Doctrinal Statement

The Bible

I believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God.  It was written by human authors whose very words were divinely inspired by the Holy Ghost.  It is both infallible and inerrant and as such, is the only source of authority for doctrine and the Christian life.  I accept and use the King James Version as the best translation for English speaking people.   (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Matthew 24:35, Matthew 5:18, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 12:6-7)

The Godhead

I believe in one God that exists equally and eternally as three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  God has always existed and will continue to always exist as omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and immutable.  God is perfect in all holiness. (Matthew 28:19, Isaiah 45:5, Deuteronomy 6:4, John 1:1-3, 1 John 5:7, Psalm 90:2, John 14:26)

Creation

I believe that God created the world and everything in it in six literal, 24 hour days according to the Genesis account.  I believe that God is still involved with his creation and actively works to sustain it.  (Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:31-2:1, Psalm 33:6, Hebrews 1:3)

Jesus Christ

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth, was born of a virgin, and became God in the flesh.  He lived a sinless life and willingly offered himself as the substitutionary sacrifice for all of man’s sin when he died on the cross.  His death on the cross fully satisfied man’s payment for sin.  He bodily rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven, and now sits on the right hand of God as our advocate.  (Matthew 3:16-17, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 16:16-17, Matthew 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 1:1, John 1:14, Matthew 28:6, 1 Peter 2:22, John 3:16, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 John 2:1-2)

The Holy Spirit

I believe the Holy Spirit is a person possessing all attributes of Deity.  He convicts the lost world of sin and brings the sinner to the point of repentance.  He regenerates, seals, indwells, and bestows gifts on the believer for service.  The Holy Spirit also teaches and sets aside the believer for a holy life through the process of sanctification.  He is the foremost in advancing missions and the gospel around the world. (John 14:16-17, 16:8, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Acts 5:3-4)

Sin and Salvation

I believe that man was created in the image of God and by his own choice fell into sin and death.  By man’s inherent sin nature and man’s own sin, they are alienated from the life and family of God with no possible way of reconciliation.  Man’s only way of salvation is through believing on Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross as the payment for their sins.  This is a free gift from God and cannot be earned or bought through any virtue or work of man.  It is only received through personal faith in Jesus Christ as their savior.  Any person who trusts Christ as their Savior has assurance of the gift of eternal life and a perfect righteous standing before God through Christ Jesus forever.  Anyone who rejects this free gift will spend eternity in the lake of fire. (John 3:16, John 10:28-29, Acts 16:31, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:11-14)

The Church

I believe the local church is an organized body of saved and baptized believers.  The church recognizes two offices (that of pastor and deacon) and observes two ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s supper).  The church is the institution the Lord uses to further the proclamation of the gospel message.  The body of believers comes together for the purpose of fellowship, edification, service, worship, to proclaim the gospel, and to observe the ordinances.  The church is an autonomous body that is distinct from Israel with Christ as its head.  (Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 1:22, Acts 2:41-47, Ephesians 4:11-13, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:12-14)

The Second Coming

I believe the Lord may return at any moment and when He does those that are saved will be raptured up to meet Him in the air.  Those that are not saved and that remain will endure a 7 year tribulation ending with the return of Christ and the saints where He will reign for a thousand years on earth while Satan is bound.  At the end of those a thousand years, Satan will be defeated once and for all, the Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ will take place and the Lord will establish the new heaven and the new earth for eternity. (Revelation 21:1, Revelation 20: 1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18, Matthew 24:36, Revelation 20:4, 1 Corinthians 15: 51-58)

Separation

I believe that Christians are called to live a life that is set apart from sinful, immoral, unbiblical, influences.  A Christian becomes a new creature at the moment of salvation and their life should be a reflection of Jesus Christ’s and the working of the Holy Spirit in their life in the process of sanctification.   (Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:9)