DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

1. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality (Matt. 28:18–19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3–4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6).

2. All Scripture is inspired by God written by humans moved by the Holy Spirit and is without error in its original manuscripts. The Bible contains only 66 books which comprise the sum total of God’s revealed written Word to mankind. All 66 books of Scripture are equally inspired in their entirety, are useful for practical instruction, and are the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2–3; 18:28; 26:22–23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). Therefore, no writings, creeds, councils, individuals, traditions, or authority takes precedence over the Bible and its meaning to a Christian’s conscience. The Holy Spirit does not speak independently from the scripture in its natural and exegetical context. God has made clear in the 66 books of the Bible the essentials to a secure and personal relationship with Jesus Christ (John 3:1-21).

3.  Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became fully human through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever (Isa. 7:14; Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:30–35; John 1:1-2, 11; 18; 3:16; Phil. 2:5–8).

4.  Jesus lived a sinless life, performed true miracles, and voluntarily atoned for sinners by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all those who would believe that Jesus is their personal Savior (Is 53:5; Lev. 17:11; Matt. 26:28; Luke 2:40; John 1:29; Acts 2:22–24; Rom. 3:25–26; 2 Cor. 5:14; 21; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 4:15; 10:5–14; 1 Pet. 3:18).

5.  Jesus rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died (John 20:20; Phil. 3:20–21).

6.  Jesus ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He became the head of His church, and serves as the only mediator between God and man, and continually makes intercession for His own (Eph. 1:22–23; 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). Individuals are called to go directly to Jesus Christ for salvation. Therefore, we can be secure in our salvation and continue to gain spiritual strength directly from God the Spirit. Neither salvation nor spiritual well- being is gained through another person (saint, pastor, or priest- they are all sinners too).

7.  Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God and thus alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation and guilt before a perfect God. Man’s nature is corrupted and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of a changed heart (regeneration) and continued renewal of that heart by the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Psalms 14:1–3; 51:5; Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; Rom. 3:10–19; 8:6–7; Eph. 2:1–3; 1 Tim. 5:6; 1 John 3:8). All humanity with any or no faith does good deeds for others. However, human nature continually sins and always will in thought, word, attitude, or deed, every day of our lives. People with faith in Jesus as their personal Savior are covered with Jesus’ perfection in God’s eyes, and He matures that person toward Christ-likeness with His implanted Spirit. (Rom. 6:1-11, 8:1-11).]

8.  The salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and is not accomplished (in whole or in part) by human works, moral goodness, or religious ceremony (such as baptism, communion, or church attendance). God gives all of Christ’s perfect righteousness to those who put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. They are thereby made perfect in their standing before God since they are unable to ever fulfill the perfect law of God. This means they are “justified” by Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross. (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16–17; 3:22, 26; 4:5; 5:6–9; 10:4; Gal. 3:13; 22; 6:15; Eph. 1:5-7; Titus 3:5. Each person’s corrupt fallen nature naturally desires independence from God and control of one’s own destiny. That nature also prefers defining one’s own “goodness.” This can be called “self-justification.” Justification (made perfect) is not incremental and subject to increasing or decreasing in God’s eyes. Only God can (and does) declare us in a perfect position by covering the sinner with the blood of Jesus. No “religion” or human effort can give you a better standing before God. A perfect God’s perfect standard demands a perfect heart to be assured of heaven. This perfect standing is the only way one can deserve eternal bliss with Him (Mt 19:23-26). God’s perfect wrath against mankind’s hopeless independence (Rom.1:18, 3:23) required His perfect, satisfied, and undeserved mercy to attain His complete forgiveness. That required mercy could only be fulfilled by God taking his perfect son to the cross to be judged in our place. Jesus was the full and perfect sacrifice for all the sin (past, present, and future) of many (Mt 20:28). God’s complete and gracious forgiveness comes only to those who, by faith alone, trust in Jesus’s complete and perfect payment for their deserved punishment (Rom. 5:9; 9:22; Eph. 2:3; 2 Cor. 5:21).

