THE SCRIPTURES:

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only sufficient, certain infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. It is the complete and authoritative written revelation of God to man, the very Word of God. The most reliable English Bible is the authorized King James Version. We reject the apocryphal books as scripture.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16 & 17)

THE TRUE GOD:

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three eternal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

"God is a Spirit". (John 4:24) "His understanding is infinite." (Psalm 147:5) "Thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; & Jeremiah 10:10)

DOCTRINES OF GRACE:

We believe the "Doctrines of Grace": (sometimes mistakenly called Calvinism)

Due to Adam's original sin, all mankind is unable to exercise saving faith aside from the gift of the new birth; God gives the new birth to whomsoever He chooses and this gift is unconditional; The death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary was particularly designed to redeem all those to whom God would grant the gift of the new birth; God's power to bring about the new birth in those He has chosen is ultimately irresistible; and all who receive the new birth will persevere to the end as a demonstration of God's power and grace.

Man is spiritually dead unto God (Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13) and is unable and unwilling to save himself on account of the fall in the Garden of Eden being a total fall. If unable to save himself, then God must save. If God must save, then God must be free to save whom He will. If God has decreed to save whom He will, then it is for those that Christ made atonement on the cross. If Christ died for them, then the Holy spirit will effectually call them into that salvation. If salvation, then from the beginning, has been of God, the end will also be of God, and the saints will persevere to eternal joy.

THE FALL OF MAN:

We believe the Scriptures teach that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

"God created man in His own image." (Genesis 1:27). "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31;Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26; Genesis 2:16)

GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE:

We believe the Scriptures teach that the election of sinners unto salvation is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence. (Ephesians 1:4-9)

THE WAY OF SALVATION:

We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who according to the will of the Father, assumed our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior. We believe that repentance from a selfish carnal life and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation. We do not believe that there is salvation in any work done by man. Instead we believe that our works are an evidence of the power of God in salvation. An absence of works declares an absence of true faith. (Ephesians 2:1-9)

REGENERATION:

We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that change wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit, by which a new nature and a spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus; a holy disposition is given to the mind, the will subdued, the dominion of sin broken, and the affections changed from a love of sin and self, to a love of holiness and God; the change is instantaneous, effected solely by the power of God, through the word of God, in a manner incomprehensible to reason; the evidence of it is found in a changed disposition of mind, the fruits of righteousness, and a newness of life. And without it, salvation is impossible. (John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; John 1:13)

REPENTANCE:

We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance is a personal act, prompted by the Holy Spirit; and consists in a godly sorrow for sin, as an offense to God and ruinous to the soul; that it is accompanied with great humiliation in view of one's sin and guilt, together with prayer for pardon; also by sincere hatred of sin, and a persistent turning away from, and abandonment of, all that is evil and unholy. (Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; II Corinthians 7:2)

FAITH:

We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, as an evangelical grace wrought by the Holy Spirit, is the medium through which Christ is received by the soul as its sacrifice and Savior. It is an assent of the mind and a consent of the heart, consisting mainly of belief and trust; the testimony of God is implicitly accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly trusted for salvation; by it the believer is brought into vital relations with God, freely justified, and lives as seeing Him who is invisible. Faith reveals Christ to the soul as a willing and sufficient Savior, and commits the heart and life to Him. (Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1; Romans 1:17)

ADOPTION:

We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act, by which the Father, for the sake of Christ, accepts believers to the estate and condition of children, by a new and spiritual birth; sending the Spirit of adoption into their hearts, whereby they become members of the family of God, and entitled to all the rights, privileges and promises of children; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, to the heritage of the saints on earth, and an inheritance reserved in heaven for them. (Romans 8:14-16; Ephesians 1:5)

SANCTIFICATION:

We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the heart of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, and in the continual use of the appointed means...especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer; and in the practice of all godly exercises and duties. (I Thessalonians 4:3; I Thessalonians 5:23; I Timothy 4:7)

THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS:

