What we believe

The following is an excerpt from our Constitution and Bylaws:

ARTICLE IV - DECLARATION OF FAITH
Section I - Scriptures
We believe in the verbal inspiration of the complete Holy Bible as originally written as the inerrant, infallible and inspired word of God. We recognize the unique and special place the Authorized Version providentially preserved by God in the English-speaking world. We likewise reject the fact of exalting any version or translation to the position held uniquely by the original writings. 11 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5-6.

Section II - God
We believe in one and only true God who is the Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the universe who exists in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that He is an infinite God of holiness and righteousness, as well as of love and grace and that He is the only being that is present everywhere, all knowing and all powerful. Exodus 15:11; Exodus 20:3; Matthew 3:16-17; 1John 4:2-4; Mark 12:30; John 10:30; John 1:14-18; Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 5:6-7 and 6:4-5; Isaiah 48:12-13; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Galatians 4:4-6; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Timothy 1:17.

Section III - Fall of Man
We believe in the doctrine of total depravity of all men born of Adam, and in the eternal condemnation and suffering of all such men who are not born again through personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 3:6-24; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:19; Ephesians 2:1-3; Psalms 51:5; Romans 5:12- 14; Romans 7:23-25.

Section IV - The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace, through Jesus Christ the Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the virgin Mary and took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; honored God’s divine law by His personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by His death and shed blood. He bodily arose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is now on His throne at the right hand of His Father; and uniting in His wonderful person, the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. Luke 1:35; Romans 1:1-6; Romans 3:25; Galatians 2:19-20; Ephesians 1:7-14; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:21-23; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:6-7; Hebrews 7:25.

Section V - Justification
We believe that justification is a gracious and judicial act of God, by which on the basis of the meritorious work of Christ, imputed to the sinner and received by him through faith, He declares the sinner absolved from his sin, released from its penalty, and restored as righteous. It is an act of God, by which a believing sinner is declared to be free from guilt and the eternal consequences of sin. Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:5-8; Romans 5:18-19; Romans 8:33-34; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:9; 11 Corinthians 5:19-21.

Section VI - Freeness of Salvation
Salvation is made free to all by the Gospel. It is the duty of all to accept Jesus Christ by penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, Teacher, and Lord. We believe it is God’s will that all be saved. Mark 16:16; John 3:14-18; Romans 5: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Ephesians 1:5; 2:4- 10; Revelation 22:17; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Romans 10:13.

Section VII - Regeneration
We believe that regeneration of the new birth is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby the penitent sinner receives new life and becomes a child of God. (This is called in the Scripture being “born again”, “born of the Spirit”, being “quickened” passing “from death unto life “and partaking of the diving nature”.) We believe it is a work of God’s free grace conditioned upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God. John 3:3-8; 11 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 5:9; 1 Peter 1:22-25; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:1-10; Ephesians 4:30; Colossians 3:1-11; Titus 3: 3-7.

Section VIII - Repentance and Faith
We believe that the repentance which the Gospel requires includes a deep conviction, a penitential sorrow, an open confession, a decided hatred for sin and a desire to forsake all sin. This repentance God has enjoined on all men and without it in this life the sinner will perish eternally. Romans 10:9-10; Mark 1:15; John 16:8; Luke 18:13; Mark 6:12; Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Acts 20:20-21; Romans 3:25-31.

Section IX - Sanctification
Sanctification is the process by which the regenerated believer gradually attains to moral and Spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. It continues throughout the earthly life, and is accomplished by the use of all the ordinary means of grace, and particularly by the word of God and prayer. We believe it begins at regeneration and is completed when we see Christ 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Philippians 2:12-13; John 17:15-17; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:3-7; Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrews 12:14.

Section X - Perseverance of Saints
We believe all real believers endure to the end. Their continuance in well-doing is the mark which distinguishes them from mere professors. A special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. John 10:27-31; 1 John 5:11-14; Romans 8:23-28; 1 John 2:19-20; Philippians 1:6; 11 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 11 Timothy 2:19.

Section XI - The Church
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, all Christians everywhere. We believe that the local visible church is an organized body of born again, 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 work, and seeking to extend the gospel to the end of the earth. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; 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. Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41- 42; 1 Corinthians 1:1-11; Matthew 28:20; Philippians 1:1; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-18; Acts 14:21-24.

Section XII - The Ordinances of Baptism and Lord’s Supper
We believe that a born-again believer should follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior. It marks the first step in Christian growth and eligibility for church membership. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the death of Christ for our sins, in the use of bread which He made the emblem of His broken body and the fruit of the vine which He made the emblem of His shed blood. We believe the elements are neither leavened nor fermented as Christ’s body and blood had no corruption. The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity for solemn self-examination and of remembrance of the dying Love of Christ. The Lord’s Supper shall be observed quarterly and at other times specified by the Pastor or Leadership of the church. Acts:36-39; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:4; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:24-28; Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 26:26-27; Luke 22:19-30; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.

Section XIII - Evangelism and Missions
We believe it is the duty of every Christian man and woman, and the duty of every church of Christ to seek to extend the Gospel into all the world. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods sanctioned by the Gospel of Christ. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans10:13-15; Psalms 96.

Section XIV - Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings temporal and spiritual. Christians are to be good stewards of all God’s blessings. We are to be responsible in the use of our time and talents and we are required to be faithful in the use of our finances. The Old and New Testaments teach tithing as God’s financial plan to bring our tithes into the storehouse. Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Acts 4:34-37; Leviticus 27:30.

Section XV - The Lord’s Day
The first day of the week (Sunday) is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercise of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and be resting for our worldly concerns except in cases of necessity or mercy. Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 28:1-6; John 20:1-19; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelations 1:9-11; Colossians 2:16.

Section XVI - Civic Government
We believe as the Bible teaches, all civil government is of diving appointment and accountable to God. It is to be obeyed unless it directly opposes or oppresses God’s clearly stated will for His church and people. Romans 13:1; Matthew 22:21.

Section XVII - The Resurrection
The scriptures clearly teach that Jesus arose bodily from the dead the third day and He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations. He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God. He now exists in His glorified body, that He alone is our “advocate” and our “merciful” and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God. We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of all people, each in its own order; the Christian to eternal life and the non-Christian to eternal damnation. The body of the resurrected Christian will conform to the glorious spiritual body of Jesus. Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4; John 5:28-29; John 14:1-3; John 20:1-29; Acts 24:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelations 20:12-15.

Section XVIII - The Second Coming of Jesus, the Rapture, the Return, the Reign
We believe in the Pre-Millennial Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; at the rapture of the church, Christ will come in the air for His saints; and after the tribulation, He will come to the earth with His saints. We believe that Jesus Christ will reign on this earth a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet. Matthew 24:29-44; Mark 13:24-37; Luke 21:25-28; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-52.