Our Beliefs

The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is a supernatural book; it is inerrant; it is the inspired Word of God, and it is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the version that God has preserved for the English-speaking people and we use it for reasons of textural integrity and unity within the church. I Thess. 2:13 / II Tim. 3:16-17 / II Peter 1:20-21, 25/ Ps. 12:6,7; 119:89

Sovereign God

We believe that God is a Person, holy and infinite, eternally existing as a Trinity in unity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, - three Persons and yet only one God. He created the world in six literal days and now presides over all that He has brought into existence. Deut. 6:4 / Col. 1:16 / Psalms 90:2; 103:19/ I John 5:7/ Rom. 11:33

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God, who became flesh (remaining 100% God while becoming 100% man) in order to redeem us from our sin. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, rose bodily from the dead, and now sits on God’s right hand as the mediator between God and man, making intersession on the behalf of man. Col. 2:8,9 / Luke 1:35 / II Cor. 5:21 / I Peter 1:18,19 / I Tim. 1:15

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person equal in power to the Father and the Son. He came to earth after Christ’s ascension to dwell in and work on the behalf of all believers. He convicts the world of sin and draws unbelievers to trust in and focus on Christ. He empowers the saints leading them in truth and righteousness and keeps our salvation secure. John 14:16; 16:7-14 / I Cor. 12:7,8 / Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30 / Rom. 8:9-14

Sin and the Fall

Man was created in the image of God but fell by transgressing God’s law, bringing not only physical death, but also spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Now all of mankind exists as a fallen race, with an inherited sinful nature.

Gen. 1:26-27; 2:16; 3:16-19 / Romans 3:10-23; 6:23 / Eph. 2:3

The Enemy

Satan is a real being, created by God as a Holy Cherub, but he was lifted up with pride and therefore cast out of heaven taking a part of the angels with him. He deceived Eve in the garden bringing sin to the earth. He is the enemy of God, Christ, and the saints. He works in opposition to all that is of God, and he attempts to destroy all of mankind. One day, however, he will suffer defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and then he will be cast into the lake of fire (which was prepared for him and his fallen angels) for all eternity. Ezek. 28:14- 16 / Is. 14:12-14 / I Tim. 3:6 / Rev. 12:7-10; 20:10 / Gen. 3:1-6 / John 8:44 / James 4:4 / I Cor. 7:5 / I Thes. 2:18   

Salvation

Salvation is for all of mankind and is received by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ who was sent to be our substitute for the penalty of sin, which is death. He paid the ransom for our sins and through His blood we receive remission for our sins. God draws men to Himself, and gives them the faith to believe as they hear His Word. A person is saved when they call on God in faith and repentance of sin, realizing that Jesus is their only way to heaven and understanding that as a sinner they fall short of the glory of God. Salvation can in no way be earned nor can it be lost. II Peter 3:9 / Rom. 5:8-10; 10:8-11 / Eph. 2:8-10 / John 3:18; 3:36; 14:6

The New Birth

When a person places their faith in Christ they instantaneously become a new creature reborn in Jesus Christ. Their former unrighteousness is replaced by God’s righteousness. They receive a pardon for their sin, and God remembers their sin no more (justification); at the same time the Holy Spirit sanctifies them, and they are adopted into the family of God. The believer then has access to the throne room of God to make his petition and to confess his sins. I John 3:9 / II Cor. 5:17 / Rom. 3:21-26 / Gal. 2:16 / Rom. 15:16

Sanctified Lifestyle

Christians should live separated and holy lives before the Lord, demonstrating a Godly testimony before their fellow man. When God saved us, He called us to live in accordance to His Word, maintaining lives filled with the fruits of the Spirit. II Cor. 6:17 / Lev. 20:7 / I Peter 1:15,16 / Gal. 5:22-25 / Col. 3:12

The Church

Christ founded the church during his earthly ministry and is the head of the church, so the church is self-governing and free from interference from hierarchy or organizations. The church is responsible for determining its own policy and government as well as administering church discipline when it is necessary, and it should be the overseeing authority of all Christian ministries. As the Church is the ground and pillar of the truth every believer should commit himself to a sound local independent Baptist Church and should contribute and serve the Lord through that church. It is scriptural for churches of like faith and practice to fellowship with one another and to work together to meet special needs and in spreading the gospel around the world. Matt. 16:18; 18:15-18 / Luke 6:12,13 / I Cor. 14:40 / Titus 1:5 / Rom. 16: 3-18 / I Tim. 3:15 / Heb. 10:23-25 / Acts 14:27 / Phil. 4:14-16 / II Cor. 8:14; 9:1-4; 16:1-3

 Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

God gave His church the authority to baptize and the proper method by which to baptize (water baptism by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost). Salvation is a prerequisite to baptism, and by baptism a believer joins the church. Baptism (not a part of salvation) identifies a believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and with the church and what it believes. It is a public profession of faith (an outward picture of what has already taken place on the inside of the believer). Only baptism from another church of like faith and practice is accepted for transfer of church membership (along with a letter of transfer) protecting the church from the outside, keeping unbelievers and those who are not of the same doctrinal persuasions from being able to infiltrate the church. After baptism a believer is allowed to participate in the Lord’s Supper, which Christ instituted in order to cause the church to reflect upon His sacrifice on the cross and to cause each member to carefully examine him or herself before God as to whether or not they have un-confessed sin in their lives. This protects the church from within, keeping believers from being entangled in sin. The Lord’s Supper should consist of unleavened bread and unfermented fruit of the vine. Matt. 3:8,16; 26:17,26-30; 28:18-20 / John 3:23 / Luke. 22:19,20 / Acts 2:41,42; 8:12,35-39; 9:17,18; 10:44-48; 16:30-34 / I Cor. 12:13 Rom. 6:3-5; 16:1,2 / Col. 2:12 / Mark. 14:22-25 / I Cor. 11:23-31

Missions

Christ commissioned His church to take the gospel to every nation, starting in their own city. Supporting missionaries both foreign and domestic is the only way to fulfill God’s command. Scripture teaches “Faith Promise” as the proper method of missions giving. Missionaries need to be sent out from the church to fulfill the great commission (evangelize, baptize, and stabilize) planting independent local Baptist churches wherever they go. John 3:16 / Matt. 28:18-20 / John 20:21 / Acts 1:8 / Mark 16:15

Grace of Giving

God encourages every believer to enter into the blessings of giving by returning to the Lord the tithe and bringing love offerings into the local church on the first day of the week. Malachi 3:8-10 / I Cor. 16:1-3 / II Cor. 8:5,8,24; 9:6-14 / Heb. 7:4-9

The End Times

Jesus Christ Himself will soon come again in the air to catch up His Church and to reward their service; the unbelievers left behind will go through a period called the Tribulation, after which Christ will return to the earth to set up His Kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule; after this the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy in Heaven with the Lord. Mark 16:15 / 1 Cor. 12:12 / Eph. 1:22-23 / Matt. 24:29-42 / I Thess. 4:16-18 / Rev. 19:11-16; 20:4-6,13