What We Teach
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THE BIBLE
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- The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the complete and revealed Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original writings. It is wholly sufficient as Divine revelation and it alone has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (PSALM 12:6; 19:7-11; ISAIAH 40:8; MATTHEW 5:18; 2TIMOTHY 3:15-17; 2PETER 1:21; HEBREWS 1:1-3).
- The Bible is God's written revelation to man, and thus the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1CORINTHIANS 2:7-14; 2PETER 1:20-21).
- The Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (MATTHEW 5:18; 24:35; JOHN 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1CORINTHIANS 2:13; 2TIMOTHY 3:15-17; HEBREWS 4:12; 2PETER 1:20-21).
- There may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (JOHN 7:17; 16:12-15; 1CORINTHIANS 2:7-15; 1JOHN 2:20). It is the responsibility of believers to ascertain carefully the true intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that proper application is binding on all generations. Yet the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it.
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THE TRINITY
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- We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These Three, being one in essence, are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existing, and perform distinct but harmonious functions in creation, redemption, and providence (DEUTERONOMY 6:4; MATTHEW 28:19-20; 2CORINTHIANS 13:14).
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GOD THE FATHER
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- We believe in God, The Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He is unchangeable in His being, all glorious in His nature, and absolutely sovereign over creation, providence, and redemption. (DEUTERONOMY 6:4; JOHN 4:23-24; ISAIAH 6:1-6; PSALM 115:3; 145:5; 1JOHN 4:16).
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JESUS CHRIST
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- We believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, God’s only begotten 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. (JOHN 1:1-14; ACTS 1:11; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11; 1CORINTHIANS 15:3-4; HEBREWS 1:1-10; 4:14).
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HOLY SPIRIT
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- We believe in the Holy Spirit who came from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to apply the benefits of Christ’s work to the elect in regeneration and sanctification. We believe that every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit and indwelt at salvation. The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows a spiritual gift(s), helps, teaches and guides every believer (JOHN 3:3-7, 16:8-14; 1CORINTHIANS 12:13; 1CORINTHIANS 3:16; ROMANS 8:9,26; EPHESIANS 5:18).
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SALVATION
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- We believe that all men are sinners in Adam, by nature and by choice and are therefore dead in sin and under condemnation. We believe that God in His free and sovereign grace saves sinners as He wills. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. True believers will persevere in faith and good works unto the end. This good news of salvation is freely offered to all and requires faith in Christ, which is enabled by the Holy Spirit, making those who are ordained to eternal life willing and able to believe. (ACTS 13:48; ROMANS 3:10-18,23; 6:23; JONAH 2:9; EPHESIANS 2:8-9; TITUS 3:5; PHILIPPIANS 1:6; 1PETER 1:5; HEBREWS 12:14; REVELATION 22:17).
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ETERNAL SECURITY
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- All the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (JOHN 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; ROMANS 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1CORINTHIANS 1:4-8; EPHESIANS 4:30; HEBREWS 7:25; 13:5; 1PETER 1:5; JUDE 24).
- It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (ROMANS 6:15-22; 13:13-14; GALATIANS 5:13, 25-26; TITUS 2:11-14).
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THE CHURCH
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- We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, composed of people who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the local church, whose membership consists of a company of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, associated for worship, Bible study, prayer, the ordinances, fellowship, and the evangelism of a lost world. We believe in the autonomy and independence of the local church, although cooperation with other churches, associations, or organizations may prove beneficial. However, cooperation is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. (MATTHEW 16:18; ACTS 2:42-47; EPHESIANS 4:1-15; 1CORINTHIANS 16:1).
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CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
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- We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and that he should seek the well-being of his fellow-man; that his conduct should be one of pursuing blamelessness before the world; that he should seek to be a faithful steward of his possessions; that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We disavow a legalistic approach to the Christian life and believe in the liberty of conscience (1CORINTHIANS 10:31; ROMANS 12:1-2; TITUS 2:11-13; ROMANS 14:1-15:6).
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THE ORDINANCES
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- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the church to be observed until the return of Christ: baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. By baptism a believer publicly declares his forgiveness of sin, union with Christ, and new life in Christ. Baptism is only for those who profess faith in Christ. In the Lord’s Supper, the believer is dramatically reminded of the sacrifice of Christ for our sin. The Lord’s Supper is communion with God in Christ, as the believer spiritually feeds on Christ by faith, and communion with the body of Christ. We believe that these two ordinances are not means for salvation, but are visible signs of an invisible faith.. (MATTHEW 3:13-17; 26:26-29; 1CORINTHIANS 10:16,17; 11:23,24).
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LAST THINGS
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- We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth. His coming will be visible, for the consummation of His eternal Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal blessedness of the believer. (MATTHEW 24:1-51, 25:41; JOHN 14:1-3, 1CORINTHIANS 15; 2CORINTHIANS 5:10; 1THESSALONIANS 4:13-18; REVELATION 20:11-15).
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MARRIAGE
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- We embrace the Biblical authority that a marriage in the eyes of God is only between a man and a woman. Therefore we do not approve, condone, participate in or in any way recognize any marriage that is not between one man and one woman. (GENESIS 2:22-25)
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