Statement of Faith
THE BIBLE. We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only infallible, authoritative written word of God. (Jeremiah 30:2; Hebrews 2:2; Romans 4:23-25; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21.)
GOD. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy. 6:4; Matthew. 3:16-17; Luke 3:22; John 17:3; Galatians 4:4-6).
JESUS CHRIST. We believe in the deity of Christ (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3), in his virgin birth (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35), in his sinless life (II Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5), in his miracles (Mark 1:23-26; Luke 5:1-11; John 2:1-11; John 4:46-54), in his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood (John 3:14-17; Hebrews 10:10-20), in his bodily resurrection (Matthew 28:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8), in his ascension to the right hand of the Father (John 20:17; Acts 1:9), and in his personal return in power and glory (Matthew 24:27-31; Luke 21:27-36) to judge the living and the dead (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:14-15).
MAN. We believe that all are born with a nature to sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12, 7:14-17) and must be "born again" to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:25-26; John 3:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23).
SALVATION. We believe that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which results in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by grace of our Lord and not of works. Works are excluded except as FRUIT of salvation (Acts 3:19, 20, Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-10).
LOCAL CHURCH. We believe the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a Body of believers who have been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who are under recognized, delegated authorities; and who assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission, and minister as the Holy Spirit leads. We believe the local church promotes regular fellowship with other believers and a commitment to a local church with regular participation in its activities is important for personal spiritual growth (Matt 16:18; Matthew 28:19, 20; John 17:11, 21:12; Acts 2:40-47; 20:28; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16, 5:22-32, I Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:25).
WATER BAPTISM: Immersion in water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:15, 16, Matthew 28:19, 20, Acts 8:38, Romans 6:1-4). A symbol of identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
LORD'S SUPPER: A memorial of the death, resurrection, and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 22:13-20).
HEAVEN AND HELL. We believe the Scriptures clearly set forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal bliss and service for the saved -- Hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the saved (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46, Luke 16:19-31, John 14:1-3, Revelation 20:11-15).
HOLY SPIRIT. We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict men of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into ALL truth, indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in I Corinthians 12:8-11 shall operate in the present day churches which yield to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 11:13, John 7:37-39, John 14:16, 17, John 16:7-14, Acts 2:39-48).
DIVINE HEALING. We believe that God has used doctors, medicines, and other material means for healing; but divine healing was also provided for in the Atonement (Isaiah 53:5) and may be appropriated by laying on of hands by elders (James 5:14-16), laying on of hands by the believers (Mark 16:18), by the prayer of an anointed person gifted for healing the sick (I Corinthians 12:9), or by a direct act of receiving this provision by faith (Mark 11:23).
PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS. We believe that each believer is a Priest of the Lord (Revelation 1:6) and has direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. Each person must believe for himself, be baptized for himself, obey for himself, and answer to his Creator for himself.
