DOCTRINE

1. Holy Scriptures:

a. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Verbally Inspired Word of God; Inerrant, Infallible, and God-Breathed; that the Word is Best Preserved for us English Speaking People in the King James 1611 Version, because It was Translated from the Best Family of Manuscripts (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).

b. We believe that the Bible is the Supreme and Final Authority in All matters of Faith & Life and that It's Sovereignty Supersedes All Human Documents Including this Constitution , for

Everything will be Judged By God's Word in the end ( John 12:48 ) .

2. Godhead: We believe in one triune God, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; II Cor. 13:14; John 1:1-3 & 14; Luke 3:21-22.)

3. Creation: We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. (Gen. 1 & 2; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3).

4. Total Depravity of Man: We believe that man was Created in the Image and Likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost and condemned condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, & 12).

5. Salvation: We believe that Salvation is the Gift of God, brought to man by God's grace and received by personal Repentance toward God and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness and remission of our sins, (Mark 1:14-15; Acts 17:30-31 ; Acts 20:21 ; Acts 26:19-20 ; Eph. 2:8-10 ; Isaiah 55:6-9 ; I Peter 1:18-19 & 2:24-25).

6. Repentance & Saving Faith :

a. We believe that Repentance and Saving Faith are Gifts of God which are Necessary for One's Salvation ; that they are like Two Sides of the Same Coin in the Sense that they Both involve what we BELIEVE in Regard to (1) Our Attitude Toward God and (2) Our Judicial Standing Before God. Repentance Deals with a Change in our Thinking Regarding our Direction in Life and our Attitude of being Justified as we Live in Rebellion Toward the Will of God as Revealed in the Bible, while Saving Faith Deals with the Basis for our Hope that God will Justify us Himself and Allow us into His Heaven ( that Hope being based Upon the Completed Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ as Payment for the Wage of our Sins ).

b. Repentance is described by Peter when he says : "For ye Were as Sheep Going Astray ; but are Now Returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of Your Souls." Repentance is Commanded by John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Repentance is perhaps best described by the Words of Isaiah who said " Let the Wicked Forsake His Way, and the Unrighteous man his Thoughts: and let him Return Unto the Lord, and He will Have Mercy Upon him; and to our God, for He will Abundantly Pardon." Jesus said : " Except ye Repent, ye Shall All Likewise Perish."

c. Saving Faith involves our Recognizing our Sin and consequent Guilt and Uncleanness before God. It Recognizes that Even our Righteous Deeds are Unclean before the Lord and that God's Law Demands the Death Penalty and Separation from the Presence of God in the Lake of Fire in order that Sin be Separated from His Holy Dwelling that we call Heaven. Saving Faith then Involves our Believing the Scriptural account that Jesus Bore our Sins in His Own Body on the Cross and Satisfied God's Judgment, so He can offer Complete Forgiveness and Cleansing to All who Place their Trust in Him and the Sacrifice He Made as their Only Hope of Heaven.

d. In short Repentance and Saving Faith are Both Inseparable and Nearly Indistinguishable. They are Given by God to man to alter his Sense of Self-righteousness and Self-determination and Turn our Eyes Upon Jesus as our Only Hope for Forgiveness and the Lord of our Life Whom we Should Follow, because He is also the Good Shepherd and the Word of God and the Way Unto the Father. ( Luke 13:3 & 5 ; Mark 1:14-15 ; Matthew 3:8 ; Acts 2:38 ; Acts 26:19-20 ; Acts 20:21 ; Isaiah 53:6 ; Isaiah 55:6-9 ; Ephesians 2:8-9 ; II Timothy 2:24-26 ; Romans 6:23 ; Isaiah 64:6 ; Revelation 20:14-15 ; Revelation 21:27 ; II Peter 2:24-25 ; & Hebrews 7:25-27 )

7. Person and Work of Christ:

a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2 & 14; Luke 1:35).

b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).

c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where as our High Priest He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24 & 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2).

8. Person and Work of God, the Holy Spirit:

a. We believe that God, the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who Reproves the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in Regeneration, Baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, Indwelling and Sealing them unto the day of Redemption. (John 16:8-11; II Cor. 3:6; I Cor. 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14).

b. We believe that the Holy Spirit Bears Witness to the Truth, Brings into Remembrance the

things that Jesus has Said, Shows Believers the things of Christ, and Guides them into all Truth

( John 15:26-27 ; I John 5:5-10 ; John 14:25-26 ; John 16:13 ; & I John 2:20 & 27 ).

c. We believe that it is the Glorious Privilege & Sacred Responsibility of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit ( Eph. 5:18 ).

9. Eternal Security and Assurance of the Believers:

a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; 8:38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5).

b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

10. Sanctification: We believe the word Sanctification primarily means to be set apart and that believers in Christ are set apart for God. Sanctification has three aspects: Past, Present, and Future. The Past aspect : we are saved from the Penalty of Sin; the moment a person received Christ as Savior he is sanctified and washed from his sins. The Present aspect : we are being saved day by day from the Power of Sin to Rule in our daily lives ; we are to grow more like Him. The Future aspect : we will be saved from the Presence of Sin when we go to be with the Lord. When we see Christ we shall be like Him, and He shall Change our Vile bodies that we may

be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body. (I Cor. 6:11; I Cor. 1:2; I Thess. 4:3; II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; I Thess. 3:13; I Thess. 5:23; I John 3:2-3 ; Philippians 3:20-21).

