Our Beliefs
We are independent in our church government and fundamental in our beliefs. We use the Authorized (King James) Bible in all our preaching and Bible study. Our "style" of services are basically traditional in nature (we primarily sing the timeless hymns of the faith and try to avoid many of the trendy, popular fads of the day). That being said, we try to focus more on what we believe God has for us from His Word than what other people do or how they conduct themselves. We just want to please our Lord and do our best to love people the way He wants us to. We believe that includes boldly declaring to everyone "all the counsel of God."
The following overview of our beliefs is adapted from our church's Articles of Faith. Contact us if you are interested in a detailed copy.
The following overview of our beliefs is adapted from our church's Articles of Faith. Contact us if you are interested in a detailed copy.
(Our apologies. We are currently preparing this page and some material is missing)
1. The Bible
-The Holy Bible (66 books from Genesis to Revelation) is the Word of God.
-It was written by human men, but it was supernaturally given to those men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
- II Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for insrtuction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
- II Peter 1:19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
-It is perfect and without error and will endure forever as God's complete Word to mankind
- Psalm 119:160 "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."
- Psalm 119:89 "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
- Revelation 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
2. God
-There is only one true God Who has existed forever and is infinite in power and understanding.
-Within the Godhead, however, there are three equal yet distinct Persons: the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit. We call this the Trinity or the "Three-In-One"
- Jeremiah 10:10 "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."
- Psalm 147:5 "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
- Psalm 90:2 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
- 1 Timothy 1:17 "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
- Romans 11:33 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
-Within the Godhead, however, there are three equal yet distinct Persons: the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit. We call this the Trinity or the "Three-In-One"
- Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
- I Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."
- I John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
- John 10:30 "I and my father are one."
- Philippians 2:5-6 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
3. The Holy Spirit
-The Holy Spirit (The Holy Ghost, The Comforter) is a divine, eternal Person of the Godhead (The "Three-in-One").
-He was active in the creation of the World, and He is presently active in the world today.
-To the unbeliever, He convicts of sin and points them to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, though they may choose to resist Him and continue in their sin and unbelief.
-To the believer, He reveals to them the will of God and the truths of God's Word. He also seals the soul until it is joined with the Savior for all eternity.
- Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
- Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
-He was active in the creation of the World, and He is presently active in the world today.
- Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
-To the unbeliever, He convicts of sin and points them to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, though they may choose to resist Him and continue in their sin and unbelief.
- John 16:8-11 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
- .John 3:5-6 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "
-To the believer, He reveals to them the will of God and the truths of God's Word. He also seals the soul until it is joined with the Savior for all eternity.
- Acts 5:30-32 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
- II Thessalonians 2:13 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
- Ephesians 1:13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
4. Satan
-The Devil (Satan, Lucifer, The Dragon, The Serpent...) was created as a holy being who apparently had a free will.
-Being lifted in pride, and in an attempt to be as God, he fell and took with him a host of angels that we now call demons.
-Being allowed by God to do so, he temporarily reigns with his spiritual army as a chief power over this world.
-He stands against God's people, accuses them, and tries to destroy all mankind.
-He is orchestrating a great global power in which he will empower the "man of sin" (the antichrist) in a series of events that have already been recorded in Bible.
- Ezekiel 28:14,15 "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."
-Being lifted in pride, and in an attempt to be as God, he fell and took with him a host of angels that we now call demons.
- Ezekiel 28:16,17 "By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."
- Isaiah 14:12-15 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
- Jude 6 "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
- II Peter 2:4 "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
-Being allowed by God to do so, he temporarily reigns with his spiritual army as a chief power over this world.
- Ephesians 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"
- John 14:30 "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
-He stands against God's people, accuses them, and tries to destroy all mankind.
- I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
- Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
-He is orchestrating a great global power in which he will empower the "man of sin" (the antichrist) in a series of events that have already been recorded in Bible.
- II Thessalonians 2:8-11 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
- Revelation 12:7-9 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
- Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
- Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
- Matthew 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
5. Creation
-The world was created by God in six, literal days.
-Man was created directly by God, in His own image (male and female), and mankind did not evolve from lower life forms.
-All things were created by the Word of God and, being created in a mature state, no doubt had the appearance of countless ages.
-It is unclear how or to what extent God existed before the creation of the time/space we understand in our universe.
-Man was created directly by God, in His own image (male and female), and mankind did not evolve from lower life forms.
-All things were created by the Word of God and, being created in a mature state, no doubt had the appearance of countless ages.
-It is unclear how or to what extent God existed before the creation of the time/space we understand in our universe.
6. The fall of man
-The first man and woman, created by God, were given a freewill.
-As such, they had the potential to sin against God; and in choosing to sin, all of their offspring (also possessing a freewill) have been born in a sinful state (ourselves choosing to sin).
-Therefore we all fall short of God's glory and are fallen from the original state in which mankind was created.
-As such, they had the potential to sin against God; and in choosing to sin, all of their offspring (also possessing a freewill) have been born in a sinful state (ourselves choosing to sin).
-Therefore we all fall short of God's glory and are fallen from the original state in which mankind was created.
7. The virgin birth
-As prophesied hundreds of years earlier, Jesus Christ (the promised Messiah) was born supernaturally by a young virgin woman (Mary) through the work of the Holy Ghost.
-Although Joseph was legally his father after His birth, Jesus had no human, biological father.
-It was this supernatural birth that allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to be both a man and God (He is the "Son of God," and "God, the Son").
-Although Joseph was legally his father after His birth, Jesus had no human, biological father.
-It was this supernatural birth that allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to be both a man and God (He is the "Son of God," and "God, the Son").
8. Atonement for sin
-God is willing to forgive our sins and He has made a way for all mankind to be forgiven.
