SALVATION

We believe, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally saved and shall not perish. We believe eternal life is a present possession. (II Peter 3:9, Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10, 13; John 3:16, 36, 10:27-31; Ephesians 4:30, I John 5:13)

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is a local assembly of baptized believers voluntarily joined together to advance the work of Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church and the Word of God is to be its source of authority. Local churches are to be led by men serving in the Biblical office of Pastor. The Church is to observe two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; both of which are pictures of what Christ did for us and have no part in salvation. Scriptural Baptism is by immersion. The Lord’s Supper is for saved members of the local church. (Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20; Acts 1:5, 2:41-47, 8:36-38; I Corinthians 11:17-34, Galatians 1:2, Colossians 1:18, I Timothy 3:2-8)

HUMAN SEXUALITY

We believe that God creates a gender and identifies that gender as male or female at an individual’s conception. Thus, we believe every person is born with the gender God intended them to be and remain for life. Also, we believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between one natural born man and one natural born woman. We believe any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, trans-sexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of human life and sex. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5-13, 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 5:6-9, I Thessalonians 4:1-8, Hebrews 13:4)

THE GRACE OF GIVING

We believe that Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith, and that it is a Christian’s privilege and duty. We believe that God’s method of financing His earthly work of spreading the Gospel to all nations, the care of the churches and the support of the ministry, is by the tithes and offerings of God’s people. We believe that they are to be given to the Lord through His local church. We believe that Christians should give a minimum of one tenth of their income and that offerings are to be given above the tithe as God has prospered the individual. (Malachi 3:8-10, I Corinthians 8-9, I Corinthians 16:2)