Statement of Faith, Character, Belief and Ordinances

We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things. (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:8 and, Isaiah 48:16, Matthew 28:19-20, John 10:30, Hebrews 1:3)

We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed.

We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.

We believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the most accurate translation from the original ancient text. It is from this translation that we establish our doctrine and Statement of Faith. (Isaiah 28:3, Nehemiah 8:8,  John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 2 Peter 1:3-4 and, 2 Peter 1:21)

We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalms 90:2, Psalms 102:27, John 3:16 and, John 4:24, 1 Timothy 1:17, Titus 1:3))

We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:23, Mark 16:19, Luke 1:34-35, John 1:1-2, John 8:58 and, John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:8, 1 John 1:2, Revelation 1:8)

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 16:8-11, Romans 8:26 and, Romans 15:13,16, Hebrews 9:14)

We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 6:13, John 14:16-17 and, John 16:8-11, Romans 8:26)

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40)

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God saves and regenerates based upon faith by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. (Acts 8:15-17, Ephesians 2:1-3 and,  Ephesians 8-9, Romans 3:23 and, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5)

We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:15-16)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: (a) full immersion water baptism of believers, and (b) the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:19, Luke 22:19-20, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 We also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage. (Matthew 19:4-5 and, John 2:1-11)

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless separation of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27, Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17, Matthew 5:3,  Matthew 5:22,  Matthew 18:9 and,  Matthew 25:31-34, Mark 9:42-49, Luke 12:5, John 3:18, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 14:10-11, Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth. (Isaiah 26:20 Matthew, 24:29-31, Luke 21:36, Romans 1:18, Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 and, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Peter 2:7-9, Revelation 3:10,  Revelation 5:7-10 and, Revelation 7:13-14)


Communion

Why do we observe Communion?

Answer: Unlike Baptism, which is a one time event, Communion is a practice that is meant to be observed over and over throughout the life of a Christian. It is a holy time of worship when we corporately come together as one body to remember and celebrate what Jesus Christ did for us.

Why do we observe Communion?

  • We observe Communion because the Lord told us to.      We are to obey His commands: 
    And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24
  • In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection: 
    And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,  which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1Corinthians 11:24
  • When observing Communion we take time to examine ourselves
    A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28
  • In observing Communion we are proclaiming His  death until He comes. It is, then, a statement of faith: 
    For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26
  • When we observe Communion we show our participation in the body of Christ. His life becomes our life and we become members of each other: 
    Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many,  are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Our Christian views regarding the bread and the wine during the practice of Communion:

  • The bread and the wine are unchanged elements, used as symbols, representing Christ’s body and blood, in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice.

Scriptures Associated with Communion:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” Mark 14:22-24

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:19-20

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53-54