9.  Regeneration is a permanent work of the Holy Spirit that seals the believer into eternal fellowship with God. As a transforming work of God it cannot be undone by any work of man (John 3:6–18; 5:24; 6:35-40, 44-51; 10:27-28; 14:16–17; 17:11; Rom. 8:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:19; 5:13; Jude 24). If someone tries to seek their own righteousness, not understanding the finished work of Christ on the cross, then self-righteous pride is always present. Redemption (“from sinner to God’s child”) cannot be gained or infused by following traditions, laws, or any moral code – none of which any individual can ever consistently follow. God gives those he draws (Jn. 6:44) a spirit of need for His complete forgiveness. This kind of full redemption was also the need of the Old Testament saint (Psalm 51).

10. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of Rom. 8:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6–8; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 5:13). When God gives faith (Eph. 2:8-9), he also gives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit puts God’s truth in our hearts and that truth gives us the desire to please Him (1Jn 3:15-24). Gratitude which comes with assurance of salvation causes a Christian to serve his fellow man as a love response to God’s unconditional grace (1Thess 4:1, 7-9). Love based deeds come from his children because those deeds are preordained by God (Jn. 3:21, Eph. 2:10).

12. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to glorify the Father through obedience to the Son by bearing spiritual fruit, bestowing spiritual gifts, and enabling a life that bears witness to the Son through testimony and Christlikeness (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 5:22-23, 25; Eph. 4:11-14, 30; 5:18; 1 John 2:20–27).

13. The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to every believer for the edification of Christ’s church. The “sign gifts” (speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, word of knowledge/wisdom) were not in the Old Testament , but primarily active during the apostolic age to indicate the inclusion of Gentiles in the New Covenant. Although God may still choose to use such sign gifts in the edification of His church, they are of much less profit than biblical understanding, and should not constitute a primary focus, nor are they a necessary proof of salvation (Acts 2:4-20; 4:8, 31; Rom. 8:23; 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-11, 27-31; 13:8-10; 14:1-19; Eph. 4:11-14).

14. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all people, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. There is no place in scripture where we are told we can invoke or summon the dead. (Rom. 4:1-8; 10:9-10; 11:25–27; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:20–23; 5:23-24; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

15. God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship of the Son by the Spirit, for the glory of God the Father. They gather for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures, and for mutual encouragement. This community of faith is called to exist in unity under the person and work of Christ (Matt. 16:16–18; 28:19; John 13:34-35; 17:20-26; Luke 22:19–20; Acts 2:42–47; 10:47–48; 16:32–33; 18:7–8; Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 12:12–27; Eph. 2:19-22; 4:3–10; Col. 3:14–15; Heb. 10:23-25). Only the Holy Spirit (and no person) can apply redemption found only in Christ to His people called the church, according to the sovereign providence of God.

16. At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal conscious fellowship with the Lord, while the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal conscious separation from the Lord. (Dan. 12:1-3; Matt. 24: 47-51; 25:19-46; Luke 16:19–26; 23:42-43; John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51–52; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13–18; 2 Thess. 1:7–9; Jude 6–7; Rev. 20:11–15).

17. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth - personally, visibly, and bodily - to consummate history and the eternal plan of God (Deut. 30:1–10; Isa. 11; Ezek. 37:21–28; Dan. 7:13-14, 27-28; 9:24; Matt. 24:29–51; Acts 15:16–17; Rom. 8:19–23; 1 Thess. 4:13–18; 1 Tim. 4:1–3; 2 Tim. 3:1–5; Titus 2:11–14; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:7, 11-21; 21:1-22:7, 12, 20).

18. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of people throughout the world. The fulfillment of that commission requires that all worldly and personal ambition be subordinated to a total commitment to Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18–19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18–20; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11).