We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments; that they are God’s truth without any mixture of error in the original autographs; that they are infallible and inerrant in all matters of which they speak; and that they constitute God’s complete revelation and are the sole authority for faith and practice (2 Peter 1:3; Luke 24:25). We believe that inspiration applies to the original autographs and not to any current translation or version (1 Peter 1:10; Proverbs 30:5-6). We believe that God’s Word has been preserved for us today in multiple translations and versions to the degree that they agree with the autographs (2 Peter 1:15-21; John 10:35). We further believe that the Scriptures are to be interpreted according to a literal, grammatical-historical hermeneutic. This demands that we understand the Bible literally. For example, we believe in the creation of the world in six solar days, the existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of the human race, the global deluge of Noah’s day, and the occurrence of miracles. We see this hermeneutic most aligned in dispensational theology.

We believe that there is one God existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one in essence and co-eternal and co-equal in every divine attribute (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:24, 10:30; Psalms 90:1-2; James 1:17; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19).

We believe that Jesus Christ, who is both completely man and completely God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, arose bodily from the grave, ascended to heaven, now intercedes for believers, and will come again in a pretribulational, premillennial appearing (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14; Colossians 2:9; Luke 24:5-7, 36–40; Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 1:1-10, 5:1-10, 7:25, 9:26-28; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 1:9-11).

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Person in the Godhead who restrains evil, convicts of sin, bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, is the agent in the new birth, indwells the believer, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ, and fills the believer for spiritual service (John 15:26, 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18). We believe that the gift of tongues, the special gift of healing, and sign miracles were temporary and not for this age; although God may heal the sick and afflicted in accord with His own will (Ephesians 1:13-14; James 5:13-15; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, by direct act, out of nothing, in six literal days, and not by the process of evolution or theistic evolution (Genesis 1:1-2:3). Although the exact age of the earth is unknown, we believe in a young earth and not an old earth evolving over millions of years.

We believe that humanity was created sinless in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God’s image in man is marred by sin but is not completely lost. Being created in the image of God, all human life is sacred from conception in both its viability and gender (Genesis 9:6; Psalm 51:5, 139:13). God created men and women with equal value but distinct roles. Specifically, men are to lead their families and the church (Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Timothy 2:8-15). God instituted marriage, which is biblically defined as a union between one man and one woman (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Sexual activity outside that union is sin (Hebrews 13:4). Adam’s voluntary decision to sin affected not only himself but also all of humanity (Romans 5:12). Humanity is now born with a sinful nature and is spiritually dead; man is totally depraved and unable to affect his own salvation (Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; Ephesians 2:1-9). He is also personally responsible for his sin (Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 3:19). The consequence of humanity’s sin is not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God in a literal hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15).

We believe salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, by which work Christ fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Believers are kept by the power of God and given eternal security. The mark of genuine salvation is their perseverance to the end as they are progressively sanctified (Romans 3:24-26; Titus 3:5; John 10:27-29). Salvation includes both God’s calling and man’s choosing to accept by faith the free gift of forgiveness and righteousness which he cannot merit or earn (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23, 10:9-13; Acts 16:31; John 3:16; 1 John 5:1).

We believe that sanctification is positional in that the believer is declared holy at the moment he trusts Christ as Savior; that it is also a process as the Holy Spirit transforms the believer by the Word of God; that it is practical in that we are daily being conformed to the image of Christ; and that it is future in that our final glorification will take place in heaven where we will be delivered from all sin. Believers must put great effort into their Christian walk, actively seeking to love and obey their God. The Christian life is actively depending on the Holy Spirit to mold us into Christ’s likeness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 1:3-14, 6:18; Proverbs 4:18; Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 John 2:29; Philippians 2:12-13).

We believe that biblical separation is the practical application of pursuing Christlikeness and is essential for maintaining the purity of the church. It includes separation of church and state in that government should not establish a government-run church nor prohibit the free exercise of one’s biblical beliefs and convictions. It does not imply that government should not be influenced by biblical principles (Romans 13:1-7). Biblical separation includes separation of the local church from any affiliation or fellowship that denies the basic fundamentals of the faith (such as false teachers who teach or promote a false gospel), from believers who endorse unbelievers for spiritual purposes or endeavors, and from believers who live in continual, unrepentant sin (church discipline). The purpose of church discipline is to bring restoration to one’s relationship with God (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-35). It includes separation from the world to God—the believer should live a holy life that exemplifies full obedience to the plain commands of Scripture and in areas of the conscience as dictated by biblical principles (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1-2, 14:5-6; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:6-12).

We believe that the Church is a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head made up of all regenerate people of the age of grace; that the Church is peculiar to the age of grace and is completely distinct from Israel; and that the church is assembled for worship, fellowship, and service. We believe that local churches should have the absolute right to self-government free from interference of any hierarchy; that every believer should align himself with a local church; and that the local church’s two offices of pastors/elders and deacons are comprised of only qualified men (Matthew 16:16-18, 28:19-20; Acts 8:1, 14:23, 15:22, 20:17, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). We believe in a congregational form of church governance in which the pastors/elders lovingly lead without lording over the congregation; deacons sacrificially serve to meet the needs of the church; and the congregation is involved in the governance of the church while using their gifts within the body, displaying mutual love for the edification of the body (1 Corinthians 1:1-13, 11:2, 23-34; Acts 5:11, 11:21-23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:12; Ephesians 4:11-16).

We believe that there are two ordinances for the local church—baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is by single immersion for believers, thereby identifying the person being baptized as having placed their faith in Christ (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6, 28:19; Romans 6:4). We believe that the Lord's Supper is an ordinance in which regenerated believers who are in right fellowship with God should regularly partake in remembrance of the death of Christ. The bread and juice do not become the literal body and blood of Christ but simply represent them. Receiving the Lord’s Supper does not dispense grace to the believer, but rather it is a time of personal evaluation and remembering what Christ has done for us (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

We believe that the Great Commission is a divine commandment for this age, and as such, primarily involves proactive evangelism and discipleship through the local church to the world (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24: 46-48; John 17:18, 20:21; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 15:6).

We believe in the premillennial return of Christ, that is, the personal, visible return of Christ to put down His enemies and set up a thousand year millennial reign; that at the end of this reign Satan will be loosed for a season and then cast into the lake of fire; that at this time the second resurrection for all unsaved will take place; that they will be judged at the Great White Throne and will be condemned to eternal torment in the lake of fire; that Christ will reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords with the righteous eternally, and that there will be a fulfillment of promises made to national Israel (Matthew 22:1-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:20-58; Revelations 20:1-15, 21-22; Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 2 Corinthians 4:17).