Doctrinal Statment
1. BIBLE / BIBLIOLOGY
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE CONSISTS OF 66 BOOKS, 39 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND 27 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND IS WITHOUT ERROR IN ITS ORIGINAL WRITING; ITS AUTHOR WAS GOD, USING SPIRIT-GUIDED MEN, BEING THEREBY VERBALLY AND PLENARILY INSPIRED; IT IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE. (II PET. 1:21; II TIM. 3:16-17)
2. GOD / THEOLOGY PROPER
WE BELIEVE IN THE TRI-UNITY OF THE GODHEAD. THERE IS ONE GOD (DEUT. 6:4), ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE DISTINCT PERSONS: FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. (GEN. 1:1; JN.10:30; MATT. 28:19; ACTS 5:3-4)
3. JESUS / CHRISTOLOGY
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS BEGOTTEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN. (IS. 7:14; MATT. 1:18-25; COL. 2:9) WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE, AND THAT ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM ARE JUSTIFIED ON THE GROUND OF HIS SHED BLOOD. (I COR. 15:1-4; II COR. 5:21; I PET. 2:24; ROM. 5:9; I PET. 1:18-19). WE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY OF OUR LORD, HIS BODILY ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN AND HIS BODILY PRESENCE THERE FOR US AS HIGH PRIEST AND ADVOCATE. (I COR. 15:1-4; 15:20-25; ACTS 1:9-11; HEB. 7:25) WE BELIEVE IN THE “BLESSED HOPE”; THE PERSONAL, BODILY, PRE-TRIBULATION, PRE-MILLENNIAL, AND IMMINENT RETURN OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. (II THES. 2; JN. 14:1-3; MATT. 24:44).
4. MAN / ANTHROPOLOGY
WE BELIEVE THAT MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, THAT HE SINNED AND THEREBY INCURRED NOT ONLY PHYSICAL DEATH, BUT ALSO THE SPIRITUAL DEATH WHICH IS SEPARATION FROM GOD, AND THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE BORN WITH A SINFUL NATURE AND ARE NOW SINNERS BY BIRTH AND BY CHOICE, POSITIVELY INCLINED TO EVIL, AND ARE THEREFORE UNDER JUST CONDEMNATION TO ETERNAL RUIN WITHOUT DEFENSE OR EXCUSE. (GEN 2:1; ROM. 5:12-21; PS. 51:5; PS. 58:3; I COR. 2:14; ROM. 1:20; GEN. 1:26-27)
5. SALVATION / SOTERIOLOGY
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL WHO RECEIVE BY FAITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ARE BORN AGAIN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ARE THEREBY CHILDREN OF GOD AND ARE ETERNALLY SAVED. (JN. 3:3; GAL. 3:24-26; I JN. 5:13)
6. SATAN / THE DEVIL
WE BELIEVE THAT SATAN IS LITERAL AND PERSONAL, THE AGENT OF THE FALL, THE PRINCE, AND POWER OF THIS WORLD, AND THAT HE SHALL BE JUDGED AND ETERNALLY PUNISHED. (REV. 20:1-10; EPH. 2:1-4)
7. ETERNAL STATE
WE BELIEVE IN THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, BOTH OF THE JUST AND UNJUST. WE BELIEVE IN A LITERAL HEAVEN AND A LITERAL HELL; THAT THE SPIRITS OF THE UNSAVED AT DEATH DESCEND IMMEDIATELY INTO HELL WHERE THEY ARE KEPT UNDER PUNISHMENT UNTIL THE FINAL DAY OF JUDGMENT, (LK. 16:19-31; II PET. 2:9) AT WHICH TIME THEIR BODIES SHALL BE RAISED FROM THE GRAVE. THEY SHALL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, AND CAST INTO THE PLACE OF FINAL AND EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT. (MK. 9:43-38; I THES. 4:16-18; JUDE 13; REV. 20:11-15; 21:8)
8. THE LOCAL CHURCH / POLITY
