What We Believe

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth (John 4:24; Psalms 147:5; 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13). We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7), equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7).

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and was in its original manuscript completely inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psalms 119:11; Romans 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Romans 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39; Proverbs 30:5-6; John 17:17; Revelation 22:18-19; Romans 3:4).  We believe that God has worked and continues to work through faithful people throughout history to preserve its reliability until the return of Jesus. We believe that it directs every Christian’s worldview and conduct through the revelation of God’s truth. (Romans 2:12; John 12:47-48; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48; Philippians 3:16; Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 John 4:1; Isaiah 8:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3:5; Ephesians 6:17; Psalms 119:59-60; Philippians 1:9-11)

We believe that God created the world according to the Biblical account found in Genesis 1-2 (Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16-17).  We also believe that the matter of exact length of time measured as we know it is not as significant as the central truth that God created and that the creation we observe and mankind is no product of chance or evolution.  In contrast, we believe that God created with a plan and purpose in mind.

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18-25)
We believe that man was originally created in holiness, under the law of his Maker (Genesis 1:27, 31; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Genesis 2:16) and by voluntary transgression fell from that perfect state (Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12). We believe that all people are born sinners (Romans 5:19; John 3:6; Psalms 51:5; Romans 5:15-19; 8:7), not by constraint, but choice (Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18) and being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil.  We believe that we are all therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Galatians 3:10; Matthew 20:15), without defense or excuse (Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:20; 3:19; Galatians 3:22).

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:5; Matthew 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; Acts 15:11), through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 3:16; 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; 12:24) who was sent by the Father and freely took upon himself our sin, though He committed no sin himself (Philippians 2:6-7; Hebrews 2:9, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:21).  We believe that He fulfilled the demands of the divine law by His perfect obedience (Isaiah 42:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 3:21) and by his death made a full atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 20:28; Romans 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Hebrews 9:13-15). We believe that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven (Hebrews 1:8, 3; 8:1; Colossians 3:1-4) and is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all- sufficient Savior (Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:18; 7:26; Psalms 89:19; Psalms 14).  We believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal salvation, there is no other work or religion that can grant us eternal life.

We believe that justification includes the pardon of sin (Romans 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43) and the promise of eternal life because of the righteousness imputed by Jesus to us through salvation, (Romans 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Romans 5:21) not in consideration of any good works we have done.  We believe that this justification is permanent and secure in Jesus.

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the sacrifice of Jesus (Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Luke 14:17); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept Him by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (Romans 16:26; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17); and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of Jesus (John 5:40; Matthew 23:37; Romans 9:32; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 13:46).  We also therefore believe that those that willingly choose to reject Jesus sacrificial death in their place brings eternal condemnation.

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:14; Revelation 8:7-9; 21:27) and that this regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7); that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth (John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Bible (1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-11); and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18).

We believe that repentance and faith are also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God (Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1); whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ (John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy (Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psalms 51); at the same time heartily receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior (Romans 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Hebrews 4:14; Psalms 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; 8:25; 2 Timothy 1:12).

We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners (2 Timothy 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Romans 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1 John 4:19; Hos. 12:9). We believe that election and the free will of men are complementary and not contradictory truths of the Bible.

We believe that sanctification is a lifelong process that begins at the point of salvation and carried out in the life of a Christian, through the power of the Holy Spirit, until the day their life here ends and they are united with Jesus in eternity.

We believe that true Christians will endure unto the end of their lives or the return of Jesus (John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18).  We believe that all Christians are eternally kept secure in their salvation by the power of God through faith (Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Hebrews 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 4:4).

We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government (Romans 3:31; Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 3:20; 4:15) and that it is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Galatians 3:21; Psalms 119). We believe that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin (Romans 8:7-8; Joshua 24:19; Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44). We believe that Jesus came to satisfy the requirement of the law: perfect obedience and death for sin.  Jesus lived without sin yet died for all so that any who chose by faith to accept Him as Lord and Savior can have eternal life through His imputed righteousness (Romans 8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 8:10; Jude 20-21; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a localized congregation of baptized believers (1 Corinthians 1:1-13; Matthew 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Timothy 3:5), associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel (Acts 2:41-42; 2 Corinthians 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13); observing the ordinances of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 4:17); governed by His laws (Matthew 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thessalonians 4.2; 2 John 6; Galatians 6:2; all the Epistles), and exercising the spiritual gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 12:14); that its only scriptural officers are Elders/Pastors, and Deacons (Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1), whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus primarily.  Additionally, we believe there is a larger body of Christ that is connected throughout all generations and all peoples.

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8) in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Galatians 3:27-28) as a symbol of an individual’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Jesus.  It has no bearing on one’s salvation yet is an expectation of the Bible and demonstrates one’s death to a life ruled by sin and resurrection, new life ruled by Jesus (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16). We additionally believe that baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relationship.
We believe the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles), by the use of bread and the fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20) as symbols of His broken body and shed blood on our behalf to secure our salvation and should always be preceded by solemn self- examination (1 Corinthians 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John 6:26-71).

We believe that God has declared that there must be a day set aside to be a holy day set aside to rest and reconnect with Him.  We believe that God created a Sabbath for us as a reminder to trust Him, to recharge our bodies, minds, and spirits.  We believe that worship in singing, prayer, giving, the study of the Bible are all ways we can experience the rest and rejuvenation God intends for us on this special Sabbath day.

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society (Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 16:18; 1 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:23; Jeremiah 30:21); and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed (Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-8); except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth (Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:16; Psalms 72:11; Psalms 2; Romans 14:9-13).

We believe that the end of the world is approaching and that there are only two destinations available to mankind: Heaven and Hell.  We believe that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, raise the dead from the grave to the final judgement.  We believe at that judgement a solemn separation will then take place: the wicked to endless punishment in the Lake of Fire and the righteous to endless joy in Heaven.  We believe that this judgment will fix forever the final state of everyone in Heaven or the Lake of Fire.

We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within the union of marriage (Genesis 1:18-25).  We believe that in God’s design marriage is to be a lifelong covenant relationship between the man and woman (Malachi 2:13-16).

We are a Cooperative Giving Church of the Southern Baptist Convention and do support and affirm the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (BF&M 2000).