Saviour to those who will trust in Him. He ascended to heaven and there intercedes on behalf of believers before the throne of God the Father. It is this same Jesus, God the Son, who will return in like manner as He ascended. (John 1:11-13; I Pet. 3:18; Rom. 4:25; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 1 :2-3; Acts 1: 10-11; Phil. 2:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:21)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe God the Holy Spirit is eternally God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the divine personality sent by God the Son to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-8). As we express saving faith in the death and resurrection of God the Son, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1: 13-14). The Holy Spirit fills and controls those who, in submission, seek to walk in the fullness of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16-18). In the life of the believer the Holy Spirit performs a ministry of comfort, illumination, sanctification and intercession. He bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16). In all the ministries of the Holy Spirit His purpose is to glorify God the Son (John 16: 14).
Creation
We believe that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen.1: 1); and that all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3). We believe Genesis chapters one and two give the literal account of creation.
Angels
We believe that the angels are God's messengers and that they were created to serve before the presence of God. They live by the will of God for the purpose of God (Heb. 1:7,14).
Satan
We believe that Satan was once a holy angel, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after him a host of other angels. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ and the accuser of the saints. He is the lord of the antichrist, and the prince of all the powers of darkness. He lives now, defeated by the work of Christ on the cross, yet arrogantly attempts to establish his own authority. He awaits the judgment of eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Rev. 12:9; 2 Peter 2:4; Matt. 4:1-3, 1 Peter 5:8; Zech. 3:1, Is. 14:12-17.)
Man
The Fall Of Man We believe that man, originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate through disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit. In consequence, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. (Gen. 1:26, 2:17; Is. 64:6-7; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 3:8; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12-19.)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that this spiritual death or total corruption of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire race of man, the man Christ Jesus alone excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a sinful nature. (Gen.6:5; Ps. 14:1-3, 51:5; Rom. 3:10-18; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6.)
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
We believe that, owing to this universal depravity and death in sin, no one can see or enter the kingdom of God unless born of the Spirit whereby he becomes a new creation. (John 3:5-8; Gal. 6:15; Tit. 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 5:1.)
SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH We believe that sinners are saved by Grace through Faith alone and that not of themselves; it is the gift of God and not of works. We further believe that every saved person is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-14.)
Atonement by the Blood of Christ
We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and made a curse for us, dying in our room and stead, a Sacrifice acceptable to God and effectual for every sinner who receives Him. (Lev. 17:11; Matt. 26:28; John 1:12; Rom. 5:6-9; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19, 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21.)
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification, which is setting apart of the believer unto God is threefold:
It is already completed for every saved person, because his position toward God is the same as Christ's position. (Heb. 10:10, 14; Eph. 4:24; 1 Cor. 6:11; Jude 1, Eph. 5:25, 27.)
While the standing or position of the Christian is perfect in Christ, his present state is as imperfect as his experience in daily life. There is, therefore, a progressive sanctification by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God whereby the Christian is to grow in grace by the unhindered power of the Holy Spirit. (John 17:17; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 13:12; Gal. 5:15-16; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18.)
We believe also that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state, as he is now fully sanctified in his position in Christ, when he shall see his Lord and become like Him. (Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 12:10; 1 John 3:2.)
The Baptism With(in) the Holy Spirit
We believe when the Holy Spirit came upon the whole body of believers on the Day of Pentecost, it was the fulfillment made by John the Baptist and the promises of Christ to His own during His earthly ministry. The disciples were individually endued with power to witness concerning Christ, and collectively baptized into one body, which was the formation of the Church, which is His Body (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33, 14:16-17, 26,15:26, 16:7-15; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-5,8; 2:1-4,38). We further believe that since the time the Gospel went to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius and the believing Gentiles received the Holy Spirit that without delay, tarrying, praying, laying on of hands or any other condition save faith, all who believe in Christ are born of the Spirit, and by (in) the Holy Spirit baptized into the body of Christ (Acts 10:44, 11:18; John 3:3-6; Eph. 1:13, 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 1 John 2:20-27; 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20; Rom. 8:9-¬15; 1 Cor. 12:12-13). We also believe that the New Testament distinguishes between being indwelt by the Spirit, which is true of all believers, and being filled with the Spirit, which is the believer's privilege and duty (compare Eph. 1:13-14 with 5:18). There is one baptism with(in) the Spirit, and it is into the body of Christ, but there are many fillings. Pentecost is an historical event and not repeated.
