What We Believe

We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired word of God, without error in the original writings, and the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17)

We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who have the same nature and attributes but who are distinct in office and activity. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

We believe God the Father is the Father of all creation, the nation of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all believers in Christ. He is the author of the decree which is His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His own will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. As such, He is the author of election, which involves God’s choosing a people for Himself. He was the begetter and sender of His only Son, Jesus Christ. As the Father of the elect, He is also their provider and disciplinarian. (Acts 17:29; Exodus 4:22; Matthew 3:17; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; John 3:16; Matthew 6:30-32)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God to man and redeem sinful man. We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that our redemption and salvation are guaranteed by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (John 1:1, 14, 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25)

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God, where, as High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy for His people. (Hebrews 1:3, 3:1, 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2)

We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is that person of the Trinity who restrains evil in the world and convicts men of sin. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Saviour, baptizes them into the Church (the Body of Christ), indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows one or more spiritual gifts on each believer, and empowers those yielded to Him. (John 16:7-11; 3:8, 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)

We believe that angels are spiritual beings who were created in a sinless state and that they occupied different orders and ranks. They presently exist in both fallen and unfallen states; the former includes Satan and his angels. (Hebrews 1:13-14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:12)

We believe that Satan, by his own choice the enemy of God and of the people of God, is the originator of sin. We believe he led our first parents into sin and now rules as the god of this world. Satan was judged at the cross, and ultimately he will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:1-19; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10)

We believe all things in heaven and earth were created by God and exist by His power. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17)

We believe that man was created innocent and in the image and likeness of God but that he sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity. We believe that man has inherited a sinful nature, is alienated from God, and is in need of salvation. (Genesis 1:27, 2:17, 3:19; Ephesians 2:1-3)

We believe that salvation is a gift of God and is received by man only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10)

We believe that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (Romans 8:1, 38-39; John 10:27-30)

We believe that sanctification, which is a setting apart unto God, is positional, progressive, and ultimate. Positionally, it is already complete, since the believer is in Christ and is set apart unto God as Christ is set apart unto God. Since the believer retains his sinful nature, however, there is need for progressive sanctification whereby the Christian grows in grace by the power of the Spirit. The Child of God will be sanctified, ultimately, when he is taken to be with Christ and becomes like Him. (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 1 John 3:2-3)

We believe that the universal church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We believe the church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the church is distinct from Israel. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 10:32)

We believe the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purpose of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, and to be equipped for Christian service. (Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:11-13)

We believe that Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper which are to be observed by believers until He returns. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

We believe that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with his Saviour; also, we believe that immersion is the preferred mode of baptism and should be followed when practicable. (Acts 8:36-38)

We believe the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. We feel every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper but that participation should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. Each parent has the responsibility to determine the qualifications of his own children to participate. The Lord’s Supper shall be observed as often as the fellowship is led. (2 Corinthians 11:23-24)

A. The Blessed Hope

We believe in the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself all those, dead or alive, who belong to Him. This event, commonly called “The Rapture of the Church,” is the blessed hope implied in the Scriptures for which we should be constantly looking. (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14)

B. The Tribulation

For the seven years following the translation of the church, the earth will undergo a time of judgment known as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble” or “The Tribulation.” During this period many will turn to Christ and be slain for their faith. (Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:14-22; Revelation 6:1-19:21)

C. The Second Advent

The culmination of the Tribulation period will be the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth, bodily, to establish the Millennial Age, during which Christ will reign, Satan will be bound, Israel will be restored and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:9; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Matthew 24:15-25, 46; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 20:1-3)

D. The Eternal State

We believe that the spirits of believers in Jesus Christ in this age, do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the church. At that time the spirit and body shall be reunited and shall be associated with Him forever in glory. We believe that the spirits of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious torment in Hades until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium. At that time spirit and body shall be reunited and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be destroyed, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord. (Luke 16:19-26, 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15)