SCRIPTURES
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the verbally (every word) and plenary  (completely) inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21). We affirm that the Bible  was written inerrant in the original languages and is accurately preserved through faithful  translation (Psalm 19:9; Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17). Biblical revelation is complete, having been  culminated in the person, work, and teaching of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2; Revelation 22:18- 19). The Scriptures stand therefore as the sole authority for both doctrine and life (Psalm 119:105; II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12) – a supreme standard against which all manners of  conduct and teaching should be tried (Acts 17:11; I John 4:1). 

GOD
We believe in a triune God, eternally existing in one divine and indivisible essence  (Deuteronomy 6:4; I Timothy 2:5). Within the Godhead unity there are three distinct persons:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2). These three are one God, having precisely the same divine nature, attributes, and  perfections.  

The Father
We believe in God the Father, the eternal, self-existent, infinite, immutable, personal  spirit (Psalm 90:2; Exodus 3:14; I Kings 8:27; Malachi 3:6; John 4:24). He is perfect in holiness,  wisdom, truth, power, justice, goodness, and love (Leviticus 11:45; Isaiah 55:9; Psalm 33:4; Job  37:23; Matthew 19:17; I John 4:7-8). We believe that he concerns himself mercifully in the  affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all who  come to him in faith through his son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 57:15; John 3:16; James 1:5). 

The Son
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-2; Matthew 17:5), became man without ceasing to be God (Philippians 2:6-7), having been conceived by the  Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order that he might reveal God and redeem sinful men  (Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:2; Ephesians 1:7). Jesus Christ is man’s only hope of salvation from sin  (John 14:6), being the only mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5). We believe that the  Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a vicarious  sacrifice (I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 10:12), and that our justification is made sure by his literal,  physical, resurrection from the dead (Romans 4:24-25; I Corinthians 15:3-4, 20). Having  ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), he is now exalted at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3)  and intercedes as the Great High Priest on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25, 9:11-12). Jesus is the head  of the church (Colossians 1:18) and will return, at the Rapture, for its removal from this  earth (John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following the tribulation period, he will return again to Earth with the saints to establish and rule the Millennial Kingdom promised to Israel (Isaiah  11; Revelation 20:4).  

The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16). He is not merely  a power, but a person. Having been sent by the Father and the Son (John 14:26, 16:7), he now  convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). We believe that the Spirit is  the supernatural agent of regeneration (John 3:5; Titus 3:5-6), illumination (I Corinthians 2:12- 13), and sanctification (I Peter 1:2). The Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ at the  moment of salvation (I Corinthians 12:13), immediately indwelling (Romans 8:9-11), sealing,  and securing them unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). It is the believer’s daily  privilege and duty to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and walk in him (Galatians 5:16).  

CREATION
We believe that God, through a direct creative act, spoke the universe into existence,  including man, in six literal days (Genesis 1-2, John 1:3). All things were created perfectly by  God and exist to bring him glory (Colossians 1:16-17, Revelation 4:11). Thus, we reject the  theory of evolution in every form.  

SATAN
We believe that Satan, an angel created perfectly by God for his glory (Ezekiel 28:15-17),  rebelled against God’s divine authority and was consequently cast from his heavenly position  (Isaiah 14:12-17; Luke 10:18). A vast number of angels, now known as demons, rebelled with  Satan and will one day be punished with him in eternal judgment (Revelation 12:3-4, 20:10).  Satan, a liar and murderer, now seeks to deceive the world and promote all wickedness (John  8:44; I Peter 5:8).  

THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that God, in a special creative act, formed the first man from the dust of the  ground and gifted him life by his very own breath (Genesis 2:7). Likewise, the first woman was  fashioned by a special creative act of God (Genesis 2:21-22). We believe that all people are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27; James 3:9).  

Man consciously chose to disobey and rebel against God’s authority (Genesis 3:6), thus  incurring a divine curse (Genesis 3:16-19), and subjecting all mankind to the bondage of sin and  death (Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:22). As a consequence of this sin, mankind’s once-perfect  relationship with God was broken, resulting in both physical and spiritual death (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3) and placing him under the just condemnation and wrath of God (Romans 1:18,  5:18). Each person is born a sinner (Psalms 51:5) and possesses a corrupt and sinful nature  (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-18, 5:12). The effects of man’s fall into sin extend beyond humanity,  impacting all of creation (Romans 8:22). 

