what we believe

I. THE SCRIPTURES

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative sources of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

II Timothy 3: 15-17; John 17:17

II. GOD

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in them all; and to Him we owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.

Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 9: 23-24

III. THE TRINITY

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct, personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6

IV. PROVIDENCE

God from eternity decrees and permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds and governs all creatures and allows all events; yet so as not to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of mankind.

Hebrews 1:3; Ephesians 1:11

V. ELECTION

Election is God’s eternal choice of calling persons unto everlasting life not because of foreseen merit in them, but because of His mercy in Christ in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.

Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:11-13; Ephesians 1:4-6

VI. THE FALL OF MAN

God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become transgressors and are under condemnation by their own action.

Genesis 2:1-19; Romans 5:12-21

VII. THE MEDIATOR

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives to make intercession for His people; He is the Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church and Sovereign of the Universe.

1 Timothy 2:5

VIII. REGENERATION

Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit, who convicts the spiritually dead of trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness. Regeneration is God’s free and special grace alone.

John 3:3-8; Ezekiel 36:26-27

IX. REPENTANCE

Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin and turning toward God.

II Corinthians 7:9-10; Isaiah 55 6-7

X. FAITH

Saving faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior.

John 1:12; John 3:16

XI. JUSTIFICATION

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the sacrifice that Christ has made.

Romans 8:30; Psalms 103:12

XII. SANCTIFICATION AND GLORIFICATION

Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

Romans 8:29-39

XIII. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Those whom God saved and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29

XIV. THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ and is commissioned to continue the ministry Jesus started. Those who are part of the local church are believers who have been baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are under scripturally delegated authorities and assemble for praise, worship, ministry and the preaching and teaching of the Word.

Ephesians 1:22-23

XV. THE LORD’S DAY

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.

Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10

XVI. LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it.

Galatians 5:16

XVII. THE RESURRECTION

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God – the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked to await in outer darkness until the judgment. At the last day, the physical bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

1 Corinthians 15

XVIII. CHRIST’S SECOND COMING AND THE JUDGMENT

According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Revelation 20:10-22:5

XIX. DIVINE HEALING

We believe that God uses doctors, medicines and other material means in healing. We also believe in God’s direct intervention to heal the whole person as an extension of Christ’s continued ministry today through the church. Elements in divine healing include God’s Word, faith, prayer and anointed ministry in the Body of Christ.

James 5: 14-16

In addition to our statement of faith, we affirm both the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and the Nashville Statement.