Scripture

 

I believe the Bible is the Word of God, inspired and inerrant, and throughout history God has preserved His infallible Word in a collection of sixty-six Books, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation. (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 12:6-7; Proverbs 22:12; 20-21) 

 

Trinity

 

I believe in one true God who is manifest in three eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

(1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19).

 

Jesus Christ

 

I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is fully and literally God in human form (I Timothy 3:16), He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), and in the womb of a virgin named Mary (Isaiah 7:14) received a human body. We believe He was tempted by Satan in all points like we are, yet without sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:16). I believe He allowed Himself to be crucified in order to pay the penalty deserved for all our sin (Romans 5:11-21), He literally and bodily rose again from the grave on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and He now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven (Colossians 3:1).

 

Holy Spirit

 

I believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and the current, earthly manifestation of God through His indwelling of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 16:7), and that He seals the believer and baptizes (immerses) him into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation

(1 Corinthians 12:13) with the goal of teaching God's Word and conforming the believer to the very image of Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). I believe all spiritual blessings are received at the time of salvation (Ephesians 1:3), the Spirit gives gifts to every believer as He (the Spirit) wills so the believer might effectively communicate the love of Christ

(1 Corinthians 12-13), (Ephesians 4:11-16)

 

Satan

 

I believe Satan is a real, historical being, a fallen cherub who was lifted up in pride and rebelled against God, leading an army of angelic beings with him (Isaiah 14:12-17). His defeat was sealed by the work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 2:14). His final destiny is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

 

Adam and Eve

 

I believe the Genesis account of creation is historical, not allegorical or figurative. I believe Adam was an historical person, created by the direct act of God and in His image (Genesis 1-2). Adam chose to sin against God through the free will God gave him and reaped the wages of death. As the originator of the human race, Adam passed his sinful nature to all mankind (Romans 5:12). All men are sinners by birth and become sinners in experience (Romans 3) for which the wages are death (Romans 6:23).

 

Salvation

 

I believe salvation is by God's grace alone on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in His resurrection, appropriated by the faith of anyone who will recognize that his sin separates him from God, turn from his sin to God by personally believing in his heart that Jesus is risen, and confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10). We believe the act of salvation is just as definite and decisive as physical birth (John 3:1-7). We believe this salvation cannot be reversed or lost and believers are kept by the power of God (John 10:28-29;     1 John 2:19; Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5).

 

The Church

 

I believe the local assembly of believers (church) is God's instrument in this age. While all genuine, born-again believers in Christ share an organic, family relationship, the overwhelming number of references of the word ''church'' in the Bible apply to a local, visible assembly of baptized believers (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13). At the Second Coming of Christ, all genuine believers from the time of Christ's ascension will be united together as the Body of Christ

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2). Until then, it is the responsibility of each local church to continue in evangelism, discipleship, and missions both independently and interdependently (Matthew 28:18-20). I believe each local assembly should be as self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating as possible, practicing the ordinances of baptism ,by immersion, and the Lord's Table and operating under the leadership of those who hold the office of pastor (also known as ''bishop'' or ''elder'') and assisted by those who hold the office of deacon (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17). We believe every member of the local church has the responsibility to minister the Word of God and support the ministry through prayer, holy living, tithes, and offerings (1 Corinthians 16:2; Malachi 3:10; Acts 4:34-37; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-4).

 

The Return of Christ

 

I believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and great glory to judge the world and reign (Acts 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). I believe shortly before Christ's Second Coming, all genuine believers will be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52) followed by a seven year period of tribulation on earth during which time God will judge His people Israel and all without Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 24). That period of tribulation will be ended by Christ's personal return to rule for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6; Matthew 25:31-46).

 

Judgment

 

I believe all men will spend eternity either with Christ or eternally separated from Him. We believe the lost who die wait in a literal Hell for the day of final judgment where they will be punished in a literal lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). I believe those who have accepted Christ as Savior will experience a bodily resurrection to everlasting life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

 

Sanctity of Human Life 

 

I believe that all human life is sacred from fertilization throughout the entire natural human life; that human beings are created in His image and, as such, are to be protected; that the weak, vulnerable, infirm, handicapped, pre-born and needy deserve our respect and our care. Genesis 1:26; 9:6; Psalm 51:5, 82:3–4, 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41

 

Marriage and the Home 

 

I believe that the home was the first institution God provided for man; that marriage is a sacred relationship between one man and one woman for life; and that homosexuality is a perversion of God’s natural order of one man for one woman. Genesis 2:18–24; Deuteronomy 23:17–18; Mark 10:9; Romans 1:18–27; I Corinthians 6:9–11; 7:2; Ephesians 5:22–33; Jude 7

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OTHER DISTINCTIVES

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Baptism of the Holy Spirit

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I believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at the moment of conversion. I do not believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation, or is evidenced by speaking in tongues. I do not believe the spiritual gift of tongues is active in this age.

 

Healing

 

I believe that God is the divine healer and still heals physical illness in miraculous ways. I believe in praying for the sick, and believe that God does answer prayer. I do not believe the spiritual gift of healing is active in this age. I do recognize that other genuine believers disagree with us on these issues. I in no way question the validity of their relationship with Christ, but instead embrace them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

God’s Sovereignty

 

I believe the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are both Biblical truths. At the same time, acknowledge that how these two truths relate in regard to salvation is beyond the finite understanding of man. I am not excessively Calvinistic or Armenian, (I reject both views) but rather adhere to a balanced, Biblical understanding of God’s and man’s role in salvation.

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Dispensationalism

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I believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life, which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. Dispensationalism views the world as a household run by God. In His household-world God is dispensing or administering its affairs according to his own will and in various stages of revelation in the passage of time. These various stages mark off the distinguishably different economies in the outworking of His total purpose, and these different economies constitute the dispensations. The understanding of God’s differing economies is essential to a proper interpretation of His revelation within those various economies. Dispensationalism then, encompasses the complete system of Bible study known by the biblical phrase, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Dispensationalism is only 500 yrs old. Prior to that time people couldn’t access complete Bibles to see how it fit together. Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25, 27; Revelation. 20:2-6

 

Authorized Version

 

I believe that the Authorized Version is an accurate translation of God’s Word in the English Language. I do use the Authorized Version (KJV) as the standard when it comes to the teaching and the study of God’s Word.

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