Core Beliefs
The Authority of the Bible
The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God. They are without error in the original writings, and they are the complete and final revelation of God. (Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
The Trinity of God
There is only one God, eternally existing in three Persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit - Who are co-equal in their essential nature, attributes, and perfection; and each of Whom is to be honored and worshiped as God. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3).
The Person of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the promised Messiah, conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, true God and true man, without sin, and the only mediator between God and Man. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark14:61-62; John 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:2-9, 2:14-15; I John 5:20)
The Work of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross, paid for all sin, completely sentencing the righteous wrath of God against sin, and provided redemption and forgiveness for all who believe. After His death, Jesus Christ arose bodily from the dead and was seen by many during a period of forty days, and then ascended into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest from which place He will someday return to establish His Kingdom on earth (Isaiah 53:5-6; Luke 24:36-43; John 1:18, 3:16, 20:25-28; Acts 1:6-11; Revelation:21-26; I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; I John 2:1-2; Revelation 20:6).
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is that Person of the Triune Godhead who convicts men of sin causes spiritual birth, indwells, seals, sanctifies, guides, equips, teaches, the believer, thus enabling him to walk in obedience to God and His Word (John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9. I Corinthians 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:1, 22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18-21).
The Creation and Fall of Man
Man was created by God in His own image and is not the product of evolution he fell into sin through personal disobedience to the revealed will of God. As a result, all mankind is sinful in nature and practice, is unable to save himself and faces eternal separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21-23; John 8:42-44; Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23, Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Salvation of Man
Eternal salvation from sin, death and hell, is the free gift of God's grace, and based solely upon man's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. He voluntarily died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and arose bodily from the dead thus guaranteeing our own resurrection to eternal life. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work on our part. This one who receives Christ's salvation is eternally secure. (John 1:11-13, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19; I John 5:1).
The Destiny of Man
At death, the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their bodily resurrection unto life. The unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until their bodily resurrection resulting in damnation. (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:22-23, 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:10, 11, 21; Revelation 20:11-15)
Human Sexuality and Gender
This local church affirms God’s original design to create two distinct and complementary sexes, male and female, to glorify Him (Gen. 1:27, Isa. 43:7, Matt. 19: 4-6, Mark 10:6). Marriage is the first divine institution, essentially rooted in the created order, uniting one man and one woman in an exclusive covenant commitment for their joint lifetime, for their good and for the good of any children who may be conceived and born to this union (Gen. 1:28, 2:19-24, Malachi 2:13-16, Mark 10:11-12).
The assignment of biological sex at birth is a gift of God and part of God’s glory in creation. The fall of Man into sin and God’s subsequent curse have introduced brokenness and futility into God’s creation (Gen. 3:1-24, Rom. 8:20). We extend love and compassion to those whose experience of this brokenness includes a perceived conflict between their biological sex and their gender identity (Romans 8:22-23). We affirm God’s good design that gender identity should be determined by biological sex at birth and not by one’s self-perceptionwhich is often influenced by fallen human nature in ways contrary to God’s design (Ephesians 4:17-18).
We affirm distinctions in masculine and feminine roles as ordained by God as part of the created order, and that those distinctions should find an echo in every human heart (Gen. 2:18, 21-24, 1 Cor. 11:7-9, Eph. 5:22-33). We believe that efforts to live contrary to birth sex, whether by behavior, attire, cosmetics, or even medical or surgical therapy, are resisting or rebelling against the gift of God and a central dimension of His will for that person, and therefore such behavior is sinful. We condemn efforts to alter one’s bodily identity (e.g. hormone therapy, gender re-assignment surgery) to bring it into line with one’s perceived gender identity. We love our congregation as they repent and believe in Christ and spur them on to love and good deeds in the name of Christ (2Cor. 5:18-20, Gal. 5:14, Heb. 10:24).
We continue to oppose steadfastly all efforts by any court or legislature or policymaker to validate ‘transgender identity’ as morally good, right or praiseworthy (Isa. 5:20) We commit ourselves to make decisions about membership, personnel and other church matters based on this biblical perspective of human sexuality.
The Nature and Organization of the Church
All who have placed their faith in Christ are united together immediately by the Holy Spirit in one spiritual body, the church, of which Christ is the Head. In addition, the members of this one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local churches (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:46-47; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25).
These local independent churches have been given the needed authority and scriptural guidelines for administering that order, discipline, and worship which Christ, the sovereign head, has appointed. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the church are pastors and deacons. (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5)
This local independent church shall be affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. and affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Ordinances of the Church
Two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism is the full immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. This ordinance being a command of Christ is recognized as a prerequisite for membership in the local church. Likewise, the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning death. These two ordinances are to be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; I Corinthians 11:23-29).
Future Events
One of the coming great events in the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the church is the personal, bodily return of the Lord to remove from the earth His waiting church and to reward them according to their works. (John 14:2-3; Romans 14:10-12; I Corinthians 3:11-15, 15:51-53; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 3:10)
Another event yet to come is the seven year period of tribulation during which the judgments of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world. These judgments will climax with the return of Christ in glory to the earth. He will destroy His enemies and restore Israel to her land. (Daniel 9:27, 12: I; Jeremiah30:7; Matthew 24:15-31, 25:31-46; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16:1-19, 21, 19:1-21)
Christ will then establish His thousand-year kingdom in which the saints reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth. (Deuteronomy 10; Isaiah 11:1-16, 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Revelation 19:11, 20:1)
At the close of the thousand year reign the unsaved dead will be raised and committed to eternal punishment and the saved will enter the eternal stated glory with God. (Mark 9:43-48; I Corinthians 15:24-28; II Thessalonians; Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-4, 22:5, 11).
