Doctrinal Statement - Constitution & By-Laws
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
SCRIPTURES
We believe the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbal, plenary, inspired Word of God; inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the only supreme, and final authority, in faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21). The Bible, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, and is the sole and final source of what we believe. For purposes of Church doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor and deacon board is the Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.
TRINITY
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3,4).
CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Colossians 2:9).
MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. That all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, positively inclined to evil, and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. (Genesis 2:17; Psalm 51:5, 58:3; Romans 1:20; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 3:10; I Corinthians 2:14).
ATONEMENT
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as our substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 2:24).
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord, His bodily ascension into Heaven, and His bodily presence there for us as High Priest and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-11; I Corinthians 15:1-4, I Corinthians 15:20-25; Hebrews 7:25).
RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the "blessed hope" - the personal, bodily, pretribulational, premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:44; John 14:1-3; II Thess. 2)..
SALVATION
We believe that all who truly repent of their sins and believe on, and receive by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, are immediately and eternally born again and are thereby children of God and are eternally saved. (John 3:3; Romans 10:13; Acts 4:12; Galatians 3:24-26; I John 5:13).
SATAN
We believe that Satan is literal and personal, the agent of the fall, the prince and power of this world, and that he shall be judged and eternally punished. (Ephesians 2:1-4; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:1-10).
ETERNAL STATE
We believe in (1) the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, (2) the eternal, conscious punishment of the lost, and the eternal joy of the saved. ( I Thes. 4:16-18; Revelation 20).
BAPTISM
We believe (1) that immersion is the only mode of baptism taught and commanded in the Scriptures, (2) that it has no saving power, and (3) that the new birth, which comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the spiritual prerequisite to baptism. Therefore, only those who are old enough to believe for themselves in Jesus Christ should be baptized. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-5).
LORD'S TABLE
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the death of Christ, and that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood, and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him, ought to partake of it. We do not believe in closed communion. (I Corinthians 11:23-32).
OFFICERS
We believe that the Bible teaches that the following offices of the church should be held by men only: Pastor, Assistant Pastor & Deacons. (I Timothy 2:12; Acts 15).
CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a body of baptized believers, assembled for worship, service, and the spread of the Gospel into all the world. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).