-The way of salvation is only by the grace of God and cannot be earned by our good deeds.
-Forgiveness will only be granted to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
-The way of salvation is only by the grace of God and cannot be earned by our good deeds.
-Forgiveness will only be granted to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
9. The "new creation"
-In order to be saved, sinners must be "born again," and that new birth is a (spiritual) "new creation" in Jesus Christ.
-This "new creation" is instantaneous, it is not a process.
-Once born again, the new creature becomes partaker of the divine nature and inherits eternal life.
-This "new creation" is instantaneous, it is not a process.
-Once born again, the new creature becomes partaker of the divine nature and inherits eternal life.
10. The free gift of salvation
-The blessings of salvation are made free to all by way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
-It is our responsibility to receive this "free gift."
-Nothing prevents even the greatest of sinners from receiving this gift of salvation except his/her voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which results in eternal damnation.
-It is our responsibility to receive this "free gift."
-Nothing prevents even the greatest of sinners from receiving this gift of salvation except his/her voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which results in eternal damnation.
11. Justification
-The great blessing that comes with receiving the Gospel of Jesus is the pardoning of sin.
-The pardoning of our sin is based solely on our faith in the Gospel.
-The pardoning of our sin is based solely on our faith in the Gospel.
12. Repentance and faith
-The act of repentance is part of our coming to Christ for salvation.
-Repentance can mean: 1) having sorrow for what we have done, 2) changing our mind about what we need to do, and 3) turning from what we were doing to what we are supposed to do.
-All these are necessary for salvation in that we must: 1) recognize that we are sinners and our sins make us worthy of God's wrath, 2) change our mind about what is necessary for our salvation, realizing that faith in the work of Christ alone is what saves us, and 3) make a conscious choice to turn from what we were trusting in to begin trusting in Christ.
-Repentance can mean: 1) having sorrow for what we have done, 2) changing our mind about what we need to do, and 3) turning from what we were doing to what we are supposed to do.
-All these are necessary for salvation in that we must: 1) recognize that we are sinners and our sins make us worthy of God's wrath, 2) change our mind about what is necessary for our salvation, realizing that faith in the work of Christ alone is what saves us, and 3) make a conscious choice to turn from what we were trusting in to begin trusting in Christ.
13. The church
-Christ's "church" is a congregation of believers who have been baptized and are covenanted together to follow Christ and to accomplish the work He has left us to do.
-Our commission is to lead people to Christ, build up the church, and to teach and instruct in the ways of the Lord.
-Our commission is to lead people to Christ, build up the church, and to teach and instruct in the ways of the Lord.
14. Baptism and the Lord's supper
-Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water (in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost), with the authority of the local church. It is not for one's salvation but is for a picture and a public statement about what the believer has done in coming to Christ. It is also a prerequisite to church membership and the Lord's supper.
-The Lord's Supper is also not part of one's salvation but is practiced as an ordinance of Christ to commemorate His body (signified by the unleavened bread) and His blood (signified by the "fruit of the vine"). It is only to be taken upon deep reflection and self-examination.
-The Lord's Supper is also not part of one's salvation but is practiced as an ordinance of Christ to commemorate His body (signified by the unleavened bread) and His blood (signified by the "fruit of the vine"). It is only to be taken upon deep reflection and self-examination.
15. The perseverance/preservation of the saints
-All those who are saved are eternally saved and can not lose their salvation.
16. The righteous and the wicked
-Not everyone is a child of God, but there is a real and distinct difference between a child of the God and a child of "the god of this world."
-Those who are saved are called "saints," "just," "righteous," "holy..." while the unsaved are referred to as "wicked," "unjust,"
-Those who are saved are called "saints," "just," "righteous," "holy..." while the unsaved are referred to as "wicked," "unjust,"
17. Civil government
-We have a God given commandment to honor and respect those who are in authority over us.
-We are to pray for them and allow them to do their job to the best of their ability.
-However, we are to remember that God has supreme rule over us, and that at the time that our government would ask us to do something contrary to what the Bible says, we are to (respectfully) refuse to comply.
-We are to pray for them and allow them to do their job to the best of their ability.
-However, we are to remember that God has supreme rule over us, and that at the time that our government would ask us to do something contrary to what the Bible says, we are to (respectfully) refuse to comply.
18. The resurrection and return of Christ (and related events)
-Jesus was bodily resurrected on the third day after His crucifixion, and He will one day return "in like manner" (bodily).
-Some day the saved will similarly be bodily resurrected (currently, the dead are only spiritually alive).
-After the "dead in Christ" have been resurrected, "those who are alive and remain" will also be resurrected before God's wrath is poured out on this world.
-Then Christ will rule and reign on earth with His saints for 1,000 years.
-Some day the saved will similarly be bodily resurrected (currently, the dead are only spiritually alive).
-After the "dead in Christ" have been resurrected, "those who are alive and remain" will also be resurrected before God's wrath is poured out on this world.
-Then Christ will rule and reign on earth with His saints for 1,000 years.
19. Worldwide evangelism
-God's people have a clear command to spread the Gospel to the world.
-We do this locally, but then we also do our best to send out and support those who are going beyond our reach to do the same.
-We do this locally, but then we also do our best to send out and support those who are going beyond our reach to do the same.
20. Giving
-Giving to the work of Lord through the local church is fundamental principle found throughout the Bible.
-In the Old Testament we see the idea of giving ten percent of all the increase (tithing), and giving of the "firstfruits" of our labor.
-In the New Testament we see the idea of giving sacrificially when possible, but always trying to share the burden "equally."
-In the Old Testament we see the idea of giving ten percent of all the increase (tithing), and giving of the "firstfruits" of our labor.
-In the New Testament we see the idea of giving sacrificially when possible, but always trying to share the burden "equally."