DOCTRINAL STATEMENT 

Note: It is important to recognize that any doctrinal statement is but a fallible human attempt to summarize and systematize divine revelation from the Word of God. This in no way, however, detracts from the importance of such a statement. A doctrinal  statement can provide a framework which will serve as an anchor to protect the church against theological error. This statement should be viewed as a guideline which can be corrected or modified at any time as long as any changes are shown only from the Word of God.

The Bible

1. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are the very Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13) given to us by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Cor. 1:20-21) and are verbally inspired in every word (2 Tim. 3:16), completely inerrant in the original autographs and trust­worthy for doctrine, faith and practice (M t. 5:18; 24:35; In. 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). 

God

2. There is One true and living God (Deut. 6:4; Is. 45:5-7; 1 Cor. 8:4) Who is an all­-knowing Spirit (Jn. 4:24) perfect in all His attributes. God is eternal in His being (Ps. 90:2; 102:12; In. 5:26; Eph,. 3:21), love (1 Chron. 16:34; Ps. 86:5; 2 Cor. 13:11; 1 In. 4:7-8, 16), holiness (Ex. 15:11; Is. 60:9; 1 Tim. 6:16; 1 In. 1:5), power (Gen.18:14; Job 9:12; Ps. 115:3; Jer. 32:7; Zech. 8:6; Mt. 3:9; 26:53; Acts 4:24-31), wisdom (Dan. 2:19; Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 1:21-24), mercy (Ex. 33:19; Deut. 4:31; Jer. 3:12; Lk. 6:35; Eph. 2:4) and wrath (Zeph. 1:18; Rom. 2:5; 6:15-17; 9:22; Heb. 12:29). He is also immutable (unchanging: Ex. 3:14; Ps. 102:26-28; Is. 41:4; 48:12; Mal. 3:6; Rom. 1:23; Heb. 1:11-12; Jms. 1:17), absolutely perfect (Job 11:7-10; Ps. 145:3; Mt. 5:48), omnipresent (present everywhere: 1 Ki. 8:27; Ps. 139:7-12; Jer. 23:23-24), omniscient (all-knowing: Ps. 147:5; Mt. 10:29-30; Heb. 4:13; Rom. 11:33), omnipotent (all-powerful: see above under power). God, although He is One in essence, eternally exists in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14) - each equally de­serving our worship and obedience. God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, is the creator of all things (Gen. 1:1-31; Deut. 32:6; Acts 17:24-25; Ro m. 1:25; Eph. 3:9); the only absolute and omnipotent ruler of the universe (Gen. 17:1; Ps. 29:10); sovereign in creation, providence and redemption (2 Sam. 7:28; Job 9:12; Ps. 103:19; In. 6:44, 65; Acts 4:24-28; Rom. 8:29-30; 11:36; Eph. 1:11, 14; 3:11); has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own (Eph. 1:4-6); is independent of all things and that all things exist only through Him (Ps. 94:8ff; Is. 40:18ff; Acts 7:25); is independent in His thought (Rom. 11:33-34), in His will (Dan. 4:35; Rom. 9:19; Eph. 1:5; Rev. 4:11), in His power (Ps. 115:3), and in His counsel (Ps. 33:11). 

Jesus Christ

3. The Lord Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity and is our great God and Savior (Titus 2:13), the Eternal Word (Jn. 1:1, 14), and the only begotten Son (Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; Heb. 1:5; 1 Jn. 4:9). He became the God-man (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9) through the miraculous Virgin birth (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38) and continues eternally with the two natures. He was in all areas tempted but remained sinless and as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death on the cross as a sacrifice for sinners suffering the full wrath of God in our place (In. 10:15; Rom. 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24). On the basis of Jesus Christ's death on a cross for His people, the believing sinner is no longer bound to sin but freed from its punishment, penalty, power, and some day its very presence (Rom. 3:25; 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18). He arose again. on the third day in physical form (Mt. 28:5-7; Mk. ­16:6-7; Lk. 24:5-7; Jn. 20:26-27; Acts 1:3; 2:24) glorified in the same body in which He lived (1 Cor. 15), suffered and died and ascended into heaven (Lk. 24:51; Acts 1:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:21) to appear before God as our Advocate (1 Jn. 1:1) and Intercessor (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:21). 

