The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of God. We believe it has no contradictions and that it alone contains the words of everlasting life. The Bible constitutes 66 individual books written over the period of about 2,000 years by over 40 different authors. We believe that from cover to cover the Bible is the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ (John 5:39).

The Godhead

We believe the Godhead consists of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We will not pretend to be able to explain all the dynamics of God's existence. It is enough to know that He is and that He has always been. He has no beginning nor end of days. He is not bound by time or space. The best description of Him is the one he gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. He said to Moses, "I AM, that I AM"(Ex. 3:14). This we will say: He is without sin and He is as the Bible says, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" (Isa. 6:3). He created all things by Jesus Christ the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit, by the decree of the Father (John 1:1-5, Gen 1, John 8:28-30). He created all things for His glory, and sustains all things by His power.

Man's Desperate Condition

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen 1). On the sixth day, God made man. God put man(Adam) into a deep sleep, and then took one of Adam's ribs and made for him woman. Adam called his wife Eve and they lived in the garden that God had planted for Himself (Eden). God told Adam that he was allowed to eat from any of the fruit in the garden, but that he must not eat of the tree in the middle of the Garden lest he die. However Eve, was tempted by the devil and she did eat of the fruit of the tree which God commanded them not to eat. She then gave some of the fruit to Adam and he did eat as well. Then the Lord became angry with Adam and eve and cursed them. However because God is merciful He did not cut Adam and Eve off from Himself entirely, but He killed an animal and made for them clothes from the skins of the animal. This was a symbol of what God would do to redeem mankind. You must understand that God is Holy. He has a violent passion for Justice and therefore must punish sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought the curse of death onto all of the race of man. Since the disobedience, or "fall" of man, man has been in bondage not only to death, but to sin. Man now lacks the ability to do that which pleases God. We have only the capacity to sin. Sin is transgression of the moral law of God: the Ten Commandments. All men will one day stand before the judgement bar of God, and if found guilty of breaking even one of the Ten Commandments, then God will sentence them to eternal damnation in hell. Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Man is helpless to deliver himself from the sentence of death that God has placed on all of humanity. In this life man suffers for the sin of Adam. However, in hell all men will suffer for their own sin. And so man is in a very desperate condition.

God's Plan of Redemption

We Believe in the immaculate conception of the Son, Jesus Christ. John 1:14 says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." Jesus Christ the Son was made flesh and blood. God came to a virgin named Mary. He told Mary that she would bare a son and that she should call His name Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins (Luke 1:26-38). Though Jesus left His throne to come down to earth, He never left His authority. He retained all of the authority which He has had throughout eternity. However, He willfully denied Himself of most of His heavenly privileges, choosing rather to suffer affliction (Matt 16:21,Mark 8:31, 9:12,Luke 9:22, 17:25). Jesus Christ the Son lived a perfect, sinless life, then willfully became obedient even unto death for the sole purpose of reconciling the world to God through Himself, and thus bring glory to the Father. Jesus Christ suffered at the hands of sinful man to pay the price that God's law demands humanity pay: death. He was crucified, buried, and on the third day he rose again. Forty days later He ascended to to right hand of the Father where He took His throne once again. Jesus Christ purchased a people for Himself by His own death, burial and resurrection. We hold that by His stripes we are healed (Isa 53:5), and there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

The Substitutionary Atonement

Since the Son, Jesus Christ, is the only one who holds the keys to death and hell, He is rightly the only one who can forgive sin. The Father has granted all authority to Jesus Christ alone to pardon whomsoever He wishes. The Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The Lord has made it clear in His word that if a man will repent of his sins (Turn away from sin in his heart and humble himself before God, The Judge of the Universe) And believe (place his trust) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, than he or she will be saved. Not on the basis of any work (Eph 2:8-9), but on the basis that Jesus Christ has paid the full penalty for sin on the cross. He bore the full weight of the wrath of God and was forsaken of the Father on the cross, so that we could receive mercy from God instead of Judgement.

The Imputation of Righteousness

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The Cross wiped away the sin of all those who would believe, but this alone would not mean that man could be with God in heaven (Heb 12:14). So the Lord takes the Righteousness of Christ and gives it to all those who believe on Jesus Christ. Christ was treated as the transgressor, so that man could be treated as a son of the Most High God. That new nature endows men with a love of righteousness and a hatred of sin.

The Holy Spirit of Promise

The new nature is what the Bible calls being born again. Jesus said in John 14:15-17, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." To all those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is given. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the hearts of men are changed. The Holy Spirit of God takes the spiritually dead heart of man, that loves sin, and gives him a new heart. The Holy Spirit then indwells the believer and empowers him or her to live a godly life in obedience to Jesus Christ (Ezek 36:25-27). Apart from this transformation of the heart, man is doomed. John 3:3 says, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" A man must have not only the death of Christ accredited to his account (substitutionary atonement), but also the righteous life of Christ (imputation of righteousness). This miracle is a work of God's Holy Spirit. The new, or regenerated heart of the believing man, is now knit together with the Holy Spirit (The test for whether or not this change has really taken place is the book of First John. If this change has taken place in any heart it will be testable).

The Believer's Baptism

Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.'" We believe in the Baptism of believers only. If a person makes a profession of faith then biblically they should be baptized by full immersion in water. This is something that we leave to local congregations, as we believe God has sent us out to preach the Gospel and not to baptize (1 Cor 1:17).

The Believer's Hope

We believe in the imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On this subject, we don't have all the answers. The bible tells us to expect Him at anytime, so be ready, repent and believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31, Rom 10:9). We believe that the coming of the Lord will be both great, and terrible. It will be great for all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, but it will be terrible for those that have not (Rev 16:15-17).

The Glory of God

We believe in the doing of all things for the glory of God alone. God deserves our praise and our worship. He is worthy to receive Glory and Honor from every living thing on the planet. Let All the earth Praise the Lord.

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.