When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:5
We believe that our confession of Christ as Lord is the root of our faith. While we are free to differ on peripheral issues, we believe that there are foundational (CORE) doctrines of Scripture which we must hold in common. We believe these foundational truths to be the following:
We believe that the Bible is completely inspired by the Holy Spirit in all its parts, and that it is the only authoritative, inerrant, and infallible written Word of God.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14; I Corinthians 8:4-6)
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, inerrant teaching, substitutionary death and atonement, bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and personal return in power and glory. (Matthew 1:23-25; Isaiah 7:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 5:8-9; I Peter 1:18-19; 2:24; 3:18 Revelation 20)
We believe that man, created in the image of God, was tempted by Satan and willfully sinned. Because of man’s consequent depraved state, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation. (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 15-25; 3:1-19; Romans 3:9-18; 23; Romans 5:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3)
We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ and the merit of His shed blood, not on the basis of human merit or works. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that salvation consists of a repentant spirit toward our sin against God, the forgiveness of sins, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, and the gift of eternal life. (Acts 2:38; Romans 4:6; 8:33; 10:9-10; Colossians 2:14; I John 1:8-10)
We believe that salvation necessarily results in a changed life. Just as our former state of unbelief and rebellion did by its nature manifest itself, even so, our new man in Christ will by its nature reveal itself, for God has ordained it so. (Ephesians 2:10; 4:23-32; II Corinthians 5:17-18; Titus 2:11-14)
We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, in regeneration and by whose indwelling the Christian is being transformed and empowered to live a godly life. (John 14:26; Romans 8:6-13; 12:1-2; I Corinthians 2:9-16; Ephesians 2:22; I John 2:20-29)
We believe that the keeping of the Ten Commandments (Moral Laws) is essential to Christ-like living, and further, that breaking these God-given laws will result in: needless difficulties and hardships during this earthly life: a breaking of one’s fellowship with Christ and the Church; and hardships for future generations. We do not however, believe that keeping these laws negates in any manner God’s Grace for Salvation as discussed above. Salvation is only through faith in the shed-blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-22, 6:1-9; 11:18-21; Matthew 5:17-19, 22:37-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 6:1-12; 10:25-37; John 14:21)
We believe that the true Church, the Body of Christ, is composed of all those who have been regenerated and that the church is God’s appointed instrument for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-42; 2:47; 5:1-11; 8:36-39; Romans 12:4-16; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians4:11-16; John 21:15-17)
We believe in a personal devil, Satan, who was created blameless, but rebelled against God, and is now the arch enemy of God and all His creation, and who will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Genesis 3:1-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Revelation 20:1-10; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-8; Zechariah 3:1-2; Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 12:1-14)
We believe and practice the two ordinances of the New Testament church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
1.We believe that Christian Baptism is the solemn testimony of a believer’s showing his faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior.
2.This ordinance though not mandated for salvation, exhibits our willingness to follow Christ as believers.
3.To be baptized in water is the answer of a good conscience and an outward testimony of an inward work.
4.Our practice is baptism by immersion.(Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12-16; 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15 and 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1 Cor 1:13-17; 1 Pet 3:21).
5.The ordinance of Baptism shall be offered as the need arises and may be conducted by the Elders, Pastors, or fathers whose children have professed their sin and need of Christ.
We believe in the return of Christ, in the resurrection of the body, the eternal life of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost. (Matthew 25:31-46; I Corinthians 15:24-54; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4-15; Revelation 21:1-2; 22-23; Isaiah 66:22-24; Zechariah 14; II Peter 3:10-14; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)