Our Beliefs

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it is truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain until the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of God to Man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

By the “Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but rather is the very Word of God.

By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error as no other writings have been or ever will be inspired. II Tim 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Ps. 19:7-11; 119:89; 119:160; 119:105; 119:130; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27; 24:44-45; Jn. 5:39; 5:45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 3:4; 15:4; Prov. 30:4-5; Pet. 1:2-3; Rev. 22:19

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of the heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Ex. 15:11; 20:23; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2:10-11; Eph. 4:6;2:18; Jn. 4:24; 17:5; 10:30;15:26; Ps. 147:5; 83:18;90:2; Jer 10:10; I Tim. 4:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; I Jn. 5:7; 2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:5-6; Rev. 4:11

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrained the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent of the new birth; and that He seals guides, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believers. Jn. 14:16; Matt. 28:1-19; Heb. 9:14; Jn. 14:26; Lk. 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; II Thess. 2:7; Jn. 16:8-11; Jn. 15:26; Acts 5:30-32; Jn. 3:4-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark. 1:18; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:33; Acts 11:16; Lk. 24:49; Jn. 16:13; Rom. 8:14; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angles; that he is now the malignant prince of the powers of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the anti-Christ, the author of all powers of darkness however already designated to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and to the judgment of eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6:11;2 Pet 2:4; Jn. 14:30; I Thes. 3:5; Matt 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; Zech1:3; I Jn. 3:8; Matt. 13:25; 37-39; Lk. 22:3-4; Rev. 12:10; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Mk. 13:21-22; I Jn. 4:3; II JN. 7; I Jn. 1:22; Rev. 13:13-14; 2 Thess 2: 8-11; Rev 19:11; 16-20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of species or development though interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only, “after their own kind”. Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; Jn. 1:3; Rev. 6:10; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6; Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:11, 24

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but in voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18,20,23,32; 3:10; 5:12, 19; Eph. 2:1-3; Ezek. 18:19-20; Gen. 3:22

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever be born of a woman; and that He is the Son of God, and God the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; LK. 1:35; Mk. 1:1; Jn 1:14; Psa. 27; Gal 4:4; I Jn 5:20; I Cor. 15:47

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of God the Son, who by appointment of God the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by his personal obedience; and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinners place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person, the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable and compassionate and all-sufficient Savior. Eph. 2:8; Acts 5:11; Rom 3:24; Jn. 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I Jn. 2:2; 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; Jn. 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Isa. 53:11-12; Heb 7;25; 9:12-15; 12:2; I Cor. 15:22

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the dead in trespasses and sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits or repentance and faith and newness of life. Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3; 6:8; II Cor. 5:17,19; Lk 5:27; I Jn. 5:1; Acts 2:41; 16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; 5:9; Col. 2:13; Gal. 5:22

We believe in God’s electing grace that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. I Thes. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom 10:13; Jn. 3:15;16,18, 36; 5:40; 6:37

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not on consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the redeemers. His righteousness is imputed unto us. Acts 13:29; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; 5:9,11; Titus 3:5-7; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:18; Heb. 10:38

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces, wrought in our soul by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Mk.1:15; Lk. 12.8; 18:38; Rom. 10:9-11, 13; Ps. 51:1-4,7; Isa. 55:6-7

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated together 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 Words; that its officers are pastors or elders whose qualification, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; first, to make individual disciples; second to build up the church; and third, to teach and instruct as God has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the influence of any hierarchy or individual or organizations, and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; and that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and methods of its cooperation on all matters of membership policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, and the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6;14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; I Cor. 5:11-13; 11:2; 12:4;16:1-2; I Tim. 3:1-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph 5:22-23

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with the authority of the local church to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and resurrected Savior with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that is a prerequisite to the privilege of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by careful self-examination. Matt 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; Jn. 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end, that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark that distinguishes them from the superficial professors, that a special providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. Jn. 8:31-32; 16:8; 10:28-29; Col. 12:1; I Jn. 2:19; Matt. 6:30; 13:19-21; Rom. 8:23, 35-39; Ps. 121:3; Heb. 1:14; I Pet. 1:5; Phil. 1:6

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 4:18; I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I Jn. 2:29; Rom. 6:16; I Jn. 5:19; Matt. 7:13-14

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, consciously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Rom. 13:7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Pet 2:13-14

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily on “the third day according to the Scriptures”, that He then ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”, “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven” — bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “that the Lord shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He put all enemies under His feet”. Matt. 28:6-7; Lk. 24:39; Jn. 20:27; I Cor 15:4; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:2-6; Acts 1:9-11; I Tim. 2:5; Jam. 5:8; Heb. 9:28; 5:9-10; I Cor. 15:42-44; 15:52; Ps. 72:8; Isa. 9:6-7; 32:1

We believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission is given to the churches. Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13-15

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith (2 Cor. 8:7). We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church), upon the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:2). Under grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe. “Abraham GAVE a tenth part of all” — “Abraham GAVE the tenth of the spoils” (Hebrews 7:4), and this was four hundred years before the law, and it is confirmed in the New Testament. Jesus said, concerning the tithe, “These ye ought to have done” (Matt. 23:23).

We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 2:24-25; Ex. 20:14, 17, 22:19; Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16; Matt. 19:4-6, 9; Rom. 1:18-31; I Cor. 6:9-10, 15-20; I Tim. 1:8-11; Jude 7).

We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5)