We believe that those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called  and sanctified by His Spirit, and given the precious faith of His elect, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance; they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, they being engraved upon the palm of His hands, and their names having been written in the book of life for all eternity. We believe that such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace. We further believe that believers manifest their assurance by good works, done in obedience to God's commandments; those good works being fruits and evidence of a true and lively faith; that by good works they edify their brethren, stop the mouths of adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto. We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and finally perish, but will endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 6:39; John 10:28-29; John 8:31)

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL:

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability, which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from their sinful nature; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the Holy Law is the great end of the Gospel. (Romans 8:2-4; Romans 10:4)

CHURCH:

We believe that the word rendered "church" in the New Testament means an organized visible assembly and does not connote the Protestant invention of a universal, invisible church. The first church was instituted by Jesus Christ, before Pentecost and that the church has perpetuated itself, without interruption, throughout every age, until this present time. (Landmark) Such churches are not protestant churches because their beginning predates the Protestant Reformation by approximately 1,500 years. Such churches are known today as Baptist and are distinguished from nominal (protestant) Baptists, by certain New Testament practices such as congregational government, membership communion, scriptural baptism, sovereign grace gospel teaching, and scripturally organized; having the Bible as its only rule of faith and practice; having as its message, all of God's Word as revealed in the Bible; recognizing Christ as its only head; governed by His laws: observing His ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion): exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word and, having as its scriptural officers, Pastor (Elder or Bishop) and Deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties, are clearly defined in the Scripture. We believe that the only scriptural commission of the church is to carry out the Lord's command to disciple the nations and to baptize and teach the disciples. We hold that the church has the absolute right of self government, under Christ her head, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence are administered by the will of the majority of the members, guided by the Word and Spirit of God. (Matthew 18:17; I Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 4:1-17; Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians  3:10-21; I Corinthians 5, I Corinthians 11; II Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 1:3; I Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; Phillippians 1:1; Acts 15:22-28; II Corinthians 2:6.) 

CHRISTIAN BAPTISM:

We believe that there is only one scriptural baptism today; that it must be administered only under the authority of a New Testament Baptist Church; and that it can be administered only to a proper subject, a saved person; that it must be administered only in the proper manner, by immersion in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; it is the prerequisite for membership in the body; and is a visual testimony of the subject's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. (Romans 6:3-6)

THE LORD'S SUPPER:

We believe that the Lord's Supper may be administered only under the authority of a New Testament Baptist Church; that it is administered only to the members in good standing of this church, after prayerful self-examination. It should be administered only with the proper elements, unleavened bread and fermented fruit of the vine; and that its purpose is to commemorate together the death of our Lord until He comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-30)

THE LORD'S DAY:

We believe the Scriptures teach that the New Testament Churches gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday). Accordingly, in like manner, we set Sunday apart as our Sabbath, a day of worship and rest and celebration of our Lord's resurrection. We should abstain from all secular labor, except the works of mercy and necessity, and from worldly amusements. (Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 28:1; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-28)

CIVIL GOVERNMENT:

We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. That civil rulers have no rights of control over, or of interference with, church matters. (Romans 13:7; I Peter 2:13; Matthew 22:21)

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED:

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those that are regenerate, being justified through faith in Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous; while all those that continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in God's sight and under His righteous curse. This distinction holds among men both in life and after death; that the souls of the righteous, at death, pass immediately into the presence of God, there in conscious bliss to await the first resurrection, at which time the soul and the glorified body will be reunited and associated forever with the Lord. The souls of the wicked will pass at death into conscious misery to await the judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction and to be removed from the presence of the Lord forever to which end they are ordained. (II Corinthians 5:8 & 6:14; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:10; Revelation 22:11; Acts 7:59; Luke 16:22; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Luke 16:23; Revelation 20:11-15; I Peter 2:8; Jude verse 4; Proverbs 16:4)

THE WORLD TO COME:

Second Coming

We believe that Christ is now king over a spiritual kingdom, that He is reigning now with the Father in His throne. There He will remain until He comes again. His second coming is to be premillennial, bodily, visible; that at His revelation on the earth, He will sit on the throne of His glory, judging all men then living on the earth, receiving the righteous into His eternal kingdom and sending the unrighteous away into everlasting fire. (Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 1:13; Luke 1:32; Revelation 3:21; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 20:1-4; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 25:31-46)

The Millennium