"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:11

About Us

7161 Beecher Road SW

Pataskala, OH 43062

740-927-6041

OUR BELIEFS

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Paragraph I - Of The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds, and opinions. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21

Paragraph II - Of The True God

We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. Exodus 20:2, 3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7

We believe in the absolute deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He is divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. John 1:1, 2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38

We believe in His sinless life, and that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified solely on the basis of His shed blood.

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life, there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

We believe in "that blessed hope", the personal and imminent and pretribulational coming of our Lord into the air for His saints. We believe in the personal, visible, premillennial and glorious return of Christ to the earth with His saints. I Peter 1:18, 19; II Corinthians 5:21; Acts 1:9, 11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment; bears witness to the truth; is the agent of the New Birth; and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God. II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:17; Romans 8:14-27

Paragraph III - Of The Devil, or Satan

We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the god of this age, author of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to an eternal judgment in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10

Paragraph IV - Of The Creation

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "each after its own kind," by direct act and not by any process of evolution. Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16, 17; John 1:3

Paragraph V - Of The Fall Of Man

We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created innocent but by voluntary transgression fell into sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become practical sinners with the first expression of personal choice, not by constraint, but by choice and so are without excuse before God. Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19

Paragraph VI - Of The Atonement For Sin

We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess, and that it is the immediate duty of all to receive these offers of mercy. John 1:1-3; 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33

Paragraph VII - Of The Salvation By Grace

We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and that this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure. Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5-7; John 3:16

We believe that all who take Christ as their Saviour are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ. John 10:28, 29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6

Paragraph VIII - The Believer's Walk

We believe that the Word of God gives very clearly the way the child of God is to conduct himself in this life. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1, 2

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16, 17

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." II Corinthians 7:1

"What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:19, 20

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Colossians 3:17, 23

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: Holding forth the word of life." Philippians 2:15, 16(a)

Paragraph IX - Of The Church

We believe that the Church Universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, Who is its sole Head; revealed through the Holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Saviour, both Jew and Gentile, called out from the world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; His "body" for service, and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

We believe that the Church Universal is manifest through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4, 5; 7:17; 11:16; I Timothy 3;1-15

We believe that clean-cut total, and absolute, separation from apostasy is the only logical and Biblical ground upon which to stand.

We believe that Scripture forbids: (1) organic union or cooperation with unbelievers and (2) organic union or cooperation with believers who insist upon and practice such union with unbelievers.

We believe, on the whole question of such matters as participation in union Thanksgiving services, membership in local ministerial associations, participation in union evangelistic campaigns, etc., where modernists and liberals are involved, our position is that of separation.

We further believe that, individually, as well as a local assembly, Biblical separation must be maintained in order to have an effective witness for our Lord Jesus Christ in this day of compromise. II Thessalonians 3:1-6, 14; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1; II Chronicles 19:2; Ezra 4:1-4

Paragraph X - Of The Memorials

We believe that there are two church memorials, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called "Believer's Baptism". It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effects in our lives of death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord's Supper, which is the commemoration of our Lord's death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him, should be preceded always by careful self-examination. Acts 8:36-39; 10:43-48; I Corinthians 11:23-32

Paragraph XI - Of The Righteous And Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked, that such only as through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God's esteem; while all such who continue unrepentant and in unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41

Paragraph XII - Of The Last Things

We believe in the bodily, personal, premillennial return of Jesus Christ and that He will come before the seven-year tribulation period to catch away His Church, coming only into the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-18), and that He will come with His Church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom. Matthew 25:31-46; Zechariah 14:1-9; Revelation 19:11-21

We believe that between the coming of Christ for His saints and the coming of Christ with His saints (Revelation 19:11-21) in Heaven, the believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for the "things done in his body, whether it be good or bad," (II Corinthians 5:10) and not for salvation, (this is followed by the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; Revelation 19:7-9) and that on earth during this time, the period known as "The Great Tribulation" -- the time when God's wrath will be poured out on earth -- will take place. Revelation 7:14; Matthew 24:21, 22

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will literally rule upon this earth for a thousand years during which time Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed." He will "go out to deceive the nations" and "to battle" after which God will cast him and his followers into the lake of fire. This is Eternal Punishment. Revelation 20:7-10

We believe that all those who have placed their faith in Christ will live eternally with Him. John 3:16

Paragraph XIII – Principles Governing Family Relationships,The Sanctity of Human Life, Marriage and Sexuality

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the spiritual leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the scriptural headship of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual truth and moral values by living a consistent lifestyle of Christ-likeness and through the proper application of biblical discipline (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; 1Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrew 13:4; 1Peter 3:1-7).

The Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. It is usurping God’s authority over life and death and is therefore sin. We believe abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, or birth and population control are acceptable. We also believe that infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide and the unnatural hastening of death also usurps God’s authority over life and death and is therefore sin (Gen. 9:6; Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44; Job 1:21; 1Cor. 6:19-20).

Marriage and Human Sexuality

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one biological man and one biological woman in a holy, covenanted companionship (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:21-33).

We believe that God designed and intended for marriage to last until one of the spouses dies (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; 1Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6).

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one biological man and one biological woman. We believe that any form of adultery, fornication, pornography, homosexuality, lesbianism, sodomy, bisexuality, transgender identity or effeminate behavior, bestiality, incest and pedophilia are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-25; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:22-24; 20:13; Romans 1:26-29; 1Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1Thessalonians. 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).