Bible Only Rule of Faith & Practice
God’s Word is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. As the inspired, inerrant, and preserved Word of God, it bears the absolute authority of God Himself. No human opinion or church decree can usurp the teachings of Scripture. Whatever the Bible dictates, we accept as true. We use only the King James Version of the Bible. (2 Peter 1:20-21 , 2 Timothy 3:15-17 , 1 Thessalonians 2:13 , Psalm 12:6-7 , Psalm 119:128)
Autonomy of the Local Church
The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church. The church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious “hierarchy” outside the local church may dictate a church’s beliefs or practices. (Colossians 1:18 , Ephesians 3:21 , 1 Corinthians 11:3 , 1 Corinthians 12:12)
Priesthood of the Believer
Every believer is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and His people. (1 Peter 2:9 , Hebrews 4:14-16 , 1 Timothy 2:5)
Two Ordinances (Immersion and the Lord’s Supper)
The local church must keep the ordinances as delivered to the apostles in the New Testament: (1) Baptism by immersion for believers who have evidenced “fruit meet for repentance” picturing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and giving entrance for the believer into the local church body. (2) The Lord’s Supper which commemorates Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins. Participants of the Lord’s Supper are born again, baptized believer’s of the local church body. (Mark 16:15-16 , Luke 3:7-8 , Acts 8:12 , 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , 1 Corinthians 11:2 , 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)