Our Beliefs
1. We believe that love for God and love for mankind are the two greatest commandments of the LORD Jesus Christ upon which all others are dependent. Love for one another as Jesus loves the believer manifest our discipleship, and proves our love for God. Love is a requirement to recognize the authority of New Testament churches (Matt. 22:35-40; John 13:34, 35; John 15:12; 1 John 4:7-21; 1 John 5:1-3; Rev. 2:4, 5).
2. We believe in the infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that the Bible is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:21).
3. We believe in the personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection (Matt. 28:19).
4. We believe in the Genesis account of Creation (Gen. 1; 2).
5. We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal lake of fire (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-17; Rev. 20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19).
8. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9. We believe that miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away when the Bible was completed. Faith, Hope and Love are the vital abiding Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. chapters 12-14).
10. We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocency until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result being that all mankind are sinners (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19).
11. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe (Isa. 53:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
12. We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His saints (Matt. 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:42-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
13. We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the righteous shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8).
14. We believe that the depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8, 9), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates, seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8, 9; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5).
15.We believe the blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sins (Matt. 26-28). The blood of Christ was the price which purchased His New Testament Church (Acts 20:28). The blood of Christ is the source of our redemption (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). The blood of Christ is the means of our justification (Rom. 5:9) and the agent of our cleansing (Rev. 1:5; Heb. 9:14; 1 John 1:7) and the strength by which we overcome (Rev. 12:11).
16.We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5).
17. We believe that God deals with believers as His children, that He chastises the disobedient, and that He rewards the obedient (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 25:14-23; John 1:12; Heb. 12:5-11; 2 John 8; Rev. 22:12).
18. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, and each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament churches only, and that He promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matt. 4:18-22; Matt. 16:18; Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Eph. 3:21).
19. We believe that there are two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches: 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, Son, and Holy Spirit. Its purpose is not for the salvation of the spirit, but rather for identification with Christ and the "answer of a good conscience toward God." The Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance, which is only administered under the authority of a New Testament church. Only those who are members (subject to discipline) of the administering church may partake of this Supper (Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 8:12, 38; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:1, 2, 17-26).
20. We believe that there are two offices remaining in a New Testament church. They are pastors and decons. Pastors are called by God as He places the desire upon the individual called. Decons are selected by the New Testament church to assist the pastor as needed for the church (Acts 6:1-7). Both the offices of pastor and deacons should be filled by only men whose qualifications and character equal those set forth in 1 Timothy and Titus.
21. We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly should be, servants of, and under control of the churches (Matt. 20:25-28).
22. We believe in freedom of worship without interference from the government and affirm our belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of civil government run contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:15-22; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15).
23. We believe each member has an equal voice in the government of a church. Al committees, auxiliaries, and small groups of any kind are to be servants of the church. Al final decisions must be made by a majority of church members, not individuals or small groups. The pastor does have a position of leadership that is to be respected and regarded as one ordained by God, but the pastor is not to overlord the flock of God (Acts 6:1-7; Acts 15:1-21; 1 & 2 Tim.; Titus; Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
24. We believe and expect all members of a New Testament church to lead peaceable and pure lives (Rom. 12:18; 1 Tim 2:2; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; James 3:13-18).
25. We believe homosexuality is an abominable sin and unacceptable to God and His churches (Gen. 19; Rom. 1:18-32; Judges 19-20).
2. We believe in the infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that the Bible is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:21).
3. We believe in the personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection (Matt. 28:19).
4. We believe in the Genesis account of Creation (Gen. 1; 2).
5. We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal lake of fire (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-17; Rev. 20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19).
8. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9. We believe that miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away when the Bible was completed. Faith, Hope and Love are the vital abiding Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. chapters 12-14).
10. We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocency until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result being that all mankind are sinners (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19).
11. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe (Isa. 53:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
12. We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His saints (Matt. 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:42-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
13. We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the righteous shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8).
14. We believe that the depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8, 9), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates, seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8, 9; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5).
15.We believe the blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sins (Matt. 26-28). The blood of Christ was the price which purchased His New Testament Church (Acts 20:28). The blood of Christ is the source of our redemption (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). The blood of Christ is the means of our justification (Rom. 5:9) and the agent of our cleansing (Rev. 1:5; Heb. 9:14; 1 John 1:7) and the strength by which we overcome (Rev. 12:11).
16.We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5).
17. We believe that God deals with believers as His children, that He chastises the disobedient, and that He rewards the obedient (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 25:14-23; John 1:12; Heb. 12:5-11; 2 John 8; Rev. 22:12).
18. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, and each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament churches only, and that He promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matt. 4:18-22; Matt. 16:18; Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Eph. 3:21).
19. We believe that there are two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches: 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, Son, and Holy Spirit. Its purpose is not for the salvation of the spirit, but rather for identification with Christ and the "answer of a good conscience toward God." The Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance, which is only administered under the authority of a New Testament church. Only those who are members (subject to discipline) of the administering church may partake of this Supper (Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 8:12, 38; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:1, 2, 17-26).
20. We believe that there are two offices remaining in a New Testament church. They are pastors and decons. Pastors are called by God as He places the desire upon the individual called. Decons are selected by the New Testament church to assist the pastor as needed for the church (Acts 6:1-7). Both the offices of pastor and deacons should be filled by only men whose qualifications and character equal those set forth in 1 Timothy and Titus.
21. We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly should be, servants of, and under control of the churches (Matt. 20:25-28).
22. We believe in freedom of worship without interference from the government and affirm our belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of civil government run contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:15-22; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15).
23. We believe each member has an equal voice in the government of a church. Al committees, auxiliaries, and small groups of any kind are to be servants of the church. Al final decisions must be made by a majority of church members, not individuals or small groups. The pastor does have a position of leadership that is to be respected and regarded as one ordained by God, but the pastor is not to overlord the flock of God (Acts 6:1-7; Acts 15:1-21; 1 & 2 Tim.; Titus; Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
24. We believe and expect all members of a New Testament church to lead peaceable and pure lives (Rom. 12:18; 1 Tim 2:2; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; James 3:13-18).
25. We believe homosexuality is an abominable sin and unacceptable to God and His churches (Gen. 19; Rom. 1:18-32; Judges 19-20).