SALVATION
We believe that sinful man can only be reconciled to God by means of God’s eternal plan  (Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20). We believe that salvation cannot be earned through merit or good  works (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5), but is rather accomplished by God’s grace through faith (Romans 3:28, 4:5). Eternal salvation is offered freely to all who will repent of  their sin and by faith accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:13). Unless the Spirit of God convicts and draws a man’s heart to himself, he will not turn to Christ  (John 6:44). We also affirm that it is man’s responsibility to repent of his sin and believe the  gospel by placing his faith in Jesus Christ alone. All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are  eternally forgiven (the believer’s sins are judicially imputed to Christ) and justified (Christ’s  righteousness is judicially imputed to the believer) (Isaiah 53:10-12; Romans 3:22-25; II Corinthians 5:21). We believe that when a person is saved, he is forever freed from the eternal  penalty of sin. Thus, the true believer’s salvation is secure forever (John 10:28; Romans 8:28- 29). 

At the moment of salvation, God begins a work of sanctification in the believer’s life  whereby he progressively transforms him into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; II Corinthians  3:17-18). The believer will ultimately and finally be freed from the presence of sin either by death, at which time he will immediately be in the presence of God (II Corinthians 5:8), or at the  return of Christ (I John 3:2; Revelation 21-22). We believe that a glorious, eternal existence with  God is the ultimate destiny of each believer (John 14:2; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Philippians  3:20), whereas anyone who rejects Jesus as Savior will endure eternal torment (Matthew 25:46;  Revelation 21:8).  

THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church Universal is comprised of all truly regenerate persons since  Pentecost (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2; Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 12:23). All true believers have been  baptized into this body by the Spirit at the moment of their salvation (I Corinthians 12:13). We  believe that the local church is a specific gathering of these believers within a particular temporal  and geographic setting (Acts 11:22; Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:2). We believe that the local church  is to be independent, autonomous, indigenous, and free from interference by any external  ecclesiastical or political authority (Acts 1:23, 26, 6:3; II Corinthians 8:19), subject only to the  ultimate leadership and headship of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Peter 2:6-7). 

We believe that the Bible recognizes two offices within the local church, that of pastor (also known as “overseer” or “elder”) and deacon (Acts 6:1-6, 20:17-30; Philippians 1:1). These  offices are to be held by spiritually mature men who demonstrate the qualifications clearly laid  out in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:2-12; Titus 1:5-9).  

We believe in two church ordinances, baptism by immersion in water after salvation for  those who truly receive Christ as Lord and Savior (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48) and the  Lord’s Supper for all obedient believers (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26). Whereas  baptism symbolizes Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and the believer’s spiritual unification  with Him through the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12), the Lord’s Supper  commemorates the death of Christ, symbolizing the breaking of his body and shedding of his 

blood on behalf of the redeemed (I Corinthians 11:23-26). We firmly believe that neither  Baptism nor the Lord’s Supper possess any power to save men from sin. Rather, these  ordinances are outward, visible pictures of gospel truth.  

We believe in the separation of the believer from worldliness (I John 2:15-17; Ephesians  5:11), false teachers (II Timothy 3:2-5; Jude 3-4), and those who profess Christ and yet live in  unrepentant sin (Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 5:9-13).  

FUTURE EVENTS
We believe that prophecy concerning the End Times is best interpreted through a pre tribulational, premillennial viewpoint. We believe that the next event on God’s prophetic  timetable is the rapture of the church (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Titus 2:13), including the  Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10), which will be followed by seven years of  intense tribulation upon the earth (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 3:10). After these seven years,  Jesus will personally and visibly return to Earth at his Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-21)  with his saints to set up his Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6). During this time, the  people of Israel will enjoy the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning their  restoration (Ezekiel 37:1-28; Isaiah 65:17-25; Jeremiah 33:14-26). At the end of this kingdom,  Satan will be released for a time, but will ultimately be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire for  all eternity (Revelation 20:10). The souls and bodies of the unrighteous will be reunited, judged  at the Great White Throne Judgement, and subject to eternal torment (Revelation 20:11-15).  Believers, in resurrected glorified bodies, will dwell with God in the new Heaven and new Earth  forever (John 5:24-29; Revelation 21-22).