The Church is submissive in all its thinking to sacred scripture and what it reveals both explicitly and implicitly (John 3:27, 5:43, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Tim 4:13). We recognize that God is eternally sovereign (Ecc 3:11, Isa 46:10), ruling and reigning over all His decrees both through His gracious intervention (Heb 2:3-4) and ordaining all things (Gen 50:20, Prov 16:33, Isa 55:11) without harm to His character (Rom 9:6-23). We recognize mankind’s universal constraining sinful nature to seek after the things of God (Gen 6:5, 8:21, John 6:44, Rom 3:9-11, Eph 2:1-3). Nevertheless, God has ordained from all eternity to elect some and not all unto salvation (Rom 8-11). Those whom God has chosen, He has also made alive again in Christ Jesus by the irresistible grace provided by The Holy Spirit (Eph 2:1-10).
In all matters of theology and life, we are to begin and persevere with God in our thinking. Theology is not a point of doctrine, but even more so shapes and defines every subsequent thought in life and godliness (Exod 20:1-6, John 8:19, Rom 3:9-11, 1 Cor 10:31)
God by His grace and charity has provided three primary covenants without compromise to His character (Exod 34:6-7). Before the foundation of the world, God elected those to be save, writing their names in the Book of the Life of the Lamb that was slain (Rom 8:28-30, Eph 1:3-6, Rev 13:8). God entered into a covenant of works with Man at creation that was failed by the first Adam (Gen 2:15-17) but kept by the second Adam (John 19:30, 20:14-6, Rom 5:12-21, Rev 5). The second Adam, Jesus, credits all who have faith in Him alone for justification with the benefits of keeping the covenant of works. The covenant of grace was instituted after the fall whereby God has mercy on fallen man, delaying justice deserved by the fall (Gen. 2:15-17; 3) until remission is obtained by the elect by faith alone (Acts 18:10, Rom 11:4-5) or the fullness of the iniquities of the non-elect is heaped up for the day of wrath (Gen 15:13-16, 18:25, Luke 13:1-5, Rom 12:19-20).
Having been justified by faith, the Holy Spirit in our sanctification continues to give gifts to the members of God’s body for the building up of the Saints. Authoritative gifts continue to be effectual in their authentication of the office of apostles and prophets (Eph 4:1-16, Rom 11:29; 12, 1 Cor 12; 13:8-19, 2 Tim 4:20, Heb 2:1-4)
We believe in the literal account of creation found in the Scriptures, that the physical universe of space, time, matter and energy has not always existed but was supernaturally created out of nothing by the very Word of God Who alone has existed from eternity (Heb 1:10; Heb 11:3; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11; John 1:1-3; Job 38:3-11; Ps 33:6; Isaiah 42:5; Jer 10:12-13).
We believe Jesus Christ is the leader and Senior Pastor of the church (Col 1:8; Eph 5:23, 1 Pet 5:1-4). Under Christ’s authority God has ordained the specific office of Elder to exercise Christ’s authority over a local assembly of believers (Eph 4:11-16). Elders are given as gifts to the church to teach, lead and bear responsibility for the spiritual welfare of those they serve (Heb 13:15). Based upon the creative order (I Tim 2:11-13), the role of Elder is held by men who meet the Biblical qualifications (I Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) and who are called by the Holy Spirit for this role and responsibility (Acts 20:28). God has also gifted the church with men and women who are called and qualified to serve the church as deacons and who hold a recognized office of servants using their spiritual gifts to help lead the church under the authority of the Elders, who are in submission to Jesus (Acts 6:1-8; I Tim 3:8-13; Eph 4:11; Rom 16:1).
Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to lead; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1, 2:3-5).
As God created human life in His own image, all human life from conception to death is to be protected (Ps 139:13), respected and honored (Gen 9:6). As image bearers of God, all human beings, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, malady or economic class are set apart from creation, are sacred, valuable and must be treated with honor, protection, dignity, and above all sacrificial love (Acts 10:34-35; John 13:34; James 2:24-25; Luke 10:27).
We recognize the preaching of the law is necessary to awaken sinners to the holiness of God, the misery of their sin, and pursuing righteousness (Nehemiah 8, Acts 2:37). The works of creation (Ps 19:1-2, Rom 1:18-32), consciousness of men (Ecc 3:11, Rom 2:14-15), and miraculous intervention (Luke 16:26-31, John 3:1-5, Acts 16:25-34, 1 Cor 14:20-33) are sufficient in themselves to reveal these things, but not unto salvation for they neither proclaim the object of the Christian faith, namely Jesus Christ, nor how anyone may be reconciled to God. God has revealed this good news only in the Holy Bible (John 4:22, Rom 3:2). The gospel is the person and work of Jesus in all that He is and lived counted to all who put their trust in Him alone for salvation (Mark 1:1, Rom. 1:16-17 3:21-4:11). The law and gospel are necessary for preaching, teaching, admonishing (Ps 19:7-13, Matt 5:17-20, 2 Cor 4:1-7, 1 Tim 2:5-7) along with the internal work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 1:18-2:16). Both the law and the gospel are necessary throughout the life of the Christian in confirming their calling, election, and sure salvation (Matt 5:16-20, Heb 6:9, 2 Pet 1:10).
Scripture while being of divine origin is subject to the interpretation of private individuals without compromise to its message (Isa 6:8-13, John 5:39, Acts 17:11). There is only one correct interpretation of each text of scripture with many application points. Any false interpretation of scripture will be judged by God (Jam 3:1). The authority to interpret scripture is not to be found in any church but by the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief apostle and cornerstone (Exod 4:1-12, John 8:28, Eph 2:20-3:13, 4:11-15, Heb 3:1)
A miracle is a physical action carried out explicitly by God outside of the bounds of the normal operative laws of the universe. This is distinct from the many wonderful and at times unexplainable occurrences that take place within the physical laws of the universe and the regenerating work on the soul. Miracles are evident and displayful to authenticate the authoritative message of the speaker. False miracles are operative within the laws of nature that appear to be miraculous and are accompanied with deceit from a messenger.