. A. We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, that they were written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, that they are inerrant in the original autographs and that the Bible is the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. II Peter 1:20, 21; II Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12
B. We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice 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 who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Peter 1:16; Romans 11:33; Psalms 62:11; Colossians 1:16. 17; Psalms 139:7-10; 1 John 5:14,16; John 14:6
C. We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in His life, making propitiation for the sins of the world by His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and personal visible, and pre-millennial return to the world according to His promise. John 3:16; Matthew 1:8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; 1 Peter 1:3,4; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Revelation 20:4-6.
D. We believe in the personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. John 16:18-11; John 3:36; John 14:16; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2; Acts 5:3,4.
E. We believe that all men by nature and by choice are sinners, but that God "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as Savior will rejoice forever in God's presence and those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior will be forever separated from God. John 5:24; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:3; Psalms 16:11; Romans 5:12.
F. We believe the Church is a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a local church is a company of immersed believers in Jesus Christ, on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to the local church was committed, for the faithful observance, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that God has laid upon the church the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior. We believe that human betterment and social improvements are the inevitable byproducts of the Gospel. Acts 2:41; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22,23; 1 Peter 2:7; Mark 16:15, 16; Matthew 29:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23,24.
G. We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, church and state must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation of the other. Philippians 2:10,11; 1 Corinthians 6:1-7.
H. We are a non-charismatic church and not an anti-charismatic church. We see in the charismatic movement of our day an undue emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the sign-gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, prophesying and words of knowledge. We do not deny that God sovereignty gives His gifts, but we feel that undue prominence is given to these gifts that had only limited value even in New Testament times (1 Cor. 12-14). In stating this position, we do not mean to detract from the sincerity or Christian character of many within the charismatic movement. It is simply our desire to avoid divisiveness which results from differing doctrinal positions. Therefore we make the following conditions on those who attend our church functions, partake in our church's activities or seek membership in our church- to refrain from propagating the teaching and emphasis of the sign-gifts mentioned above within our fellowship and to rather seek the more excellent way of love and to be zealous about the more useful and edifying gifts (1 Corinthians 12:13-14:1).