Doctrinal Principle #1

We Believe in the Holy Scripture: accepting fully the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the inerrant Word of God. It is verbally inspired in all parts and therefore altogether sufficient as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. (Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5a; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21).

 

Doctrinal Principle #2

We Believe in the One True God: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual, eternal, and personal Being. God is perfect and infinite in His holiness, love, wisdom and power. He is absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct Persons, but without division of nature, essence or being; each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 139:7-9; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 15:26)

 

Doctrinal Principle #3

We Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: who is the expressed image of the Personage of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son of the Father. We know it to be true that Jesus, without any change in His divine Person, became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two Natures. As a Man, He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. As the perfect Lamb of God, He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath, in our stead. We also know it to be true that Jesus arose from the grave in a glorified body; having become our great High Priest, He ascended into Heaven, to appear before the face of God the Father as our Advocate and Intercessor. (John1:1, 14; 3:16; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4,5; Philippians 2:6-10; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1,2)

 

Doctrinal Principle #4

We Believe in the Holy Spirit: who is one of the three Personages of the Trinity, and the divine agent in nature, revelation and redemption. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment; He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become children of God through Christ. The Holy Spirit also empowers, guides, teaches, sacrifices and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. (John 3:5; 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13: 5:18)

 

Doctrinal Principle #5

We Believe all men are by Nature and Choice Sinful and Lost: that man was the direct creation of god, made in His image and likeness. We know it to be true that by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature and the father of a fallen race, which is universally sinful in both nature and practice. In this sinful state mankind is alienated from the life and family of God, and is under the righteous judgment and wrath of God. In and of himself, man has no possible means of salvation, but can find refuge in Jesus Christ alone. (Genesis 1:27; 3:6, Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:11)

 

Doctrinal Principle #6

We Believe in Salvation by Grace Through Faith: that salvation is the free gift of God that is neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers have, as a present possession, the gift of eternal life and a perfect righteous sonship in the family of God. As children of God, we have deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness. We know it to be true that as saints of God, we have the divine guarantee that we shall never perish; and that this salvation affects the whole person, to be revealed in our character and service. Apart from Christ there is no possible salvation. (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; 3:14; 10:28-29; Romans 8:1; Philippians 1:6)

 

Doctrinal Principle #7

We Believe in Righteous Living and Godly Works: not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit. Therefore, as Christians we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things, which are above, and walk as He walked. Being followers of Christ, we should accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privileges of bearing the gospel to a lost world. We must always remember that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserving mercies of God have presented themselves wholly to Christ. (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1, 2; Philippians 2:16)

 

Doctrinal Principle #8

We Believe in the existence of Satan: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God. In so doing, he became utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits; the deceiver and god of this present world. We know that Satan’s powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God, who overrules all his wicked devices for the ultimate good of those that love God. We know it to be true that he was defeated and judged at the cross; therefore, his final doom is certain. As Christians, we are able to resist and overcome Satan only in the whole armor of God, by the cleansing blood of the Lamb and through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ephesians 6:12, I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Revelation 12:9-11; 20:10)

 

Doctrinal Principle #9

We Believe in the Second Coming of Christ: that His coming in the air to rapture His Church, which is our blessed Hope, is always imminent. We are fully persuaded that when Jesus has removed from the earth, His waiting Church, First by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living, He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world. Afterwards, Christ will descend from heaven with His Church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years. (I Thessalonians 4:12-18; James 5:8; Hebrews 10:37; Jude 14, 15; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:4-7)

 

Doctrinal Principle #10

We Believe in Eternal Life, the Bodily Resurrection and Eternal Judgment: that the spirits of the saved, at death, go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven. In due time, their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place when Christ comes for His own. We also know it to be true that the spirits of the unsaved, at death, descend immediately into hell where they are kept under punishment until the final Day of Judgment. At this time, their bodies shall he raised from the grave and they shall be judged; then cast into a lake of fire; the place of final and everlasting torment. (I Corinthians 15; IICorinthians 5:6-10; Luke 16:19-23; Revelation 20:11-15)

 

Doctrinal Principle #11

We Believe in the Separation of Church and State: with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7)

 

Doctrinal Principle #12

We Believe in the Priesthood of all Believers: that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest. The Word of God tells us that every believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures as they are guided by the Holy Spirit. (John 14:6; Hebrews 4:16; II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:1, 5, 9)

 

Doctrinal Principle #13

We Believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ: That He alone is Head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit; that all members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches. (I Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:11-15; Galatians 1:22)