While we by no intent undervalue or set aside any portion of Scripture, we believe there are certain fundamental truths necessary to sound doctrine.  These fundamentals are set forth as follows:

 

A.  We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the Inspired Word of God,  without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.  (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Mt. 5:17, 18; 2 Pet. 1:3, 4)

 

B.  We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  (Deut. 6:4; Jn. 1-3, 6:27; Acts 5:3,4; Mt. 28:19)

 

C.  We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man, having been conceived of the Holy  Spirit and born of  the Virgin Mary.  He who knew no sin died on the cross a sacrifice for  our sins according to the Scriptures.  Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into  Heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate.  (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:18-25;  Lk. 1:26-36;  Col. 2:9;  1 Jn. 5:20;  Mk. 10:45;  Heb. 2:9;  Lk. 24:23-40;  1 Cor. 15;  Acts 1:1-11; 1 Pet. 3:22; 1 Jn. 2:2; Heb. 4:16, 7:25)

 

D.  We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during  this age to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, to indwell, guide, instruct and  empower the believer for godly living and service.  (Jn. 16:7-14;  Jn. 3:5-7; Titus 3:5;  1 Cor. 6:19; Eph.1:13; Jn.16:13; Rom. 8:26,27; 2 Cor. 3:6)

 

E.   We believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent of the new birth.  At the moment of conversion/ salvation, a believer is regenerated, indwelt, sealed and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the strength and guide of the believer's life.  The believer is commanded to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit which is yielding to the control of God in our lives.  To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the Biblical prescription for power in serving Christ.  (Jn. 3:5-7; 16:13; 1 Cor. 6:19, 12:13; Eph. 4:4-6, 5:18)

 

F.   We believe in the existence of the fallen angel known as Satan, originally created perfect, that he fell and drew with him a large number of other angels, and is active in opposition to God and His work; that Satan and his evil angels were defeated in the Cross of Christ and  ultimately will be cast into the lake of fire where they will be punished eternally.                    (Is. 14:12-15; Ez. 28:11-15; Lk.10:18; Rev. 20:10)

 

G.  We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin, and is therefore lost, and that only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.  (Gen. 1:26, 27, 2:7, 22, 3:1-6; Rom. 3:9-12,23, 5:12,18, 6:23;  Jn. 3:3, 5-7)

 

H.  We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus by faith are born of the Holy Spirit, become children of God, and are saved for eternity.  (Heb. 9:22;     Mt. 26:28; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; Rom. 3:24, 25; Rom. 5:1,  9, 18; Jn. 1:12; 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9)

 

I.    We believe that the Lord's Supper and Water Baptism by immersion are ordinances to be  observed by the church during this present age.  They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.  (Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

 

J.    We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head.  (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18)

 

K.  We believe that only those who are thusmembers of the true Church shall be eligible for  membership in the local church.  (Rom. 8:5, 9; 1 Cor. 12:12-27)

 

L.   We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs according to the Scriptures.  (Col. 1:18; Eph.1:22, 23; Acts 6:1-7, 13:1-3, 20:28; 1 Tim. and Titus)

 

M.  We believe in the personal, premillenial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this blessed hope has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.   (Mt. 24:44; Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 5:1-8; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:17-20; 10)

 

N.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.  (Jn. 5:25-29;  Mt. 25:46;  Rev. 20:11-15)