We begin with the only trustworthy
document of our faith, the BIBLE. In it we read about the focus of our faith, GOD.
We then turn from the Creator to MAN, God's greatest creation. Sadly, we read of the fall, the horror of sin
and the desperate need of SALVATION Those redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the application
of personal faith form the family of believers in this age, the CHURCH.
LAST THINGS, as the name implies, deals with the consummation of God's
plan of the ages.
We believe that God revealed Himself to man, making known to him what otherwise man could not know. This revelation is in two forms: 1) Natural (able to teach the existence of God, His power and divinity, therefore sufficient to condemn but insufficient to teach salvation truth (Ps. 19: 1-6; Rom. 1:18-20), and 2) Special (scripture and the incarnation [Ps. 19:7-11: John 1:14,18])
We believe that God so directed the authors of scripture that without destroying their individuality, personal interests, or literary style, His complete and connected thought toward man was recorded without error, in the exact words of the original manuscripts [2 Tim 3:16, I Cor 2:9-13, 2 Peter 1:20-21].
We believe in the preserving work of God over the span of time, assuring the transmission and preservation of scripture [Ps. 119:89].
We believe in the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit by which He enlightens the sin darkened minds of men enabling them to comprehend the truths of scripture [I Cor. 2:14-15; John 16:3-16] and that the literal, grammatical, historical method of interpretation is the proper method for determining the meaning of scripture.
We believe this inspired, infallible Word of God is the only Authority for faith and practice [2 Tim. 3:16-17]
We Believe that there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things, who is incomprehensible in His immensity, yet knowable [Job 36:26; Isa. 40:18-26; John 1:18; 14:7; Eph. 1:17].
We believe in the perfection and immutability of the attributes of God [James 1:17]. God is eternal, self existing spirit, [john 4:24], Three persons in one essence, co-equal, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet perfectly one [Deut. 6:4; john 16:13-15].
We believe the Father, acting in love and in accord with His holiness, commissioned His Son to sacrifice His life in order to purchase our salvation [1 Pet. 1:16; 1 John 4:8-10; Isa. 53:10-12].
We believe in Jesus Christ, the one-of-a-kind divine Son of God. In His incarnation, His divine pre-existent nature and human nature were forever united in one person. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary into a world uniquely prepared for Him [John 1:14; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-21; Gal. 4:4-5]. The Son is our model of obedience to God and deserves our allegiance as Lord [John 5:19-23; Phil. 2:5-11].
We believe in the Holy Spirit. In this age He acts as a guide, convicting the world of sin and transforming believers into the likeness of Christ. His purpose is not to glorify Himself, but to glorify Christ [John 16:7-16; 2 Cor. 3:18]. He also empowers the believer to function in this world. At salvation we are baptized into the body of Christ and made to function under the leadership of Christ, [the head of the body], by the bestowing of at least one spiritual gift [1 Cor. 12:7-13; Rom. 6::1-14; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-12]. Through the filling of the Holy Spirit we can experience the daily control of God in our lives. [Acts 2:1-4; Eph. 5:18; 1 John 1:9].
We believe that the first man was created in the image of God by direct creation, and that he was originally in full fellowship and communion with God. Adam sinned (sin being the act of rebellion against the person and will of God in an attempt to express the independence of the creature [Isa. 14:13-14; 1 John 3:4]), breaking this fellowship and incurring both physical and spiritual death.
We believe each descendant participated in Adam's sin, being seminally present in him, therefore individually guilty before God [Rom 3:23; 6:23; Titus 3:5].
We believe that salvation is the gracious gift of the sovereign God, who draws people to Himself. While offered freely, the cost was great. Jesus Christ died for sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, was buried, and then rose from the grave [1 Cor. 14:3-5]. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are justified on the grounds of His shed blood [Rom. 3:24-26]
We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin (a one time act) is by grace alone through faith, not works [Eph. 2:8-9]. We are being saved from the power of sin as we daily rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance and Power. At the moment of our salvation, we were born from above of the Holy Spirit, thereby becoming children of God and secure in His presence forever. When we leave this earth and enter His presence we will be free from the presence of sin [John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:14-17].
We believe that Christ's church is a living spiritual body, of which He is the head, and of which all true believers are members. Each member is strategically gifted and placed within the body to build up the body and effectively minister in the world. [Eph. 4:11-16].
We believe the local church is an organized local expression of that body, meeting regularly to observe the ordinances and to carry out the will of God to His glory [Acts 2:42; 6:1-6; Heb. 10:23-25; Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:24]. The local church has but two governing offices - Elders and Deacons [Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:1-13].
We believe in the observance of the ordinances of our Lord. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This one time act is an outward expression of the inward transformation that took place at salvation. It sets forth the essential facts of redemption - the death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ. It also pictures the essential facts in the experience of the believer - death to sin and resurrection to newness of life [Acts 8:34-39; Rom. 6:1-11]. The Lord's Supper is a repeated commemoration of the Lord's death until He comes [1 Cor. 11:20-34]. The bread and juice (of the fruit of the vine) each have symbolic meaning (speaking Christ's broken body and shed blood respectively).
We believe that a local church as a self governing body should be free from interference by any other ecclesiastical or political authority [Acts 6:3-6; 13:2-4].
We believe in the personal, visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church, and in a literal period of time called the tribulation [Titus 2:11-13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 5:18]. We also believe in His coming in glory with believers to set up His millennial kingdom upon the earth. The end of history will be marked by a final battle, the destruction of this world by fire, and the creation of a new heaven and earth [Rev. 19:11 - 20:10; Rev. 21:1 - 22:5]. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and unsaved; the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved in God's presence and fellowship in heaven; and the conscious punishment of the lost as they are separated from God in hell [Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21-22].