Doctrine                                                                                               

1. Scriptures are the final and only source for doctrine, spiritual maturity, and practical living. They provide all knowledge required about life and godliness. Doctrine based on the Word of God unifies the local church and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be judged. The Old and New Testaments in their original autographs are the complete, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. The Scriptures are inspired verbally (each individual word) and plenarily (all Scripture in total.). The Scriptures are God-breathed as the Holy Spirit moved godly men who accurately recorded the message. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)

 

2. There is one God (Dt. 6:4; Is. 45:5-6), the Creator of the heavens and the earth; He eternally exists in three persons: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit (Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Is. 6:8; 48:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; Matt 3:16; 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 8:6). The three persons of the Trinity exist as a unity coequal in essence, but distinct in function.

 

3. Jesus Christ is the second person in the Trinity. He possesses all the same attributes as the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He is entirely God and entirely Man being God manifest in the flesh. (Is. 7:14; 9:6; John 1:1; John 8:58)

 

4. The local New Testament church is an organized body of believers, baptized by immersion upon a credible testimony of their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It operates under pastor(s) (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9) and deacons. The church is congregational in government, and is set aside for God’s work (Eph. 3:10), worship (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Cor. 10:31), and edification (1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 2:2, 3:16), observance of the ordinances (baptism-Acts 2:41-47 and Lord’s Supper-Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11) and the fulfillment of the great commission by propagating the Gospel throughout the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). The unifying purpose of the local church is to glorify God (Eph. 3:21).

 

5. Pastor (Bishop or Elder) and Deacon are the two biblical church offices. Bishop, elder, and shepherd are biblical terms all referring to the same office of Pastor. The qualifications are in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9. The Deacons are the servant/helpers to the pastors and the congregation. Their qualifications are given in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. (Deacons-Acts 6:1-6; Bishop-Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Both-Phil. 1:1)

 

6. The “blessed hope” is the imminent, personal, pretribulational return of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to doctrinally as the Rapture of the Church. Christ will bodily return in the clouds of the air to catch away the believers in Christ (members of His Body, the Church). (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:11-18; Tit. 2:13)

 

7. The Millennial Kingdom of Christ is a literal 1000 year period which is in fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. Christ (who presently sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven) will sit on the Throne of David and rule Israel from Jerusalem. During the reign peace and righteousness will cover the earth, Satan will be bound and Israel shall be established in her own land. At the end of the millennium Satan will rebel against Christ, but shall be defeated and forever banished to the Lake of Fire. (Ps. 2; Jer. 31:31-34; Ez. 11:17-20; 34:23-24; 36:26-28; 37:24-28; Matt. 5-7; Rev. 20:4-15)