The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God. Therefore, all Scripture is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. The Scriptures are the only sufficient rule for faith and practice. (Psalms 19:7, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in them all. To Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalms 145:3, John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, 1 Timothy. 1:17)
The Trinity
The Scriptures reveal that the one God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct, but God is without division of nature, essence, or being. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Providence and Election
For all eternity, God decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds and governs all creatures and all events; yet so not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. (Isaiah 46:9-11, Proverbs 16:33, Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3, James 1:13-15)
It is God's will that all who believe in Jesus live with Him eternally, not because of any foreseen merit in them, but because of His mere grace and mercy through Christ. It is through Him by which they are called, justified, sanctified, and glorified; but it is still the individual's responsibility to receive Christ as the atonement for their sin. (Matthew 4:18-19, Romans. 8:28-30, 10:13, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, Ephesians 1:4-5, 11, 2 Peter 3:9)
The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. As a result, his posterity inherits a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. As such, they are under condemnation and, as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-7, 6:5, 8:21, Psalms 51:5, Romans 3:9-18, 5:12-19, 7:7-23, 8:5-8, Ephesians 2:1-3)
The Mediator
Since Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is fully God and fully man, He is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law and suffered and died on the cross for the salvation of all mankind. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He will return again visibly and bodily to claim His own. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the church, and Sovereign of the universe. (Isaiah 53:10-12, John 1:1, 14, Acts 1:9-11, Romans 3:21-26, 8:34, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Galatians 3:13, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 1:1-3, 7:25)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the Son. He applies the work of Christ to believers and distributes spiritual gifts to every believer according to His sovereign good pleasure for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of Our Salvation, and the guarantor of our inheritance in Christ. (John 14:16-17, 16:12-15, Acts 5:3, Romans 8:13-17, Ephesians 1:13-14)
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit who gives life to those dead in trespasses. He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God and renews their whole nature so they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone. (John 3:3-8, Ephesians. 2:1-6, Titus 3:4-5, 1 John 5:1)
Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace whereby a person being led by the Holy Spirit is made aware of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, and with godly sorrow turns from it with a strong purpose and endeavor to walk daily before God so as to please Him in all things. (Psalms 32:1-5, Isaiah 6:5, 55:7, Luke 5:8, 18:9-14, Acts 2:37-38, 11:15-18, 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, 2 Timothy 2:25, 1 John 1:9) Reconciliation is an integral part of repentance that is often overlooked. (Luke 17:3-4, 19:8)
Faith
Saving faith is the belief on God's authority of whatever is revealed in His word concerning Christ and accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and leads to a life of holiness. (Romans 3:27-28, 4:1-5, 4:17-25, 10:14, 17, Philippians 1:29, Ephesians 2:8, James 2:14-26)
Justification
Justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principles of righteousness in Christ. It is not bestowed because of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer. That faith is His perfect righteousness and is freely imputed to us by God; and it brings us into a most blessed state of peace and favor with God. (Romans 3:21-26, 4:4-9, 23-25, 5:1-2, 9,17-21, 8:28-34,10:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:7-9, Titus 3:5-7)
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and Spirit dwelling in them. The sanctification is progressive over time through the supply of Divine strength which all saints should seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in obedience to all of Christ's commands. (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:27, Romans 8:1-7, Galatians 5:13-25, Ephesians 3:14-21, Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 3:1-17, 2 Peter 1:3-11)
Perseverance of the Saints
All those whom God has regenerated will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach upon the church, and temporal judgment upon themselves, yet they shall be renewed unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 6:37-40, 10:28-29, Romans 8:28-39, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the church which is composed of all His true disciples and in Him is vested supremely all power for its government. Christians are to associate themselves into particular churches. He has given these bodies the needed authority for administering His plan of order, discipline and worship. The regular officers of a church are elders (pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 28:18-20, John 10:16, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:22, 5:23, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-18, Titus 1:5-9, Hebrews 10:25)
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus and is obligatory upon every believer. He is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a sign of his union with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the remission of his sins, the giving of himself to God, and to live and walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-5, 1 Corinthians 12:13)
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is a new covenant ordinance of Jesus Christ to be administered with the elements of bread and fruit of the vine and to be observed by His churches until the end of the age. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is intended to commemorate and proclaim His death and resurrection until He returns. (Matthew 26:26-29, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:20-34)
Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commands of men that are contrary to the Word or not contained within it. Although all legitimate human authority is ordained by God's decree, it is also limited by God's ultimate authority. For example, civil magistrates are ordained of God, and we are subject to them, in all lawful things, not only to avoid their wrath but also for the sake of conscience. However, when they call us to disobey God, then we must with a clear conscience obey God rather than man. (Matthew 15:9, Acts 5:29, Romans. 13:1-7, 14:4, Colossians 2:20-23)
Marriage and Human Sexuality
Marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union as defined by scripture. God intends that sexual intimacy occur only between a man and woman who are married to each other. Any sexual immorality including adultery, fornication, premarital sex, incest, polygamy, bestiality, transgenderism, homosexual behavior, bisexuality, pedophilia, incest, and the creation, viewing, and/or distribution of pornography is sinful and offensive to God. (Genesis 2:21-25, I Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 15:18-20, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
God created mankind, and He created them either male or female. The immutable nature of male and female reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one's biological and God-given sex is sin and a rejection of the image of God within that person.
God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, homosexuality and all other "sexual preferences" and "orientations" are unnatural, sinful, and unacceptable to God. The church will not condone or recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships even if laws are passed that provide for recognition of such unions.
God offers forgiveness, redemption, and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin of sexual immorality, seeking His mercy through Jesus Christ. Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31) Hateful or harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture or the doctrines of this church. However, compassion for a person struggling with sin should not be mistaken for approval of such sin. There is a clear distinction to be made between hypocritical judgment (Matthew 7:1-5) and genuine Christian accountability.
Christians are to hold each other accountable. (Galatians 6:1-5, James 5:16)
Sanctity of Human Life
All human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions including unborn babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception to natural death. (Psalms 139:13-14)
The Resurrection and Judgment
After death, the bodies of all men return to the dust. At death, the believers go to be with the Lord, and unbelievers enter Torment in Sheol (Hades). At God's timing, the bodies of all the dead (both just and unjust) will be raised. (Genesis 3:19, Luke 16:22-26, 23:43, John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Philippians 1:23)
God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ. The saved will be judged in Heaven for their works on Earth to determine their eternal rewards and will receive everlasting life. The works of the unjust will be judged and found inadequate without Christ, and they will be sent to everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46, John 5:22, 27-29, Acts 17:31, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)