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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

1. BIBLE

We believe the Bible, the Holy Scripture, to be the inspired Word of God, the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21).

2. GOD

We believe in one God, Creator of all, Holy, Sovereign, Eternal, existing in three equal persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 4:24; John 10:30)

FATHER

We believe God cares for, nourishes, and disciplines all of his creation as the loving Father.  (Psalm 24:1; 68:5; 103:13; Isaiah 9:6; 1 John 4:8; 5:12).  He is the final judge of all (Hebrews 12:23) and desires that none should be lost (Ezekiel 18:32; Matthew 18:14; I Timothy 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus introduced his followers to this intimate personal relationship with God as the Father.  (Matthew 6:9; John 6:44-46; John 14:6-9)

SON (JESUS CHRIST)

We believe in the absolute and essential deity of Christ Jesus our Lord as the Son of God; in His eternal existence with the Father in glory, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His      ascension, His interceding on our behalf, and His personal return. Matthew 24:30-31; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-5; 10:38; 14:9-12, 17; Acts 1:7-9; I Corinthians 15:20-23; Galatians 4:4; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 9:24)

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  He is eternal and fully God.  His work consists of convicting, transforming, advocating and empowering the Believer. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 16:5-15; Romans 8:5-6; I Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22-23)

3. MAN

We believe man was created by God in His own image, and that through disobedience, man became dead in sin, and is entirely dependent on the mercy of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:20-23; Romans 3:9-23; 5:12;  Ephesians 2:1-3)

4. SALVATION

We believe that salvation is received through the grace of God through His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, and when received through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we become children of God.  (John 3:16; Romans 4:25; 5:10-11; 10:9-10, I Corinthians 15:1-4; 15:12; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:10-11)

5. SPIRITUAL WORLD

We believe that God has created an order of spiritual beings, called angels, whose purpose is to glorify and serve God, and protect and minister to the body of Christ. We acknowledge the existence of Satan and his fallen angels who are actively seeking to oppose Christ’s church and defeat those who would follow Jesus.  Although Satan and his followers are active today, they are a defeated enemy whose future destiny has already been determined through the work of Jesus.  (Psalm 148:1-5; Ephesians 4:27; 6:10-12; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:6-7; 13-14; 2:14-15; Revelation 20:10)

6. LAST DAYS

We believe in the personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, in the resurrection of the just and the unjust and the eternal reward of the righteous and retribution of the wicked (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:7-8; 22:12)

7. THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that our local church is a body of believers, called out from the world unto Jesus Christ.  We believe the church is an independent body under the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ, with God’s Word as our guide.  (Acts 2:39-47; Ephesians 1:17-23; 2:19-22; 4:4-16; Colossians 1:17-20; Hebrews 12:23)

8. ORDINANCES (PRACTICES)

We believe there are two ordinances for the church, which were regularly observed in the New Testament.

    • Baptism – Our practice is the immersion of the believer in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; whereby the believer obeys Christ’s command and sets forth his/her identity with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 2:41; 8:37-38; Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12)
    • The Lord’s Supper – Our practice is the believer shares in the two elements, bread and cup, which symbolize the Lord’s body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until He comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-29)

9. MARRIAGE

It is symbolic of God’s relationship to His people and Jesus Christ’s relationship to the church.  (Ephesians 5:31-32)

We would define marriage:

    • As a publicly recognized formal verbal covenant for life spoken before God’s witnesses.
    • As between a biological woman and a biological man who are loyal and faithful in a relationship, becoming united together. (Genesis 2)
    • For the purpose of lifelong companionship, mutual interdependence and exclusive emotional and physical intimacy, and responsibility for each other. It is the primary relationship within which children are created and nurtured.  It is the cornerstone of the family.

10. CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT

We believe in the separation of church and government.  We are to obey the government in all things except those that are contrary to the Word or Will of God.  (Romans 13:1; I Timothy 2:1-3; I Peter 2:13-18)

 

OUR CHURCH COVENANT

 
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, most solemnly and joyfully enter into the covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
 
We endeavor therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge; reverence for God, and Godly living; to promote its spirituality in sustaining its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry and expenses of the church in its work against sin and injustice in the world, relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel throughout all nations. We agree to promote family worship and maintain private devotions; to educate our children in the teaching and practice of our faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk cautiously in the world, to be just in our dealing, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our life; to avoid all idle talk, back biting, and unrighteous anger; to practice temperance in all things; and to be zealous in all our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
 
We covenant to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate the graces of sympathy of heart and of courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense and quick to forgive being mindful of the rules of our Savior that we are to do so without delay, and if a member has anything against a brother, he will recognize his responsibility to seek reconciliation with the brother.
 
 And finally, that if we leave this fellowship, we will seek at the earliest opportunity to unite with some other Bible-believing church.