Doctrine
Affirmation of Faith
The Word of God. We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Tim. 3 :16,17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:12,13)
The Trinity. We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every Divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption (Matt. 3:16,17; John 14:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6).
God the Father. We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ (Mk 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 5:30.31; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 1:4-6; Eph. 1:17-20).
Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:19-20; Heb.7:25- 57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-3; Rev. 20:4-6).
Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes forth from the Father and Son to glorify the Son. to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide (John 14:16.17; 16:7-14; Matt. 28:19; Romans 8:9,14.16.27; Heb. 9:14; Eph. 1:13,14; John 1:33).
Regeneration. We believe that all persons are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Romans 3:19,20; 3:9-18,23; John 3:18,36: Luke 13:1-5; John 1:12.13: Romans 10:8-13; Eph. 2:4-6; 1 Peter 1:23,25; Romans 6:23; Titus 3:5.6).
The Church. We believe in the universal church, a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:37-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12,20; Eph. 1:23: Eph. 4:3-10; Col. 3:14-15; John 3:45; Acts 2:41,42).
Christian Conduct. We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow-men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (1 Cor. 10:31-33; 1 Cor. 6:19.20; 1 Cor. 1:8; Phil. 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14; 2 Cor. 8:1-7; 1 Cor. 6:12; 2 Cor. 9:6-8; Eph. 4:13-15; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:2).
The Ordinances. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church:
baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water
in the name of the triune God. This is the public confession of Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a symbol of
one's union, by faith, with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, and therefore, is to be administered by
immersion to only those who have given evidence of faith in Christ as their personal Savior. The Lord's
Table should be open to all believers, regardless of denomination. We believe that these two ordinances
should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:23, 4:1-2; Matt.
3:16, 26:26-29, 29:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Luke 22:15-20; I Cor. 11:23-33; Rom. 6:3-5).
Religious Liberty. We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to
God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by
any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having
different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. (Matt. 11:28-30,
22:20-21; John 14:6; Heb. 4:14-16; I Tim. 2:5; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17).
Church Cooperation. We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by
cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether it is the
Conference or a district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a
conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with
interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis. (Acts 15:13-18; I Cor. 16:1-4; II
Cor. 8:1-9, 18-24).
The Last Things. We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the
establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal
bliss of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Luke 12:35-40, 17:26-30; II Tim. 3:1-5;
Acts 15:14-17; I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-4; I Cor. 15:35-38; Isaiah 13:9-11; Mal. 4:1-3; II Thess
2:1-12; Daniel 12:1-3; Matt. 24:15-28; Jude 14-16; Rev. 1:4).
MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is the exclusive, covenantal union of one man and one woman, which union was
designed by God. Genesis 2:24 states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold
fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus Christ affirmed this in Matthew 19:4-6, he
answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let
not man separate.”
We will faithfully follow this scriptural definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of this church
and, therefore, this church will not officiate, solemnize, perform or host a marriage or marriage-like
ceremony involving anything other than the union of one biologically-born man with one biologically-
born woman as instituted by God.