The Holy Spirit

4. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity possessing all the attributes of personality and deity (Ps. 139:7-10; Is. 40:13-14; Jer. 31:31-34; Mt. 28:19; In. 16:13; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Cor. 2:10-13; 12:11; 13:14; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rom. 15:13,; Eph. 4:30; Heb.9:14; 10:15-17) and is the divine agent in redemption, revelation and nature (Jn. 3:5-7; 14:16-17; 15:26). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, regenerates those who believe and baptizes, indwells, seals, empowers, guides, teaches and sancti­fies all who are children of God (In. 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Ro m. 8:9, 29; 1 Cor. 12:13; 2 Cor. 3:.6, 18; Eph. 1:13; 2:22). The Holy Spirit guided the apostles and pro­phets in the production of the written revelation, the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Presently every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and it is our duty to be filled with (controlled by) Him (In. 16:13; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 5:18; 1 In. 2:20, 27. 

Man

5. We believe that mankind was created by God in His image (Gen. 1:26) and was origin­ally free of sin and had a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, moral responsibility (Gen. 2:7, 15-25; Jms. 3:9) became a sinful creature by disobeying God (Gen. 3:1-7) and remains universally sinful in both practice and nature and is under the wrath of God until redemption occurs (Ps. 14:1-3; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:9­18,. 23f 5:10-'-1'2). 

Salvation

6. Salvation is by grace through faith and is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-10) which is based on the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood and is neither earned nor secured in part or in whole by any effort of man (Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit (In. 3:3-7; Titus 3:5) and is instantaneous and is accomplished only by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (In. 5:24) when the repentant sinner, enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Good works (righteous attitudes and conduct) are the proper evidence and fruit of this regeneration (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 5:17-21; Phil. 2:12b; Col 3:12-17; 2 Pet. 1:4-10). Election is the act of God by which, before the beginning of the world, He chose in Christ those who m He regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:1-2). This sovereign election, however, does not contradict or negate the responsibility of mankind to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; Jn. 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; Rom. 9:22-23; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Rev. 22: 17). Since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive (In. 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; J ms. 4:8). God exercises His sov­ereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His holiness, omniscience, justice, wisdom, grace and love (Rom. 9:11-16). Justification is an act of God (Rom. 8:33) by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10; Is. 55:6-7) and confess Him as their sovereign Lord (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11).  

Sanctification

7. Sanctification is a process where the believer is brought closer to the likeness of Christ through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. The believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn.17:17, 19; Rom. 6:1-22; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 5:23). Every saved person is involved in a daily conflict - the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh - but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Eradication of sin is both unscriptural and impossible but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin (Gal 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Phil. 3:12; Col 3:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:14­16; 1 In. 3:5-9). All of the redeemed once saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (In. 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 13:5; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; Jude 24). 

