What We Believe
THE BIBLE:
We believe the Scriptures are the verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, and are preserved for us in the King James Version, which is the only acceptable translation for use in this church, its ministries and outreach. The scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the only infallible, inerrant rule of faith (what we believe) and practice (how we live).
GOD:
We believe in one God, who is eternal, infinite, and immutable. We believe He manifests Himself to man in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
JESUS CHRIST:
We believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as payment for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day.
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind.
SALVATION:
We believe that the only way a person can go to Heaven when he dies is to first place his faith in the payment that Jesus Christ provided with His shed blood on the cross. This is how one is born again (saved).
THE SINFULNESS OF MAN:
We believe man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, as a result of the fall, inherit a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to the age of accountability and conviction of sin, become guilty before God. (Gen. 3:1-7; Rom. 3:10-23; Rom. 5:12)
TERMS OF SALVATION:
The conditions of Salvation are found in two inseparable graces, brought to our soul by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, those graces being repentance and faith. Repentance being the turning of trusting self to trusting Christ and Faith being the personal acceptance of Christ as Saviour. Salvation is provided
FREEDOM OF WILL:
The Human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit and live, or to resist them and perish. (Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:3, Rom. 6:16)
PERSEVERANCE:
All believers in Christ are saved by grace through faith and kept by the power of God through faith. Salvation results when a man exercises faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. In doing so, the finished works of Christ settled his account in Heaven. Perseverance is the sustaining grace of God that assures the true believer’s continued act of Christ as his Lord and Saviour. (Eph. 2:8; I Pet. 1:3-5; Heb. 10:38-39; Jude 24; Philippians 1:6)
RESURRECTION, JUDGMENT, AND FINAL RETRIBUTION:
The Scriptures teach us there will be a resurrection of all men. The saved go to heaven as soon as they die, but do not receive their glorified bodies until all the Christians do at the return of Jesus Christ at the rapture. They will then stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive the rewards that Christ has promised for those who labor with Him. After ruling and reigning with Christ for 1000 years, they will then enjoy an eternity with Christ in the literal new heaven and new earth.
HEAVEN:
The Scriptures declare that Heaven is a definite place reserved for the saved. It is indescribably beautiful and the eternal reward that God has for all who have been born again. (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; Rev. 21:1-2)
HELL:
The Scriptures tell us that Hell is a terrible eternal reality for all who die in their sin. As Heaven is indescribable beauty, Hell is indescribable horror. The Bible states the fire and torment of Hell to be an inescapable eternal reality. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 19:20, 20:10; Luke 16:23, 28; Luke 13:27-28)
GOSPEL ORDINANCES:
Baptism is the immersion of believers in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This represents the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; also expressing to the world the Christian’s death to sin and being raised into newness of life. It is an outward symbol of what takes place on the inside as one trust Christ as their Saviour. Baptism takes place only after conversion. (Rom. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Col. 2:12; Titus 3:5)
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance given to the Church by Christ to remind us of His broken body and shed blood for our sin. The use of unleavened bread and grape juice are representative of Christ’s body and blood and only serve as a reminder of his great sacrifice for us. This is to be partaken of by all believers after self-examination of our own lives. This ordinance, as baptism, extends no grace or merit to one’s salvation. The Bible states no timing upon the frequency of the Lord’s Supper, but several times a year we hold this ordinance. (Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-24)
