The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. Therefore, we affirm that the Bible is without error, infallible, and authoritative in doctrine, serving as the final authority for faith and practice. Because God has promised that His Word is sufficient and eternal, we believe He has preserved it for every generation. Based on the principles of Scripture and the abundance of manuscript evidence, we hold the conviction that the King James Version of the Bible is the preserved Word of God for English-speaking people.

The True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 15:11; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 11:3; John 4:24; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:18; I John 5:7)

The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God in the flesh; conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary, true God and true man. (Matthew 1:18-21; John 8:58; John 10:30; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8)

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit of God; who is co-equal with God, a person, and the third member of the Trinity. His present ministries include magnifying the Lord Jesus Christ, convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, comforting and teaching believers, and edifying the Body of Christ. (John 16:7-14; Acts 5:1-4)

The Devil, or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 11:13-15; I Thessalonians 3:5; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Peter 5:8; 2Peter 2:4; I John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; II John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10)

The Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.” Since God created mankind into genders distinctly male and female, we believe that the only legitimate marriage is that between a man and a woman. (Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6)

Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred spiritual and physical death. We believe that without exception all men are sinners and have need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:22; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; Romans 5:12-18)

The Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; I Corinthians 15:47; I John 5:20)

The Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Saviour. (Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2)

Grace in the New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3, 6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; I John 5:1)

Salvation

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He was and is our substitutionary and vicarious atonement for sin. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; that He ascended bodily into heaven, is seated on the right hand of the Father, and ever liveth to make intercession for all born-again believers, thus making them eternally secure. (Isaiah 53; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:15-21; Romans 8:33-39; II Corinthians 1:21, 22; Ephesians 1:13; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25)

The Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (John 3:19; John 5:40; Romans 16:25, 26)

Justification

We believe that the great Gospel blessing, which Christ secures to such as believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life in principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any work of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, by virtue of which His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God. (John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 4:4, 5: Romans 5: 1,2,9)

Repentance & Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour. (Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13)

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. (I Thessalonians 4:3; I John 2:29)

Separation - Personal & Ecclesiastical

We believe the believer should be separated from the world while being present in the world; that he should abstain from all appearances of evil as a testimony to the saving grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ; that the local church should maintain a position of separation from all forms of apostasy, modernism, ecumenism and any other departure from the written principles of the word of God. We believe that II Corinthians 6:14-18 and II John verse 10 prohibits the joining together of believers with unbelievers in the Lord’s work, such as in ecumenical organizations or in cooperative evangelistic efforts. Further, that this church shall be free from any government outside of itself whatsoever, excepting legal requirements necessary to lawful operation not contrary to the nature of an independent Baptist church.
(I Corinthians 10:20; I Thessalonians 5:22; II Timothy 2:15-18; II Timothy 4:1-3; Titus 1:9-11; Titus 2:10-15)

The Resurection and Return of Christ and Related Events

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily “The third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,” bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.” (Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11; I Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; I Thessalonians 4:16; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2)

The Local Church

We believe that the local church, which is the body, is solely made up of born-again persons. (I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; I Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Pet. 5:1-4)

We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; I Cor. 11:23-26)

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and the fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and to Titus. This church is an independent local autonomy, governed internally and responsible only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Its ministries include glorifying the Saviour, edifying the saints, and evangelizing the world for Christ. (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:47; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:5; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; I Timothy 3)

This church has always been and shall continue to be an independent body of baptized believers. The government of this church has always been and shall continue to be vested in its assembled membership through its pastor, and it shall never be subject to the control of any other ecclesiastical body, and no denominational or associational representatives shall ever sit in judgment of its affairs. The church may fellowship and cooperate with other churches for the furtherance of the Gospel when such shall be in accordance with the Scriptures, but no rules, regulations, or commitments shall be made to such bodies which call for more than voluntary action on the part of this church.

Every organization or society within this church will be an integral part of the church and not an entity to itself. They shall therefore, have as their aims and objectives that of assisting the church in discharging the obligations and responsibilities which it has imposed upon itself rather than having separate aims and objectives which always act as divisive forces. The pastor may preside over all such organizations or societies.

The Grace of Giving

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith. (II Corinthians 8:7, “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”) We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. (I Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”)

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, should be taught their scriptural obligation to support his/her local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the ultimate use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; I John 3:17)

Missions

We believe that God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. Our ambassadorship must include an effort to win the lost locally as well. (Matthew 28: 19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)

Baptism & The Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the use of bread and fruit of the vine (grape juice) are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is to be preceded always with solemn self-examination. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4, 5; I Corinthians 11:26-28)

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society, and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, as set forth in His word, who is the only Lord of the kings of the earth. (Matthew 22:21; Matthew 23:9, 10; Acts 5:28, 29; Romans 13:1- 7)

The Righteous & The Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; that all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death and throughout all eternity. (Malachi 3:18; Luke 16:19-31; John 3:14-21, 36; Romans 1:17, 18; I John 5:19)

The Preserving of Moral Values

We believe that the Church should be committed in the following areas to preserve Scriptural morals in the face of outside societal influences seeking to degrade the Biblical family, pervert the moral values of our nation, and intimidate God’s people from speaking God’s truth in love.

Sexual Life

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, and adultery, are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4) We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7)