11. Justification: We believe that Justification is that Judicial Act of God whereby He Declares the Believing Sinner to be Righteous upon the Basis of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed - not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done - but solely through the Work of Jesus Christ and His Shed Blood, which we Appropriate through Repentance and Faith ( Rom. 3:24; 4:5; 4:24-25; 5:1 & 9; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9 ; Titus 3:5-8 ; Ephesians 2:8-10 ; & Acts 26:16-20).

12. The Two Natures of the Believer: We believe that every saved person possesses Two Natures, with provisions made for Victory of the New nature Over the Old nature through the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are Unscriptural. (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9).

13. Missions: We believe that it is the Obligation of the Saved to Witness by Life and Word to the Truths of the Holy Scriptures and to seek to Proclaim the Gospel to all mankind and engage in the Sacred Work of Laboring Together through the Ministry of a Local Church toward the Discipling and Edifying of all Believers which we may encounter ( Mark 16:15 ; Acts 1:8 ;

II Corinthians 5:19-21 ; Matthew 28:19-20 ; & Ephesians 4:16 ).

14. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts:

a. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His Gifts, and that the Gifts of Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers are sufficient for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Today and that Speaking in Tongues and the Working of Sign Miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Cor. 12:4-11; II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; I Cor. 13:8-10; Matt. 16:4.)

b. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; I John 5:14-15). We are opposed to those who promote healing for commercial gain.

15. The Church:

a. We believe that a Local Church is a Called Out Assembly of Biblically Baptized Believers, Associated by a Covenant of Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel; Observing the Ordinances of Christ; Governed by His Laws, and Exercising the Gifts, Rights and Privileges invested in them by His Word; that it's Biblically Mentioned Officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose Qualifications Claims and Duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.

b. We believe the True Mission of the Church is the Faithful Witnessing of Christ to all men and the Baptizing and Discipling of those who Receive the Gospel.

c. We hold that the Local Church has the absolute Right and Responsibility of Self-government, Free from the Interference of any Hierarchy of Individuals or Organizations; and that the One and Only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit.

d. We believe that it is Scriptural for True Churches to Cooperate with each other in Contending for the Faith and for the Furtherance of the Gospel; that Each Local Church is the Sole Judge of the Measure and Method of it's Cooperation.

e. We believe that On All Matters of Membership, of Polity, of Government, of Discipline, & of Benevolence the Will of the Local Church is Final. (Matthew 28:19-20 ; Acts 2:41-42 ; I Cor. 11:2 ; Eph. 1:22-23 ; Eph. 4:11-12 ; Acts 20:17-28 ; I Tim. 3:1-7 ; Col. 1:18 ; Eph. 5:23-24 ; Acts 15:13-18).

16. Ordinances:

a. Baptism: We believe that God's Word Commands Every Believer to be Baptized, the Only Scriptural mode being by Immersion in Water After Salvation. Though baptism has no saving merit; it does show forth in solemn and beautiful symbol the believer's faith in, and union with, the crucified, buried, and risen Savior (Acts 8:38; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; Col. 2:12).

b. Lord's Supper: We believe that the Lord's Supper is a provision of Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Grape Juice, which are symbolical of Christ's broken body and shed blood; that the Lord's Supper is partaken by Saved individuals in Commemoration of the suffering and death of their Lord and in Anticipation of His Soon Coming Again; that it's observance is to be Preceded by Faithful Self-examination. (Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-30.)

17. Dispensationalism: We believe in the dispensational view of Bible Interpretation, (such as the dispensations of innocence, conscience, human government, promise, law, grace, kingdom), but reject the extreme teaching known as "hyper-dispensationalism", such as that teaching which opposes either the Lord's Table or water baptism as a Scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26).

18. The Personality of Satan: We believe that Satan is a supernatural person, the author of sin and cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 12:7-9; 20:10).

19. The Second Advent of Christ: We believe in that "Blessed Hope" the Personal, Imminent, Pre-tribulational, and Premillenial Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Redeemed Ones; and in His subsequent Return to earth, with His saints, to Establish His Millennial Kingdom. (I Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; I Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; I Cor. 15:51-53; Matthew 24.)

20. The Eternal State:

a. We believe in the Bodily Resurrection of all men, the Saved to Eternal Life, and the Unsaved to Judgment and Everlasting Punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6 & 12-13.)

b. We believe that the Souls of the Redeemed are, at death, Absent from the Body and Present with the Lord, where in Conscious Bliss they await the First Resurrection, when Spirit, Soul and Body are Reunited to be Glorified Forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17).

c. We believe that the Souls of Unbelievers Remain, After Death, in Conscious Misery in Hell until the Second Resurrection, when with Soul and Body Reunited they shall Appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be Cast into the Lake of Fire - NOT be Annihilated - but to Suffer Everlasting Conscious Punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude vs. 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15).