What We Believe
1. Christian Love
We believe that Christlike love toward one another—love patterned after the love Jesus has for His own—reveals true discipleship, demonstrates genuine love for God, and marks the authority of New Testament churches. Love is therefore the great commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon which all other commandments depend. Scripture: Matthew 22:35–40; John 13:34–35; John 15:12; 1 John 4:7–21; 1 John 5:1–3; Revelation 2:4–5.
2. The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible, and that the Scriptures are the all‑sufficient rule of faith and practice. We further believe that God has preserved His Word for us, and that the King James Bible is the inspired, preserved, and authoritative English translation for faith, doctrine, and practice. Scripture: Psalm 119:160; 2 Timothy 3:16–17.
3. The Triune God
We believe in the personal, triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—coequal in divine perfection. Scripture: Matthew 28:19.
4. Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of Creation. Scripture: Genesis 1; Genesis 2.
5. Satan
We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the unholy god of this world, whose final destination is the eternal lake of fire. Scripture: Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:11–19; Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:10–17; Revelation 20:10.
6. The Virgin Birth and Sinless Humanity of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, exactly as foretold by the prophets and recorded in the Gospels. We further believe that Jesus Christ lived a perfectly sinless life. Throughout His earthly ministry He remained entirely without sin in thought, word, motive, or deed. Scripture: Matthew 1:18–20; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26–35; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26.
7. The Deity of Christ
We believe in the full and eternal deity of Jesus Christ. He is not merely a great teacher, a prophet, or a moral example, but truly and eternally God. Jesus Christ, is one with the Father, equal in essence, nature, and glory. Scripture: John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15–19; Colossians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 1:1–3; 1 Timothy 3:16.
8. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the triune God. The Holy Spirit was active in Creation, in the inspiration of Scripture, and in the entire redemptive work of God throughout history. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches. Christ sent the Spirit to indwell, empower, guide, and comfort His people. Scripture: Luke 24:49; John 14:16–17; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:4–5, 8; Acts 2:1–4; Romans 8:9–16, 26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5.
9. Spiritual Gifts
We believe that miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts ceased when the Scriptures were completed, and that Faith, Hope, and Love remain the abiding spiritual gifts. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12–14.
10. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God and lived in innocency until he fell by voluntary transgression, resulting in the universal sinfulness of mankind. Scripture: Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:6–24; Romans 5:12, 19.
11. The Substitutionary Atonement
We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ were substitutionary for all mankind, and efficacious only for those who believe. Scripture: Isaiah 53:6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2.
12. The Resurrection and Ascension
We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ, and in the bodily resurrection of His saints. Scripture: Matthew 28:1–7; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Corinthians 15:42–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
13. The Return of Christ
We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. The righteous will be raised to eternal life, and after the Millennium the unrighteous will be raised unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire. The righteous shall enter the eternal heavenly age. Scripture: John 14:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19; Revelation 20:4–6; Revelation 20:11–15; Revelation 21:8.
14. Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We believe that depraved sinners are saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; that repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the requisites to regeneration. Scripture: Luke 13:3–5; John 3:16–18; Acts 20:21; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9. We further believe that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates, seals, secures, and indwells every believer. Scripture: John 3:6; John 16:8–9; Romans 8:9–11; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5.
15. Eternal Security
We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall not perish. Scripture: John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27–30; Romans 8:35–39; Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5.
16. God’s Discipline and Reward
We believe that God deals with believers as His children, chastising the disobedient and rewarding the obedient. Scripture: Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:14–23; John 1:12; Hebrews 12:5–11; 2 John 8; Revelation 22:12.
17. The Church
We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His earthly ministry; that His church is always a local, visible assembly of scriptural baptized believers in a covenant relationship to carry out His Commission. That each church is independent and self‑governing; and that no ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We further believe that the Great Commission was given to New Testament churches alone, and that Christ promised the perpetuity of His churches. Scripture: Matthew 4:18–22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 1:14–20; John 1:35–51; Ephesians 3:21.
18. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord’s churches have two pictorial ordinances: Scriptural Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Scriptural Baptism is the immersion of penitent believers in water, administered by the authority of a New Testament church in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial ordinance, restricted to the members of the church observing it. Scripture: Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 8:12, 38; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 5:11–13; 1 Corinthians 11:1–2, 17–20, 26.
19. Church Offices
We believe that the Lord has appointed two offices within His churches—pastors and deacons—each to be filled by qualified men as set forth in Titus and 1 Timothy.
20. Associations and Fellowships
We believe that associations, fellowships, and committees are servants of the churches and properly remain under their authority. Scripture: Matthew 20:25–28.
21. Religious Liberty and Civil Obedience
We believe in freedom of worship without governmental interference, and we affirm civil obedience unless civil laws contradict the Holy Scriptures. Scripture: Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–15.
22. Marriage
We believe that marriage, according to Scripture, is the union between one man and one woman. Scripture: Genesis 2:21–24; Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:6–9; 1 Corinthians 7:2–4; Ephesians 5:22–31.
23. Gender
We believe that God Himself designates each person’s gender. God ordained two genders—male and female—and mankind does not possess authority to redefine or alter the biological sex assigned by God. Any attempt to change one’s gender is sin. Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; Job 40:8; Jeremiah 13:23.