The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God. They are without error in the original writings, and they are the complete and final revelation of God. (Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
The Trinity of God
There is only one God, eternally existing in three Persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit - Who are co-equal in their essential nature, attributes, and perfection; and each of Whom is to be honored and worshiped as God. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3).
The Person of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the promised Messiah, conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, true God and true man, without sin, and the only mediator between God and Man. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark14:61-62; John 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:2-9, 2:14-15; I John 5:20)
The Work of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross, paid for all sin, completely sentencing the righteous wrath of God against sin, and provided redemption and forgiveness for all who believe. After His death, Jesus Christ arose bodily from the dead and was seen by many during a period of forty days, and then ascended into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest from which place He will someday return to establish His Kingdom on earth (Isaiah 53:5-6; Luke 24:36-43; John 1:18, 3:16, 20:25-28; Acts 1:6-11; Revelation:21-26; I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; I John 2:1-2; Revelation 20:6).
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is that Person of the Triune Godhead who convicts men of sin causes spiritual birth, indwells, seals, sanctifies, guides, equips, teaches, the believer, thus enabling him to walk in obedience to God and His Word (John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9. I Corinthians 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:1, 22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18-21).
The Creation and Fall of Man
Man was created by God in His own image and is not the product of evolution he fell into sin through personal disobedience to the revealed will of God. As a result, all mankind is sinful in nature and practice, is unable to save himself and faces eternal separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21-23; John 8:42-44; Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23, Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Salvation of Man
Eternal salvation from sin, death and hell, is the free gift of God's grace, and based solely upon man's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. He voluntarily died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and arose bodily from the dead thus guaranteeing our own resurrection to eternal life. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work on our part. This one who receives Christ's salvation is eternally secure. (John 1:11-13, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19; I John 5:1).
The Destiny of Man
At death, the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their bodily resurrection unto life. The unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until their bodily resurrection resulting in damnation. (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:22-23, 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:10, 11, 21; Revelation 20:11-15)
Human Sexuality and Gender
This local church affirms God’s original design to create two distinct and complementary sexes, male and female, to glorify Him (Gen. 1:27, Isa. 43:7, Matt. 19: 4-6, Mark 10:6). Marriage is the first divine institution, essentially rooted in the created order, uniting one man and one woman in an exclusive covenant commitment for their joint lifetime, for their good and for the good of any children who may be conceived and born to this union (Gen. 1:28, 2:19-24, Malachi 2:13-16, Mark 10:11-12).
The assignment of biological sex at birth is a gift of God and part of God’s glory in creation. The fall of Man into sin and God’s subsequent curse have introduced brokenness and futility into God’s creation (Gen. 3:1-24, Rom. 8:20). We extend love and compassion to those whose experience of this brokenness includes a perceived conflict between their biological sex and their gender identity (Romans 8:22-23). We affirm God’s good design that gender identity should be determined by biological sex at birth and not by one’s self-perceptionwhich is often influenced by fallen human nature in ways contrary to God’s design (Ephesians 4:17-18).
We affirm distinctions in masculine and feminine roles as ordained by God as part of the created order, and that those distinctions should find an echo in every human heart (Gen. 2:18, 21-24, 1 Cor. 11:7-9, Eph. 5:22-33). We believe that efforts to live contrary to birth sex, whether by behavior, attire, cosmetics, or even medical or surgical therapy, are resisting or rebelling against the gift of God and a central dimension of His will for that person, and therefore such behavior is sinful. We condemn efforts to alter one’s bodily identity (e.g. hormone therapy, gender re-assignment surgery) to bring it into line with one’s perceived gender identity. We love our congregation as they repent and believe in Christ and spur them on to love and good deeds in the name of Christ (2Cor. 5:18-20, Gal. 5:14, Heb. 10:24).
We continue to oppose steadfastly all efforts by any court or legislature or policymaker to validate ‘transgender identity’ as morally good, right or praiseworthy (Isa. 5:20) We commit ourselves to make decisions about membership, personnel and other church matters based on this biblical perspective of human sexuality.
The Nature and Organization of the Church
All who have placed their faith in Christ are united together immediately by the Holy Spirit in one spiritual body, the church, of which Christ is the Head. In addition, the members of this one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local churches (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:46-47; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25).
These local independent churches have been given the needed authority and scriptural guidelines for administering that order, discipline, and worship which Christ, the sovereign head, has appointed. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the church are pastors and deacons. (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5)
This local independent church shall be affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. and affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Ordinances of the Church
Two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism is the full immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. This ordinance being a command of Christ is recognized as a prerequisite for membership in the local church. Likewise, the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning death. These two ordinances are to be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; I Corinthians 11:23-29).
Future Events
One of the coming great events in the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the church is the personal, bodily return of the Lord to remove from the earth His waiting church and to reward them according to their works. (John 14:2-3; Romans 14:10-12; I Corinthians 3:11-15, 15:51-53; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 3:10)
Another event yet to come is the seven year period of tribulation during which the judgments of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world. These judgments will climax with the return of Christ in glory to the earth. He will destroy His enemies and restore Israel to her land. (Daniel 9:27, 12: I; Jeremiah30:7; Matthew 24:15-31, 25:31-46; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16:1-19, 21, 19:1-21)
Christ will then establish His thousand-year kingdom in which the saints reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth. (Deuteronomy 10; Isaiah 11:1-16, 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Revelation 19:11, 20:1)
At the close of the thousand year reign the unsaved dead will be raised and committed to eternal punishment and the saved will enter the eternal stated glory with God. (Mark 9:43-48; I Corinthians 15:24-28; II Thessalonians; Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-4, 22:5, 11).