Location: Online
Pastor Ron McMurray ron.mcmurray@yahoo.com
Doctrinal Statement (PDF):
We believe in Plenary Verbal Inspiration of the Bible in the original languages of Hebrew ( Old Testament ) and Greek ( New Testament ). We believe the truth of the Word of God has been preserved in some modern Bible versions ( 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20- 21 ).
We believe the Trinity is composed of three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal and co-eternal yet they all have the same essence. In John 10:30, Jesus said that He and the Father “are One” referring to the same essence ( Sovereignty, Righteousness, Justice, Love, Eternal Life, All Powerful, All Present, All Knowing, Immutable, and Veracity ). See John 14:9, 17:11, 22, 23, Colossians 1:15 for more evidence of the persons of the Trinity. We have only one God ( Genesis 1:1 ) but there are three persons in the Godhead. ( Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14 ).
We believe in the Depravity of Mankind. Sin entered into world through Adam and Eve’s willful disobedience to the will of God ( Genesis 3 ). After they sinned against God they became subject to both spiritual and physical death ( Genesis 2:17). Both man and woman received a special curse from the Lord in their spiritual death condition. From that day forward mankind is imputed with Adam’s original sin ( Romans 5:12-14) thus causing all mankind to enter into spiritual death at birth, ( Acts 26:18, Romans 3:23, 5:8-12, 6:23 ). All of mankind is placed on the same level playing field of spiritual death and is unable to save himself from judgment through good works, religious activity, rituals, or personal merit.
We believe that the Spiritual substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was a unique, once for all sacrifice for the personal sins of mankind. ( John 3:16, 36, 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). The personal sins of mankind were imputed to Christ on the cross ( 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:5, John 1:29, 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18 ) and He paid for the sins of the whole world ( 1 John 2:1-2 ). Jesus Christ is the only qualified savior of the world ( Acts 4:12 ).
We believe that Faith in Christ Alone is all that is needed to gain eternal salvation. ( Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, 3:16, 3:36 and about 150 other verses point out that faith in Christ alone saves a person from eternal judgment ).
We believe in the Eternal Security of the Believer in Christ. ( John 10:28-30, Romans 8:1, 33, 8:38-39, I Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:13-14 ). Once the believer has accepted Christ as his savior, his salvation cannot be canceled, lost, forfeited, nor removed.
We believer in a literal heaven and hell and the Lake of Fire. Heaven is a literal place where believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have eternal citizenship ( Philippians 3:20 ) and will reside face to face with the Lord forever in the third heaven ( 2 Corinthians 12:2, Hebrews 3:1 ). John the Baptist taught “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ( Matthew 3:2 ). The reward for believers in heaven is great ( Matthew 5:12 ) when they stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ) to claim their rewards.
A literal fiery hell ( Matthew 5:22, Luke 16:19-31 ) is reserved for those who reject salvation in Christ or who put their hope in their religious practices, rituals, holy days, good works, good character, community service, or anything else. In the New Testament it is called Hades ( Matthew 11:23, Luke 16:23, Acts 2:31 ) and in the Old Testament it is called Sheol ( Genesis 37:35, Job 7:9, Psalm 49:15, Proverbs 15:11, Isaiah 38:10 ).
The Lake of Fire was created for the devil and his angels ( Matthew 25:41 ). All human beings who have rejected Christ as their Savior will be cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of time along with the devil and his angels ( Revelation 20:11-15 ) for all of eternity.
We believe in Water Baptism by immersion. It occurs after salvation to satisfy the commands in the Book of Acts but it is not necessary for one's salvation. It does not remove Adam’s original sin. It is a public acknowledgment of one's faith in Jesus Christ. ( Acts 2:38, 8:38, 9:3-5, 17-18, 10:48 )
We believe in the Universal Indwelling of the Holy Spirit which automatically occurs at the point of salvation for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20 ). Indwelling is simultaneous with the filling ( Ephesians 5:18 ), sealing ( 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ), and regenerating ministry of the Spirit. ( John 3:3, 16, Titus 3:5 ).
We believe in the Bodily Resurrection of Christ from the grave. ( Matthew 28:6-10, John 20:15-24, I Corinthians 15:20 ). Because of Christ’s resurrection, believers in Christ are promised resurrection bodies like His ( Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:43-53 ).
We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of spiritually born again believers, called the church, who will be taken to be with the Lord at an instant in time before the seven year Tribulation period begins. The Rapture is both imminent, could occur at any moment, and impending which means it does not have to occur at a certain moment but only when God decides. ( 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-17, 5:6,9, Revelation 3:10, 1 Corinthians 15:23 ).
We believe in Dispensations. At the present time we are in the Church Age of Grace. ( Ephesians 3:9-10, 5:22-33 ). We believe in these Dispensations; Gentile Age, Jewish Age, Christ Age, Church Age, Tribulation, and the Millennium. We believe that the plan of God for the church and Israel are not the same. Israel is not the church and the church is not Israel.
We believe in the Priesthood of All Believers in the Church Age that gives both male and female believers equal privilege before the Lord in prayer and service, ( I Peter 2:5, 7 and 9).
We believe that the Local Church is God's provision for Christians so they may grow in grace and knowledge of Christ through sound doctrine, prayer, communion, and fellowship with other believers in Christ. ( Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:9-16, 2 Peter 3:18 ).
We believe in the proper use of the permanent spiritual gifts that are; Evangelist, Pastor-Teacher, Instructor, Administrator (governments), Counselor or Mercy gift, Exhortation, Financier (Giving), Helps for Men (service), and Helps for Women (service).
We do not believe in the function of the temporary spiritual gifts today such as Knowledge, Prophecy, Wisdom, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Apostle, Miracles, Healing, Faith, and Distinguishing of Spirits. ( Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, 13, Ephesians 4:11-16 ).
We believe in the Christian Way of Life for Church Age believers. The Christian must study the Scriptures to know God personally and fellowship with Him ( John 17:3, 1 John 1:7 ). Communication with God is through prayer according to the will of God ( Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 5:18-19 ). The Spirit of God enables the Christian to understand the teachings of the Bible ( John 16:12-15, Luke 24:45 ) and apply them to his life. The Word of God displaces all human conceptions and plants God’s concepts in the believer’s soul ( Psalm 119:11 ) which results in spiritual growth ( 2 Peter 3:18 ). The Christian learns to love the unsaved based on Christ’s work on the cross for them ( 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 19 ). The Christian learns to love other believers in Christ as Christ loved them ( John 13:34, 14:27, 15:11, Philippians 2:5-7 ). From the study and application of Scripture the believer has a consciousness of his salvation ( 2 Timothy 1:12 ) and the Spirit bears witness that he is a son of God ( Romans 8:16 ). The Christian is at rest for he knows that he faces no eternal condemnation because of sin ( John 3:18, 5:24, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 10:2 ) which frees him to serve the Lord under grace.