Security
We believe that all true believers everywhere shall be kept forever. We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father and since He cannot overlook sin He will chasten His children and correct them in infinite love. Having undertaken to save them and keep them forever apart from all human merit, He, who cannot fail, will in the end present them faultless before the presence of His glory, conformed to the image of His Son. (John 5:24; John 10:28; John 13:1; Rom. 8:29, 1 Cor. 6:19; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24; 1 John 5:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 12: 2, 12.)
The Church
We believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in Christ; that all who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God are members of the church, which is His body, the bride of Christ. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all members of that one body being many, are one body; so also is Christ." 1 Cor. 12:12-13.
The Local Church
We believe that the Church is a company of immersed believers, separated unto the Lord Jesus, associated together for worship, instruction, comfort, and the service of Christ. We believe it is a sovereign, independent body, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, under the Lordship of Christ. The Scriptural requisites should be used in choosing the bodies of authority in the Church. (Acts 2:41-42; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9.)
Ordinances
We believe that there are only two ordinances for the Church regularly observed in the New Testament:
Baptism
We believe that our Lord and Saviour clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the simple ordinance of Baptism by immersion as a symbol and proclamation of the sinner's death to sin and his resurrection in newness of life in Christ Jesus. We believe to be baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is the divinely appointed duty of every born again believer, and is appropriate for believers only. We believe baptism is a necessary requirement for local church membership. (Acts 2:41; Matt. 28: 19.)
The Lord's Supper
We believe that our Lord and Saviour clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the solemn ordinance of the Lord's Supper. This memorial wherein the believer partakes of the two elements, the bread and the wine, which symbolize the Lord's broken body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until He comes, is to be regularly observed by the Church. This ordinance is to be partaken of with a spirit of solemn self-examination before the Lord. (1 Cor. 11:23-29; Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20.)
Marriage
We believe marriage is between one man and one woman, for life, to the exclusion of all others and the unmarried are to practise purity and chastity before God. (Gen.2:24; Mt.19:5-6; Ephesians 5:31; 1 Thess.4:3-8; Heb.13:4)
Of Future Things
The Rapture:
We believe the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of Christ for His own in the air.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" 1 Thess. 4:16-17.
This is the blessed hope, given in scripture to every believer. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-57.)
The Tribulation:
We believe that after the catching up of the body of Christ, His Church, the world will enter a period of sorrow and trial unprecedented in history. The tribulation will last seven years. Satan, through his political puppet antichrist will establish a world government. This political system will be supported by a false world church under the leadership of the false prophet. Through a time of tremendous apostasy, still God's grace will reach out to mankind and a great multitude shall be saved. The climax of the tribulation period will be the battle of Armageddon, during which the Lord and His armies shall do battle with the followers of Satan and Christ shall reign victorious. (Rev. 4-19; Dan. 9:24-27; Zech. 14:4.)
The Second Coming of Christ:
We believe that the period of the great tribulation in the earth will end with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, just as He ascended from the earth, in person on the clouds of heaven, and with power and great glory, accompanied by His bride, the church, to introduce the millennial age, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, to restore Israel to her own land and to give her the realization of God’s covenant promises, and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God (Dt. 30:1-10; Isa. 11:9; Ezek. 37:21-28; Mt. 24:15 – 25:46; Acts 15:16-17; Rm. 8:19-23; 11:25-27; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-3).
The Millennium:
We believe Satan, the great deceiver will be bound and his deception ended for a thousand years. During this time Christ will rule the world as its sovereign king from the city of Jerusalem. After one thousand years of peace on earth, Satan will be loosed to once more deceive those nations which will follow Him. The deception will lead to revolt against Christ's rule and God will bring an end to the anarchy and cast Satan into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:1-10; Matt. 25:41.)
The Great White Throne Judgment:
We believe all who have rejected the salvation of God, as found in the finished work of Christ at Calvary, will stand to be judged and condemned before the Great Throne of God's justice. The condemnation will be banishment to the lake of fire which burns forever, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Pet. 2:9; John 3:16-18.)
Eternity:
We believe that having dealt with Satan and his followers forever, God will destroy and then rebuild the world into the perfect world described by John in Revelation 21:10-22:5. (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:13)
"Behold, I come quickly Amen, even so come Lord Jesus."
