God created man in His own image. Man sinned, which resulted in physical death and spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from God. We believe that all men are born with a sin nature. Man is totally depraved. If he is not born again, he will be eternally lost (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 17:9; Luke 16:23; Rev. 21:8; Rom. 3:10-23; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Rev. 20:11-15).

A person is saved when he repents of his sin and exercises faith by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The basis of our salvation is the precious blood of Christ (1Peter 1:18-19).

God, however, loves us with an everlasting love and has provided a way of salvation (Jn. 14:6) from the penalty of our sin (Rom. 6:23). This salvation is gained only through Christ’s shed blood on the cross (Jn. 3:16) and is available to all mankind with no limitations whatsoever (1 Jn. 2:2).

Salvation is impossible apart from a personal choice of the sinner (Jn. 3:16). Salvation is gained only by placing your faith in the finished work of the cross (Eph. 2:8-9). At the moment of conversion, God declares the sinner righteous (justified) because of the work of Christ, which removes the penalty of sin (Rom. 8:1). The sinner is made alive spiritually (Jn. 3:36) and is now God's friend (Rom. 5:1-2, 10). The sinner is thus made a saint (Jn. 3:3-6; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23; Tit. 3:5).

There is an appointed day for the judgment of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, there to remain in everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Jn. 1:12; 5:24; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Jn. 3:2; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 9:27; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 20:12-15; Rev. 21:8).

The Bible is the verbally (every word) and plenary (completely) inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The writers were moved along by the Holy Spirit as they wrote the books of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20-21; Heb. 1:1). All portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradictions. The Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice for the believer (2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 10:11).

God worked through separate authors, using their different personalities and writing styles. Even though these writers had different writing styles, there is remarkable unity due to the super-intending of the writings by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is complete, containing sixty-six books (thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New Testament). Nothing shall be added to it nor taken from it (Rev. 22:18-19).

God wants us to understand His Word. Therefore, the Scriptures should be interpreted in their natural, literal sense in all types of literature, including prophecy. When seeking to understand God’s Word, one should take into account the grammatical relationship of words, the historical context, the type of literature, as well as the teaching of the entirety of Scripture. The interpreter must also understand that figurative language is sometimes used in Scripture (cf. John 10:9; Mark 9:47). We understand certain passages to be allegories, but only when the writer of Scripture specifically identifies a passage as such (cf. Gal. 4:24).

The local church is self-governed. It is a group of baptized believers associated by agreement in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. It is to glorify God by worship, fellowship, evangelism, discipleship, and ministry (Matt. 18:15-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-47; 16:14-15, 30-34; Rom. 6; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Phil. 1:1).

The Bible teaches the following Baptist Distinctives:

Biblical Authority - The Bible is the only rule of faith & practice (2Tim.3:16-17)

Autonomy of each local church (Acts 6:1-7; 13:1-4; 14:23-27; 15:1-30)

Priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5-9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:19-25)

Two Ordinances: Baptism (Acts 2:41) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-34)

Individual Soul Liberty (Rom. 14:5-12)

Saved Church Membership (Acts 2:41-47)

Two Offices: Pastors and deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 20:17-28)

Separation of Church and State (Matt. 22:15-21; Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 5:29)

A New Testament church is a congregation which recognizes its own self-containing government as its highest authority for carrying out the will of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 2:3; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; Tit. 1:5-11; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Cor. 11:2). We believe that the local church is the center of God’s redemptive program for this age, and that every Christian is bound by Scripture to give his unhindered cooperation to the program of his local church (1 Cor. 16:2; Heb. 10:19-25; 13:17; 1 Tim. 3:15).

God exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and perfections. They are worthy of the same respect, confidence, and obedience (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-18; 6:27; 10:30 20:24-28; Acts 5:1-10; 1Cor. 2:10-16; 2Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:6, Col. 2:9).

God has revealed Himself through His creation (Ps. 19:1-6; Pr. 3:19; Rom. 1:18-25). He created the world in six days out of nothing and rested on the seventh (Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3). God has also revealed Himself through His Word.

God is a spirit Being (John 4:24) and is self-existent (Ex. 3:14; Jn. 5:26). His existence is not dependent upon any other thing. God is unchanging in His character and nature (Mal. 3:6). He has no beginning and no end. He is eternal (Ex. 3:14; 15:18; Dt. 33:27; Ps. 10:16; 90:2; 102:12). God is everywhere present at all times (Ps. 139:6-16; 1 Kngs. 8:27-30; Jer. 23:23-24). God is all-powerful (Gen. 17:1; 35:11; Job 37:23), making Him capable of performing anything that is consistent with His character and nature. God knows all things, actual and possible (Ps. 139; Prov. 5:21; Isa. 46:9-13). God is perfect in Holiness (Ps. 99:1-3; Isa. 6:1-3; Rev. 4:8; 6:10), justice (Ps. 19:8-9; Job 8:3), love (1 Jn. 4), and graciousness (Jn. 3:16). God is perfect in truth and cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Dt. 32:4; Ps. 31:5).

God is the supreme King over all of the universe and over everything that exists (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16). There is nothing outside the realm of His control. This makes God free to perform anything He desires, as long as it is within the bounds of His character and nature. God, in His sovereignty, allows man to choose whether or not they will be servants of Him (Josh. 24:15).

