what we believe

The church constitution states…

THE BIBLE:

The scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

GOD:

Only one true God exists, the maker, preserver, and ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfection and being infinite; and to Him all creatures owe highest love, reverence and obedience.

THE TRINITY:

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct, personal attributes but without division of nature, essence or being.

providence:

God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass.  He perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin or to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures

election:

Two elements are involved in election.  First, God elected a plan of salvation, which He accomplished in Christ.  Second, God elected a people to make known His elected plan of salvation.  Thus election is to both salvation and evangelism.  In both, the free will of man determines the final results. 

the fall of man:

God created man in His own image and free from sin.  But through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness, and thus his posterity inherit a corrupt nature and are under condemnation, and, as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

MEDIATOR:

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man.  Having lived, died, and risen from the grave, He ascended to His Father ay whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people.

regeneration:

Regeneration is the result of conviction of sin, repentance toward God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the confession of that faith.  It is the experience of being born again or from above (John 3:3, Titus 3:5).  Regeneration is an instantaneous work of God's grace wrought by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.  Thus the believer becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:16).

repentance:

The Holy Spirit creates in us an attitude of sorrow for our sinful action, which leads us to turn away from our sin and turn toward God.

faith:

Faith is the belief wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, one's relying upon Christ alone for salvation.

justification:

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners from all sin, when they believe in Christ's atonement at Calvary. 

sancTIFICATION:

Sanctification is the realization of God's full will for one's life.  The sanctified believer is set apart for holy uses or for the service of God.

the saints:

The word saints come from the word meaning holy.  Saints, therefore, are the "Holy Ones," made so through saving faith in Jesus Christ.

eternal security:

All true believers endure to the end.  Those who God has accepted in Christ and has sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace but shall persevere to the end.  Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith into salvation.

the church:

The church is a divine institution. It is composed of baptized believers who are banded together to observe the ordinances, to exercise spiritual discipline, and to carry out the Great Commission. (Acts 2:41-42, Matthew 28:18-20)

Baptism:

Scriptural baptism is an ordinance of the church not a means of salvation. It is evidence of every believer’s fellowship with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. A believer’s baptism by immersion is a prerequisite to church membership.

The Lord’s Supper: 

The Lord’s supper is a repetitive ordinance of the church instituted by Jesus Christ. It is to be observed as a remembrance of that which the Lord did for our salvation (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) until He comes again.

the lord's day:

The Lord's day is set apart for regular observance to commemorate the Lord's resurrection and, through Him, the deliverance form sin.  The Christian sabbath commemorates this deliverance.

THE resurrection:

After death the bodies of men shall return to dust.  Immediately their spirits shall return to God, the righteous to be with Him, the wicked to be reserved for judgement.  At the last day the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. 

THE judgement:

God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, and everyone shall be judged according to his deeds.  Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life shall be sent away into everlasting punishment.  The righteous will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive those rewards due them for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life with God. We pray that all might know Him.