Doctrinal Statement

THE TRIUNE GODHEAD

We believe there is but one true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19; John 14:16-17, 24, 26; II Cor. 1:1-3, 13:14; Eph. 4:6; Phil. 2:9; I Tim. 2:5).

THE PERSON OF CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune Godhead. In His incarnation, He was begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15-23; Luke 1:35; Rom. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:6-9; c.f. Heb. 1:3).

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune Godhead Who convicts unsaved sinners of their sin. He also regenerates and baptizes those who believe the gospel of salvation into the Church, the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells, seals, illuminates, empowers and guides all believers from the moment of their salvation (John 16:8; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13, 17-18; 3:16; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 2:11-16).

TOTAL DEPRAVITY

We believe the nature of all men from birth is sinful and, as such, all men are unacceptable to and separated from God. The unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own part nor to God’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His Sovereign grace and mercy (Rom. 3:9-12, 7:18; Eph. 1:4-7, 2:1-3; Tit. 3:4-7; 1Pet. 1:2).

SALVATION

We believe salvation is wholly the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. God justifies ungodly sinners by His grace through the blood of Christ by the means of faith. This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man’s works but does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to trust Christ as Savior (Rom. 3:22-28, 5:1-9, 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-11, 2:8-9; 2 Thess. 2: 10-12; John 3:18,19,36; 5:40; c.f. Rom. 11:6; Heb. 11:1).

ETERNAL SECURITY

We believe all who have been reconciled to God are eternally secure in their relationship with Him. “…Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…”(Eph. 1:13-14; c.f. John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:1, 15-17, 29-34, 38, 39; Phil. 1:6; Col. 3:1-4; 1John 5:13).

THE CHURCH

We believe the Body of Christ is the Church for today and Jesus Christ is the head of this Church. “He is the head of the body, the Church…” (Col. 1:18). This Church began with the Apostle Paul before Paul wrote his first epistle (Col. 1:18; c.f. Eph. 1:22-23; 3:6; I Cor. 12:13, 27cf; Acts 9; Acts 13; Phil. 1:5-6; I Thess. 2:14-16).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR THE CHURCH

We believe evangelists, pastors, teachers and the gifts of Rom. 12:6-8 are the gifts given to the Church, the Body of Christ. We believe sign gifts such as tongues, prophecies and healings have ceased and are not for the Church today (Rom. 12:6-8, I Cor. 12:1-31, 13:8-13; Eph. 4:7-16).

THE BELIEVER’S WALK

We believe every saved person possesses two natures. The sinful nature (flesh) is not eradicated in the life of the believer, but provision has been made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We also believe all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Rom. 6:6-14, 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10).

Every member of the Church, the Body of Christ, is called to live a new life. We are commanded to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. All believers are to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and willingly gave Himself over as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We must make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel of the Grace of God with others. Every believer is called to live in a manner which glorifies their Lord and Savior, and they should desire to do this more and more each day (Rom. 6:4, 8:4; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 2:10, 4:1, 5:2, 15; Col. 2:6, 4:5, 1 Thess. 4:1; Heb. 10:12).

THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that every member of the Church, the Body of Christ, may partake of the Lord’s Supper in memory of Him “until He comes.”  (I Cor. 11:23-26)

BAPTISM

We believe the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 “by one Spirit into one body” (1Cor. 12:13) is a Divine baptism. Anyone who is reconciled to God has been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Church, the Body of Christ, at the moment of their salvation. It is through this one baptism that all believers are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Eph. 4:5; 1Cor. 1:17, 12:13; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).

RESURRECTION

We believe as Christ was resurrected from the dead, so too all men will be bodily resurrected. Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ will be resurrected to everlasting glory. Those who die in unbelief will be resurrected to everlasting punishment (Luke 24:39-43; John 5:29; Acts 24:15; I Cor. 15:21 and Rev. 20:11-15).

THE RAPTURE, THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We believe in the pre-tribulation resurrection and rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. Rapture is the term we use to describe the biblically prophesied event where the Lord’s Church, which is His Body, is caught up to meet Him in the air. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thess. 4:13-18; c.f. Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Titus 2:13).

We believe the seven-year tribulation period will fulfill the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy. After the Lord raptures (removes) His Church from the earth, the righteous judgment of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world as He restores the promised kingdom to Israel (Dan. 9:24-27; Rev.16).

We believe the second coming of Christ will occur at the end of the tribulation period. The “other saved dead” will be resurrected, and Christ will occupy the throne of David and reign over His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7).

STATE OF THE DEAD

We believe Scripture does not extend the hope of salvation to the unsaved dead.  Scripture does reveal that the unsaved dead will forever exist in a state of conscious suffering (Luke 16:23-28; Rev. 14:11; 20:14, 15; Col. 3:5-6; Rom. 1:21-32; John 3:36; Phil. 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:9).

We also believe the following teachings are not found in Scripture and are dangerous doctrines: universalism, probation after death, annihilation of the unsaved dead, and the unconscious state of the dead (saved or unsaved, also known as “soul sleep”).

OUTREACH

We believe all members of the Church, the Body of Christ, are Christ’s Ambassadors and have the ministry of reconciliation committed to them. We are called to proclaim the Gospel of the Grace of God to unsaved sinners for their salvation. We are also called to edify other believers who have not yet come to understand the distinct message and ministry given to and through the Apostle Paul by our resurrected, ascended and glorified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4; II Cor. 5:14-21; Eph. 3:8-9).