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is true God and true man. He is man’s only hope of salvation from sin. He will return for His church, which He will take with Himself into heaven. This can happen at any moment. He will also return come to this earth to set up His 1000 year kingdom (Is. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:4-6)

Jesus Christ exists eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:1-2; 17:5; Tit. 2:13). The Son is equal in essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:9-11). In Christ dwells the fulness of the Godhead in bodily form (Col. 2:9). The Son physically came into the world to die for the sins of the world (Jn. 1:14-18; 3:16; Phil. 2:5-7; Heb. 1:3). Christ is the image of the Father and through Christ all things were created (Col. 1:12-16). Christ participates in sustaining the universe (Col. 1:16-17). He is unchanging in His character and nature (Heb. 13:8-10). He is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18-20). He is aware of all things, actual and possible (Mt. 11:21-30; Col. 2:1-3).

Jesus was supernaturally conceived in the womb of virgin Mary (Mt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:28-35). Though Christ was born without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 3:5), He was tempted in all points like us (Heb. 4:15; Mt. 4; Luke 4). He grew in wisdom and stature with God and with man (Luke 2:52). The miracles of Jesus are historical events and not simply metaphors. While on earth, Jesus voluntarily gave up the independent use of His divine attributes (Phil. 2:5-8).

Jesus’ death perfectly satisfies the demands of the Holy and Just Father (1 Jn. 2:1-2). He physically rose from the dead on the third day and appeared in bodily form to many witnesses before ascending into heaven and taking His place at the right hand of God (Mt. 28:5-6; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Acts 1:9-11). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5) and currently presides as High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate for believers (Heb. 4:14; 7:23-25; 1 Jn. 2:1-2).

The Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and with the Son (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rom. 8:9-11; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16). He came to this earth as the fulfillment of Christ’s promise (Jn. 14-16). He convicts, regenerates, indwells, seals, fills, empowers, and guides the believer (John 16:7-13; John 3:35; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 5:18)

The Holy Spirit is everywhere-present (Ps. 139:7), as is the Father and the Son. He is all-powerful (Luke 1:35) and all-knowing (1 Cor. 2:10). He played an essential role in creation (Gen. 1:2). The Holy Spirit brings conviction (John 16:8), restraining sin in the world (2 Thess. 2:7). He also convicts the world of righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:8-11).

God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:7-12).

The sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary (Heb. 2:1-4). The ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (Heb. 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

Once a person is saved, they are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever (Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; Jn. 10:27-28; 1 Jn. 5:13). We believe that justification is the act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. A person is justified, not on the basis of any works of righteousness which he has done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (Isa. 53:11; Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1-9; Rom. 8:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 1:7).

It is a privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. God's Word clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occassion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15).

SANCTIFICATION

Positional sanctification takes place at the time of salvation. When a person gets saved, they are eternally set apart as belonging to Him, thereby being placed in the family of God as His children (1 Jn. 3:1; Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:10-14).

Progressive sanctification is the process by which, according to God’s will, we grow in the Lord. We can grow in the Lord if we yield to the Holy Spirit’s control. This takes place by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, self-examination, watchfulness, and prayer (1 Thess. 4:3; Prov. 4:13; 1 Jn. 2:29; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 6:18; Jn. 17:17).

Ultimate sanctification takes place when the believer is finally in the presence of the Lord, with spirit united in the resurrected body free from every trace or effect of sin and rebellion (1 Jn. 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:52-54; Eph. 4:30; 5:27; Phil 3:20-21).

SEPARATION

Personal separation is based on the fact that the believer is called and commanded to be holy (1Pet. 1:15-16; Eph. 5:27). The believer should be set apart to holiness and from unrighteousness (1 Thess. 1:9-10; Rom. 8:29; 12:1-2; Gal. 6:14). Additionally, while we recognize the unity of all true believers, it is also clear that unbelief and error exists in many organized groups. We stand in opposition to (1) the Ecumenical Movement, (2) Neo-Evangelicalism, (3) the Charismatic Movement and (4) cooperative evangelistic programs between churches and people that do not hold to a Biblical faith and practice (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11-12; Gal. 1:8-9; Rom. 16:17; 2 Jn. 6-11; Rev. 18:4).

We believe that Satan is a person. He is a created being who sinned and became the arch enemy of God and His creation. He is the chief adversary of God’s children. He seeks to keep man from the Lord and when he cannot succeed in this, he seeks to weaken the testimony of Christians. He has at his command a great host of fallen angels which are called demons to carry out his purposes. He is the prince of darkness and the unholy god of this world. He is the great tempter of man, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, and the author of all false religions. He is not omnipotent and can be overcome by the power of God. His doom is sealed in the Lake of Fire. Believers cannot be demon-possessed but can be deceived or misled by Satan’s devices and by demons. He is destined to be defeated by Christ and punished by spending eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone, which was prepared for him and his demons. (Ezek. 28:12-19; Isa. 14:12-14; Luke 10:18; Jn. 8:44; 13:2; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Jn. 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:26; Rev. 12:10; Rev. 20:10).

There will be resurrections of all men, both believers and finally the unjust. The saints are raised to be forever with the Lord, and the unsaved will be confined for eternity in the Lake of Fire. We believe in the “Blessed Hope”, which is the personal, bodily, pretribulational, premillenial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior for His Church (the rapture) and His later return to the earth in power and glory with His saints to set up His thousand-year Kingdom (Jn. 14:13; Acts 1:11; 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:3-20; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Heb. 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; Rev. 21:1-8).