The Church

8. Those who place their faith in Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 Cor. 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32; Rev. 19:7-8), of which Christ is the head (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col 1:18). The church is an assembly of Christians (Jn. 15:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; 15:23; Eph. 2:11-3:6; 5:29-30, 32; Col. 1:4-6; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5-6) gathered together in local assemblies (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1). The New Testament pattern that is to continue today is for churches to meet in homes (Acts 17:5-7; Rom. 16:3-4; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col 4:15; Philemon 1-2). Each member of the church is equally important and has unique and valuable gifts given from God, proving that today's clergy-laity distinction is totally unscriptural (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-31). Many of the activities of the church (individually and as a church) include fellowship (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 13:14; Gal. 2:9; 1 In. 1:3-7), giving (Mk. 9:41; Lk. 3:11; Acts 4:32-37; 11:29-30; 28:10; Ro m. 12:6-8; 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; 9:1-13; Eph. 4:28; Phil. 4:18; 1 Tim. 5:16; 6:17-19; Heb. 13:16; Jms. 2:15-16; 1 In. 3:17), hospitality (Acts 16:15; 16:31-34; 18:1-3; 21:4-8, 15-16; Rom. 12:13; 15:23-24; 16:23; 1 Cor. 16:6-7, 10-11; Titus 3:13-14; Titus 3:13-14; Phil­emon 22; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9; 3 In. 5-8), prayer (Acts 2:42; 4:31; Eph. 6:18-19; 1 Thess. 5:17-18; Jms. 5:16), reading scripture (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), service (Rom. 12:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:5; 16:15-16; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rev. 2:2; 19), teaching (Acts 5:42; 11:26; Rom. 15:14; 1 Cor. 14:31; Eph. 5:19; Col 1:28; 3:16; 1 Tim. 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:25; 4:2; Heb. 5:12) and worship (Acts 2:46-47; 13:2; Eph. 5:19­ 20; Phil. 3:3; Heb. 12:28; 1 Pet. 2:5). The primary purpose of the church meeting is for the members to edify one another (Acts 2:42-47; 13:1; Rom. 12:4-8; 15:14; 1 Cor. 12:7, 14, 25-26; 14:26-32; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 4:15-16; 5:19; 1 Thess. 5:11, 14; Heb. 3:13, 15-16; 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:5;, 9; 4:10-11). The leaders (elders and deacons) of the church have special qualifications and duties (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9) and, as scripture implies, there is to be a plurality of elders (Acts 6:12; 11:30; 14:23; 15:2,4,6,22-23; 16:4; 20:17-18; 23:14; 24:1; 25:15; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5; Jms. 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1, 5).

The Return of Jesus Christ

9. The Lord Jesus Christ will come again from heaven as our Blessed Hope for which we should constantly watch and pray (Mt. 23:3-44; 2 Thess. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 1:13-15). 

Hell

10. Hell is a place of suffering (Mt. 8:12; 10:28; Lk. 16:19-31; Rev. 14:90) eternal torment (Mt. 12:32; Mk. 9:47-48; Rev. 14:11; 20:10), and includes the exclusion from God's presence (M t. 25:31-33, 41-46; Lk. 13:24-28; 2 Thess. 1:8-9) and separation of the righteous (Mt. 13:47-50; 25:31-33, 46).  

The Doctrines of Grace

11. The Doctrines of Grace (Calvinism or Reformed Theology as it is also known) are the purest form of expression of biblical and theological truth. Generally speaking, the Doctrines of Grace recognize the sovereignty of God in all of theology. An out­line of this theme can be summarized with the acronym TULIP which stands for:

• Total Depravity (Gen. 8:21; Ps. 51:5; 58:3; Provo 20:9; Jer. 17:9; In. 3:3,19; 8:44; Rom. 3:11; 5:12; Eph. 2:2-3; 5:8; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Tim. 2:25-26),
• Unconditional Election (Ps. 64:5; Is. 55:11; Mt. 11:27; Lk. 17:5; In. 6:44; 15:16; Acts 13:48; 16:4; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11; Phil. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:9; Heb. 12:2),
• Limited Atonement (Mt. 1:21; In. 10:14­ 15; 17:9; Rom. 5:8; 8:32; Gal. 1:3-4; Eph. 5:25; Col. 1:12-14; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 3:19),
• Irresistible Grace (Is. 46:9-10; 55:11; Dan. 4:35; In. 1:13; 5:21; 6:29, 37; Acts 11:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:4-5; Titus 3:5; Jms. 1:18) and
• Perseverance of the saints (Deut. 30:6; Ps. 37:28; Ezek. 11:19; 36:27; In. 8:39; 10:27, 29; Rom. 8:37-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24; 1 Tim. 4:18; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:5).