WE BELIEVE THAT A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS A VOLUNTARY AND INDEPENDENT AUTONOMOUS GROUP OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS WHO ARE A BODY WITH CHRIST AS ITS HEAD, JOINING TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP, SERVICE, FELLOWSHIP, DISCIPLINE, PRAYER, TEACHING, TESTIMONY, THE OBSERVANCE OF THE ORDINANCES, AND THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL INTO ALL THE WORLD; THAT IT IS A PURE DEMOCRACY, WHICH ORGANICALLY CAN JOIN NOTHING, AND THAT IT HAS THE POWER AND RIGHT WITHIN ITSELF TO CONFESS ITS OWN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT; THAT EACH CONGREGATION RECOGNIZES ITS AUTHORITY FOR CARRYING OUT THE WILL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. (I TIM. 3:15; I COR. 12:27; REV. 2,3; COL. 1:18-24, 3:15,16; ACTS 20:17; I TIM. 3:1-16; TITUS 1:5-11; I COR. 3:10-17; I COR. 5:1-5; I COR. 11:2)
WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS A SPIRITUAL BODY OF WHICH CHRIST IS HEAD AND OF WHICH ALL REGENERATED PEOPLE ARE MEMBERS (MT. 16:L8; 1 COR. 12:12,13; EPH. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23,30; COL. 1:18). WE BELIEVE THAT A LOCAL CHURCH IS AN ASSEMBLY OF BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS IN THE GOSPEL (ACTS 2:38-42) WHO ARE BAPTIZED ON AN ACCEPTABLE CONFESSION OF FAITH (ACTS 10:47-48); ASSOCIATED FOR WORSHIP, SERVICE, AND FELLOWSHIP. (ACTS 2:42; HEB. 10:25)
WE BELIEVE THE LOCAL CHURCH IS TO BE SELF GOVERNING AND FREE FROM HIERARCHICAL INTERFERENCE FROM OUTSIDE ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS. (ACTS 6:1-6; 15:1-4; 1 COR. 5:1-5; 6:1-6)
9. ORDINANCES
WE BELIEVE THE LOCAL CHURCH IS COMMITTED TO THE ORDINANCES OF BELIEVER’S BAPTISM BY IMMERSION AND THE LORD’S SUPPER (MT. 28:18-20; 1 COR. 11:23-26), THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (ACTS 1:8; MT. 28:18-20), AND THE DISCIPLESHIP OF BELIEVERS. (MT. 28:20; EPH. 4:7-16; JUDE 3)
BAPTISM: WE BELIEVE THAT IMMERSION IS THE ONLY FORM OF BAPTISM REVEALED AND COMMANDED IN THE SCRIPTURES THAT IT HAS NO SAVING POWER, BUT IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED; AND THAT THE NEW BIRTH, WHICH COMES THROUGH REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, IS THE SCRIPTURAL PREREQUISITE TO BAPTISM; THEREFORE, ONLY THOSE WHO ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BELIEVE FOR THEMSELVES SHOULD BE BAPTIZED. (ACTS 2:38; ROM. 6:3-5)
COMMUNION: WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A MEMORIAL OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH IN HIS ATONING BLOOD AND ARE WALKING IN OBEDIENT FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM OUGHT TO PARTAKE OF IT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN CLOSED COMMUNION. (I COR. 11:23-32)
10. OFFICERS
WE BELIEVE THAT THE OFFICERS OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ARE TWO IN NUMBER: PASTORS (ELDERS AND BISHOPS BEING DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE SAME OFFICE) AND DEACONS. (I TIM. 3:1-3; ACTS 6:1-7; ACTS 20:17, 28, PHIL. 1:1)
11. LEADERSHIP
WE BELIEVE THAT BOTH ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE, EQUAL BEFORE GOD AS PERSONS YET DISTINCT IN THEIR MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD. DIFFERENCES IN MASCULINE AND FEMININE ROLES ARE ORDAINED BY GOD AS PART OF THE CREATED ORDER; THUS, ADAM'S HEADSHIP IN MARRIAGE WAS ESTABLISHED BY GOD BEFORE THE FALL AND WAS NOT A RESULT OF SIN. BOTH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT MANIFEST THE EQUALLY HIGH VALUE AND DIGNITY WHICH GOD ATTACHES TO THE ROLES OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. BOTH TESTAMENTS ALSO AFFIRM THE PRINCIPLE OF MALE HEADSHIP IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE CHURCH (1 COR. 11:3; EPH. 5:22–33; 1 TIM 2:11–14).
12. SEPARATION
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SAVED ARE CALLED INTO A LIFE OF SEPARATION. THIS SEPARATION IS IN AT LEAST THREE AREAS: MORAL, PERSONAL, AND ECCLESIASTICAL.
