We believe that the Church universal, designated in the Scriptures as the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age; and that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 1:27-28; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
Ordinances
We believe that the two ordinances of the Church are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper; that water baptism has no saving merit, but follows salvation to portray to the world the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; that the Scriptural method of water baptism is immersion; that water baptism is observed once and is a sign of identification and testimony to newness of life; that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper to commemorate his death till He comes; that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed often as a memorial of the body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; that the Lord’s Supper shall be open to all born again believers; and that Christian ordinances are outward rites appointed to the Church, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs and seals of the facts and realities of salvation. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:23-33; Colossians 2:9-13; I Peter 3:21)
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of all his gifts; that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; that the speaking in tongues and the working of authenticating miracles gradually decreased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority established; that even though sickness together with every disorder and evil in human life are effects of the fall of man, divine forgiveness of sins are in His atonement; and that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7; Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 12:4-11; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; James 5:14-15; I Peter 2:24)
Relationship of Church and State
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth; that the local Church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that it is unscriptural for a church to cooperate for spiritual ministry with those other local churches, organizations, or individuals who themselves are not Scriptural in either philosophy, message, or method; that every local church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the local church is final. (Matthew 18:15-19, 22:21; Acts 5:29, 13:2; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 2:1-4; Titus 3:1)