THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God as stated in II Peter 1:20-21 and II Timothy 3:16-17. They were God-breathed to holy men of old. We further believe, based upon Luke 21:33 and other passages, that God preserved His Word for English-speaking people in the King James Bible. We believe the King James Bible to be both the inspired and preserved Word of God (Acts 7:38; I Peter 1:23-25; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35).

GOD

We believe in the Triune God (Genesis 1:26, 3:22; Isaiah 6:8).

A. God the Father is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1); is all-powerful (Nahum 1:2-5); all-present (Psalm 139:7-12); and without beginning or end (Revelation 1:8); is perfectly holy (I Peter 1:16); is great in grace and mercy (Titus 2:11); loves man supremely (Romans 5:8); and securely keeps all who come to Him in faith (John 10:29).

B. God the Son, Jesus Christ, was with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1-2), and is equal with God (Philippians 2:6). He willingly humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6), to be born of a virgin (Luke 1:27), conceived of the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:35). He was totally sinless in His life (II Corinthians 5:21) and ever obedient to the Father (John 8:29). He made vicarious atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53:5), rose again bodily the third day (Matthew 28:6), and ascended into Heaven in the fortieth day (Acts 1:3). He serves as our High Priest making
intercession for the saints (Hebrews 4:14-16). His promised return to the earth for His saints, shall be glorious, premillennial, pretribulational, and imminent (I Thessalonians 4:13-17).

C. God the Holy Spirit is co-equal with both the Father and Son. He was sent by Jesus  Christ from God (John 15:26, 16:7). His ministry is to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-11), and He regenerates all who put their faith in Christ (Titus 3:5). He indwells believers (I Corinthians 3:16), guides and teaches them in the Truth of God (John 16:13), empowers them to be victorious over sin, self, and Satan (Roman 8:13), and intercedes for them (Romans 8:26-27).

MAN

We believe that man did not evolve, but was created by God, in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). By an act of willful disobedience he plunged himself, and the whole human race into sin (Romans 5:12). Man is totally depraved and dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). All men are sinners, both by nature and by choice before a holy God (Romans 3:10, 23). If one dies in this condition, he is eternally separated from God and punished forever in the lake of fire (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14).

DEVIL

We believe in a personal devil who was created perfect by an act of God until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:14). He was willfully rebellious because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-14), and thus, was cast out of Heaven. He now rules as the prince of the power of the air and over the world system (Ephesians 2:2). He was instrumental in the fall of makind (Genesis 3:1), and today appears as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14), and looks for those he may devour (I Peter 5:8). He hates Christ and opposes the work of God, but is limited in power by God (Job 1:12). He is already judged and shall be confined to Hell for eternity (Revelation 20:10).

SALVATION

We believe salvation is in Jesus Christ, Alone (Acts 4:12). It is offered freely to all (Romans 10:13), and is obtained by repenting of one’s sin (Luke 13:3,5); and receiving Christ as Saviour by faith (Romans 10:10). Salvation is solely by God’s grace and not merited by works (Ephesians 2:8-9), and results in God’s forgiveness of all our sins (Psalm 103:12). It is made possible by Christ’s blood willingly shed on the cross for us (Romans 3:25). Salvation imparts eternal life and one can never be lost again (John 10:28). The instrument of salvation is the Word of God (I Peter 1:23), and the Agent is the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe Heaven and Hell are literal places prepared by God. All men will reside in one of the two for all eternity. Heaven is the abode created by Christ for His bride (John 14:23), where all the saved will abide with God (Revelation 22:1-5). Those who have rejected Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the Devil, the antichrist, and the false prophet eternally separated from God (Revelation 20:14-15).

THE CHURCH

We believe the institution of the church was started personally by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly minstry (Matthew 16:18), and not on the day of Pentecost. The church that Christ formed was both local and visible (Matthew 18:17). We reject the concept of a universal, invisible church as it weakens the authority of local churches and it is unscriptural. We believe the Scripture uses the word “church” in three ways: in reference to local assemblies (I Corinthians 1:2, and other numerous examples); in an institutional or generic sense (like we use the word “family”; Galatians 1:13); of the church in prospect (Hebrews 12:23). The church is to be made up of born-again believers (Acts 2:41), who are organized to carry out the work of God. The church is the pillar and ground of the Truth (I Timothy 3:15). The Great Commission, and the ordinances (discussed below) are given to the church. Its officers are two: pastors (bishops, elders), who are undershepherds, and deacons (I Timothy 3:1-13), servants of the church. The church is to be independent and self-governing with Christ as the Head (Ephesians 5:23). The church is to handle its own discipline in accordance to God’s direction (Matthew 18:15-17), and it is financed through the tithes and offerings of that local assembly (I Corinthians 16:2; Malachi 3:10).

ORDINANCES

We believe there are two ordinances committed in the church.

A. Baptism is for believers only and consists of immersion in water in the name of the  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). It is not a sacrament of salvation, but symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:4).

B. The Lord’s Supper consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (non-alcoholic grape juice) (Matthew
26:26-28). These elements are symbolic only of Christ’s body and shed blood which were offered and shed on
the cross for us. It serves as a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice for us (I Corinthians 11:24), and a declaration of faith
in His promised return (I Corinthians 11:26). It is to be observed by the saved, baptized members of a local
assembly.

SEPARATION

We believe in Bible separation from the world, sin, self, and Satan, as well as being separated unto the glory of Christ. We believe one should be born of the Spirit (I Peter 3:18); walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16); be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:14); be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18); that by His power and grace we may show forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We believe in living so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God by being separated from bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, malice, covetousness, and any other sin of the flesh or spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32). We believe in being separated from the world, the world’s philosophy, and anything that would bring shame or dishonor to our Lord (I John 2:15-17); and that the male and female roles are to be distinct and clearly defined by one’s daily living (Deuteronomy 22:5; Ephesians 5:22-23).

SOUL-WINNING

We believe that all believers are to be a witness to the lost for Christ (Matthew 5:16); that each believer has a God-given gift to win lost souls (Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:4); and are to be good stewards before God (I Peter 4:10); that those who have rejected the Gospel are eternally lost (Romans 2:11-12); and every believer is responsible to help get the Gospel to everyone (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 10:14-17). Every believer is to be a soul winner (Proverbs 11:30).