Doctrinal Statement

Article I: The Bible

I believe that the Bible was written by men, divinely inspired by God, as a record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It has God as its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It is totally without error as originally given by God and is sufficient as our only infallible rule of faith and practice. It teaches the principles by which God judges us, and, therefore, is and will remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. I deny that any other books are inspired by God in the same way as the Bible. I believe that Jesus Christ is the standard by which the Bible is to be interpreted.

Article II: God

I believe in the one true and living God, the creator and sustainer of all things. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness, eternal, and unchangeable, and to Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with distinct attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being.

A. God the Father

I believe that the Father is the head of the Godhead. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. He reigns with providential care over his universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purpose of His grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Into His hands the kingdom shall be delivered.

B. God the Son

I believe that the Son is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, hence the God-Man. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He died on the cross to redeem and rose again from the dead with a glorified body to justify the believer. He ascended into heaven to the right hand of God where he intercedes for us as reconciliation between God and man. In the Father's own time, Jesus will return in visible, personal form to overthrow sin and judge the world.

C. God the Holy Spirit

I believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enabled men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He is the one sent from God to convict the world of sin, of Christ's righteousness, and of His judgement and to regenerate and cleanse from sin. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.

Article III: Man

I believe that man was created by God in His own image. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by His Creator with freedom of choice. Man was tempted by Satan, and by free choice he sinned against God and brought sin into the human race, thus falling from his original innocence. Sin is basically rebellion against God, and the end of sin is eternal separation from God. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God.

Article IV: Salvation

I believe that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin. He atoned for our sins on the cross and rose again for our justification. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no salvation. All men are under condemnation through personal sin, and escape from condemnation comes only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed to the believer by grace through faith. The Holy Spirit regenerates the one who makes the life commitment to Jesus, and the life begun in regeneration is never lost.

Article V: Resurrection

I believe in the final resurrection of all men, just and unjust. I believe that those who commit their lives to Jesus Christ during this life will be raised to everlasting life, but those who are not committed to Jesus Christ in this life will be raised to everlasting condemnation.

Article VI: The Church

I believe that a New Testament church is a voluntary association of baptized believers in Christ who have covenanted together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice. I believe that the church is an autonomous democratic organizational body operating under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, served by two types of officers, pastors and deacons. I believe the only two church ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper.

A. The Ordinance of Baptism

I believe that baptism by immersion is the only proper mode of baptism. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an act of obedience symbolizing the believers faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

B. The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper

I believe that the Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through the partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His Second Coming.

Article VII: Civil Government

I believe that God established civil government. I likewise believe in the complete separation of church and state.

Article VIII: Baptist Distinctives

I am a Baptist because I believe that Baptists stand for distinctive truths to which other denominations do not adhere. I believe that I cannot compromise these truths without being disloyal to our Lord and to His Word. I do seek to cooperate with all others who are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord.