"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
Doctrines
What is a "doctrine?" "A doctrine is a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group;" "A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent" (American Heritage Dictionary).
In the preceding definition, it states that a doctrine (or belief) is established by "precedent." By definition, a precedent is "an act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances" (American Heritage Dictionary).
According to the record of John (John 1:1-17 KJV), the Word of God was sent to us in the flesh (Jesus Christ) to live as an example and to set precedent by which we are to live. Referring back to the verse above in 2 Timothy, the Word of God (Jesus Christ), is the scripture that is used for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction. Since Jesus is perfect, without flaw or sin, (Hebrews 4:12-16 KJV), we should strive to live according to the precedent (example) He set before us. Consider the popular phrase "WWJD" or "What Would Jesus Do." This is where our focus should be in our Christian (follower of Christ) walk in life. In every aspect of our lives, we should ask ourselves that question with the intent to follow His example.. When we do, we are seeking the will of God.
The Word of God
We believe in the divinely inspired Word of God. This Word is perfect and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) It has God for its author, it reveals the principles by which He will judge us, it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried, and shall remain throughout all eternity. Furthermore, we believe the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is the most accurate and proven English version of the Holy Scriptures. (Psalm 19:7-11; Luke 21:33; John 12:48; Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
The Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost)
We believe there is only one true and living God. We further believe in the Godhead, which consists of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and the three are one in essence, with equal power and glory. (Mathew 3:16-17; 1 John 5:7)
Creation of Earth
We believe God created the heavens, the Earth and all that exist in it in six literal days. (Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 19:1-6; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:1-3)
Creation of Man and Woman
We believe God created man in His own image from the dust of the earth, and woman from the rib of man to walk beside the man and be his help meet. (Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25)
Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ
We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:34-35)
Total Depravity of Man
We believe in the total depravity of man. The Scripture teaches us that man is born with his sinful condition. This sinful condition is passed to him through Adam’s seed, and man can do nothing of himself to gain salvation. This doctrine proves that God does not need mankind, but mankind needs God. (Isaiah 64:6; John 3:16-19; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-9)
Conviction of Sin
We believe that an individual must first be convicted of their sinful condition by God before he/she can be saved. (John 6:44; Romans 7:7-12)
Salvation
We believe that God’s salvation for sinners is wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not of works lest any man should boast. An individual must see themselves as a sinner, repent, and believe in their heart on Jesus Christ: This is God’s only plan for salvation; furthermore, we believe in a whosoever will salvation. (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:5-9; Romans 4:1-5, 16-25; Romans 10:8-10, 17; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 5:12)
Security of the Believer
We believe in the eternal security of the believer (once saved always saved). (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:7-11)
Church Membership
We believe that God receives His honor and glory in and through His Church. Therefore, it is the duty and privilege of all true believers to make a public profession of their faith, and then submit themselves to the church to be baptized. After baptism, they are to become active members of the church. (Romans 6:4; Romans 10:10-11; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 3:10-21; Colossians 2:6-7; 1 Peter 3:21)
Baptism
We believe baptism is to be by immersion only because it is to portray a burial. When we bury something, we do not sprinkle dirt over it; we cover it completely. Baptism represents a believer’s death to sin and then rising as a new creature in Christ Jesus. Therefore, the candidates for baptism must be individuals who have professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We further believe scriptural baptism is administered after salvation by the proper authority—a Baptist Church—in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-37; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 3:21)
Communion
We believe baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only Gospel ordinances performed by the Church. These ordinances were appointed by Jesus Christ and are to be practiced in the Church until His second coming. (Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Feet Washing
We believe that Jesus Christ gave a clear directive and example of washing the saints’ feet. (John 13:1-17; 1 Timothy 5:10)
The Church
We believe Jesus Christ established the Church during His earthly ministry using material prepared by John the Baptist. We further believe the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit once on the day of Pentecost and has existed teaching the same basic doctrines ever since. (Matthew 3:1-3; Matthew 10:1-42; Matthew 16:13-19; John 1:29-51; John 3:22-4:2; Acts 2:1-4)
Church Authority
We believe the church is a local, visible body of scripturally baptized believers, joined together for the edification of the saints and for the propagation of the gospel at home and abroad. We further believe the Lord’s Church is the only authority established by God to spread the gospel, baptize believers, and to teach all things in His Word. (Matthew 16:13-19; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 3:10-11, 21; Ephesians 4:4-16; Revelation 2:1-3:22)
The Holy Spirit
We believe after ascending to Heaven, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to His Church to be a Comforter and Teacher for His Church. (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17; John 16:12-16; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Spiritual Gifts
We believe God gave spiritual gifts to the early Church for the edifying of the Church and for the spreading of the gospel of Christ. These gifts, such as speaking in tongues (speaking to the comprehension of others in their own language), receiving revelations, and healings, were around for only a few years after the resurrection of Christ, until God’s Word was completed. Since we now have the complete Word of God, these gifts are no longer needed and have ceased to exist. We can now be rooted and grounded on something that is more sure, the Word of God. (Micah 7:15; Matthew 12:39; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12; 1 Corinthians 14:1-12, 40)
One Mediator
We believe that there is only ONE mediator between God and man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. We further believe that Jesus taught us to pray to God the Father and whatsoever we do, we do it through the name of Jesus. (Luke 11:1-4; Colossians 3:17; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 9:15)
Church - Order of Authority
We believe that God has an order of authority for the Church: Christ, the Chief Shepherd, is the Head of the Church. The pastor is the under-shepherd, but his messages and actions can be questioned by Scripture. Pastors and deacons (Men only, who meet the qualifications according to scripture; 1 Timothy 3:1-13) are the only scripturally designated officers, but every member has an equal vote in the affairs of the local church. In keeping with the order set forth in Scripture, women should remain silent in public mixed assemblies of the church concerning business activities. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35, 40; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 2: 11-14; Titus 1:5-13; 1 Peter 2:3-8)
Marriage
We believe that God instituted marriage as the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife in the Garden of Eden. This union is supposed to be a lifelong commitment. (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:15-7:2; Hebrews 13:4)
Family Structure
We believe the Scripture teaches a specific chain of authority in the home. The husband is to be the head of the home; the wife is to submit to the will and leadership of the husband as he follows the teachings of Christ our Savior; and the children are to be in obedience to their parents. (1 Corinthians 11:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-24; Ephesians 6:1-4; Titus 2:1-8)
Separate and Holy
We believe God has ordained that His children be a people separated unto holiness and good works. We believe that God saves us to walk in newness of life so that we might shine as lights in a dark and sinful world as we reflect Christ with our Christian walk. (Psalm 4:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:25-27; Colossians 3:1-25; Titus 2:1-15; 1 Peter 1:13-19)
Not Conforming to the World
We believe that Christians, both individually and collectively as a church, should avoid conforming to this world, but allow the Holy Spirit to transform them by the renewing of their minds in Christ. (John 15:18-19; Romans 8:1-30; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:1-10; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 4:4-6)
Chastening
We believe that if an individual is a child of God, that God will rebuke and chasten them for sins they commit after they are saved. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Hebrews 12:1-11; Revelation 3:19)
Church Discipline
We believe it is the duty of every church to discipline her members and to withdraw fellowship from any member who is guilty and will not repent of immoral conduct or of holding doctrines contrary to the Scripture. (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 1 Timothy 5:19-20; Titus 3:10-11)
Modesty
We believe that God desires men to look like men and women to look like women in all modesty and sobriety. (Exodus 28:42; Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 11:2-15; Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:1-4)
Church Reverence
We believe the House of God should be reverenced. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Mark 11:15-17; 1 Timothy 3:16)
God is Love
God is love (1 John 4:16), and we believe the life of every Christian should be a mirror of that love. (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 12:28-31; John 13:34-35; John 14:15; John 15:12-14; Romans 13:8-14; 2 Corinthians 2:7-8; Ephesians 4:32; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; 1 John 4:7-12; 1 John 5:1-5)
Tithing - Free Will Offering
We believe the Bible teaches that all the various functions of the church, including the pastor, missions, and the upkeep of the church, are to be supported through free-will offerings. (1 Corinthians 9:6-18; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
Body, Soul, and Spirit
We believe that God created man as a threefold being and that mankind is the only creature with a living soul. We further believe that man is the only creature created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 3:20-21; Hebrews 4:12)
Resurrection
We believe in a bodily resurrection of all human beings who have ever lived. We believe the saved will be raised to meet Christ in the air and stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be rewarded according to their works. Then one thousand years later, after Christ’s Millennial reign on this earth, all the unbelievers will be raised up from Hell to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment to be judged and then be cast into the Lake of Fire to be tormented with fire and brimstone, forever separated from God and His mercy. (Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-21:8)