MORAL: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE GOD’S PERFECT STANDARD FOR A PERFECT MAN. WE ARE COMMANDED TO PERFECT HOLINESS (II COR. 7:1) IN THE FEAR OF GOD. THE BELIEVER IS NEVER TO SUFFER AS AN EVIL DOER (I PET. 4:14) BUT IS COMMANDED TO BE CLEAN IN BODY AND MIND. (II COR. 10:5)
PERSONAL: WE BELIEVE THE SAVED LIVE IN THE WORLD, BUT ARE NOT OF THE WORLD. (JOHN 17:14-26) THEY MUST SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM WORLDLINESS BY RESISTING SINFUL BEHAVIOR, THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE, AND FALSE TEACHERS. (EPH. 5:15-18, 1 JN. 2:15-17, 2 COR. 6:14, TITUS 3:10) ROMANS 14 EXPLAINS THAT THERE WILL BE AREAS WHERE THE BELIEVERS ARE GOING TO DISAGREE IN MATTERS WHICH THEY CALL SIN. THE STRONGER BROTHER WILL BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT THE WEAKER CANNOT. THE WEAKER WILL DO THINGS THAT THE STRONGER WILL NOT. IN MATTERS OF EATING, HOLY DAYS, ETC., EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FULLY PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND. (ROM. 14:5)
ECCLESIASTICAL: WHILE RECOGNIZING THE UNITY OF ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT UNBELIEF AND ERROR IN MANY ORGANIZED FELLOWSHIPS HAS DEVELOPED TO THE POINT WHERE RECOGNIZED AND INDISPUTABLE APOSTASY EXISTS. (II COR. 6:14-18; EPH. 5:11-12; LK. 12:51) THE CHURCH MUST ENDEAVOR TO KEEP ITSELF PURE (MATT.18:15-17; 1 COR. 5:1-13) AND TO SEPARATE ITSELF FROM EXPLICIT DOCTRINAL ERROR AND APOSTASY. (ROM.16:17-18, 1 TIM. 6:3-5) WE BELIEVE LOYALTY TO CHRIST DEMANDS SEPARATION FROM RELIGIOUS GROUPS WHO PARTNER IN SPIRITUAL ENDEAVORS WITH FALSE TEACHERS AND WHO TOLERATE RELIGIOUS UNBELIEF IN THEIR MIDST.
13. TONGUES AND HEALING
WE BELIEVE THAT THE HEALING AND TONGUES MOVEMENTS OF TODAY ARE UNSCRIPTURAL AND CONTRARY TO SOUND DOCTRINE, AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND PRACTICE THESE ARE IN ERROR. (I COR. 14:33, 40; 13:8-11)
14. CREATION / EVOLUTION
WE BELIEVE IN THE GENESIS ACCOUNT OF CREATION AND THAT IT IS TO BE ACCEPTED LITERALLY AND NOT FIGURATIVELY; THAT THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION IN GENESIS CHAPTER ONE, WERE SOLAR, THAT IS 24 HOUR DAYS, THAT ALL ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE LIFE WAS MADE DIRECTLY AND CREATED DIRECTLY BY GOD AND DID NOT EVOLVE FROM ANY LOWER FORM OF LIFE AND THAT THE MOMENT THE EARTH WAS CREATED IT WAS MATURE AND FULL- GROWN NOT THROUGH NATURAL PROCESS BUT BY THE INSTANTANEOUS AND SUPERNATURAL ACT OF GOD. WE DISAVOW AS UNSCRIPTURAL ANY FORM OF ATHEISTIC OR THEISTIC EVOLUTION, AND THE GAP THEORY. (GEN. 1:1; 2:3; EX. 20:11; 31:17; JOB 38:3-4; PS. 8:3; 33:6-9; ROM. 1:20; HEB. 11:3; JN. 1:1- 3, 10)
15. ELECTION
WE BELIEVE THAT THE OBTAINING OF SALVATION IS DEPENDENT UPON GOD. GOD THE FATHER BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD DESIGNED A PLAN TO MAKE A REPENTANT SINNER (1) HOLY BEFORE HIM, (2) CHILDREN OF HIM, AND THEREFORE, (3) ACCEPTED BY HIM (EPH. 1:4-6). THOSE WHO ARE SAVED ARE SOMETIMES CALLED THE ELECT OR CHOSEN (I PET. 1:2). WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN AN ELECTION WHICH APPROPRIATES SALVATION (ROM. 10:9-10) AND THEREFORE, WE REJECT THE DOCTRINAL DEVIATION COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS CALVINISM. GOD THE SON PROVIDED THE WAY OF SALVATION (EPH. 1:7-12). GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT SECURES A REPENTANT SINNER’S SALVATION BY FIRST CONVICTING THE SINNER WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD (JN. 16:1-3) AND THEN, BY HIMSELF BEING THE DOWN PAYMENT OF SALVATION WITHIN EACH BELIEVER UNTIL HIS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN. (EPH. 1:13-14)
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