What We Believe

A. We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the Word of God, that they are inerrant; and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and practice. (Luke 24:27, 44; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Peter 3:15b-16).

B. Interpretation of the Scriptures

1. The Bible interpreted by the illumination of the Holy Spirit: We believe the only true interpreter of Scripture is the man who has trusted the person and finished work of Christ for his salvation and as a result receives knowledge of the things of God by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:1-16; John 14:17,26; 16:13, 1 John 2:27).

2. The Bible interpreted Scripturally: We believe that the Bible is in harmony with itself and the interpretation of all Scripture should include the comparing of Scripture to Scripture.

3. Christian Doctrine, Correction, Instruction: We believe all the Scriptures were designed “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

A. God’s attributes: We believe that God is eternal (Psalm 90:1-4), immutable (Psalm MCC Bylaws and Constitution Page 3 of 20 102:26,27), the creator of all things, and that nothing exists apart from Him (Psalm 8:3, 102:25, John 1:3). He is omnipotent (Psalm 135:6), omnipresent (Psalm 139:3-12, Jeremiah 23:24), omniscient (Isaiah 46:10, Colossians 2:3), and inscrutable (Isaiah 55:8,9). Being infinite in all His attributes and with perfect foreknowledge, He will not change His mind or repent (Numbers 23:19), but will accomplish His eternal purpose (Isaiah 46:10, 11; 55:11).

B. We believe that there is only one God, (Deuteronomy 6:4) but in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal persons, the same in essence, but distinct in function.

C. An explanation: We believe the Scriptures substantiate the above definition: the Father is God (John 6:27; Ephesians 4:6); Jesus Christ is God (John 8:58; Hebrews 1:8); the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4); and all three are associated equally as one (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

A. His Pre-existence: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ eternally existed with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit prior to His incarnation (John 1:1,2,14; 6:33, 38, 41, 50, 51, 58, 62; 8:58; 17:5).

B. His Incarnation: We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:16,18,20; Luke 1:34- 35) and was born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:24, 34-35). In this, He took upon Himself the likeness of man (Philippians 2:6-11) while retaining His divinity, so that being wholly man and wholly God, He was tempted in every way and yet remained without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Being sinless, He bore our sins on the cross allowing God to be just and also the justifier of those who believe (Romans 3:26; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

C. His Purpose: Jesus Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father (John 6:38), to glorify God the Father (Philippians 2:11), and to be highly exalted (Philippians 2:9). He also came in order that He might reveal God (John 5:19-30), redeem sinful mankind (John 12:27, Matthew 1:21, Romans 3:23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:7), provide an example for Christian living (1 Peter 2:21), destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3:8), be the merciful High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-2), and fulfill the Abrahamic (Galatians 3:8,14), Davidic, and New Covenants (Luke 1:31-33, (I Corinthians 11:25).

D. His Death and Resurrection: We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15).

E. His Ascension and Present Session: We believe that Jesus Christ has ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1,2).

F. Jesus Christ is the head of God’s Universal Church (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 5:23).

A. His Person: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is a divine person because He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. The Holy Spirit thinks and knows (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). He makes decisions according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit functions as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised (John 14:16, 26, 15:26).

B. His Work: We believe that the Holy Spirit, in relation to salvation, is the Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of complete redemption; and sovereignly bestowing spiritual gifts upon all believers (John 1:13; 3:3-6; 16:8-11; Romans 8:9,14; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

A. Their Origin: We believe that the angels were originally created holy (Jude 6) by Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:16), before the foundation of the world (Job 38:6-7).

B. Their Makeup: We believe that the angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14); that they are without power to reproduce after their kind (Mark 12:25); that they do not die (Luke 20:36); that they are distinct from human beings (Psalms 8:4-5); and that they have great power (2 Peter 2:11).

C. The Fall of Some: We believe that although the angels were created holy, some left that holy estate because of sin (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4). We believe because of sin, these fallen angels are commonly referred to throughout Scripture as demons (Matthew 12:24; 25:41; Ephesians 6:11-12).

D. Satan: 

1. His Origin: We believe that originally Satan was among the creation of angels (Colossians 1:16) and was esteemed highly in the eyes of God (Ezekiel 28:11-15); however, when he tried to exalt himself over God, he was deposed by God along with a host of angels that followed him in the same rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-20; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

2. His Person and Work: We believe in the person and personality of Satan, not as some nebulous designation for evil or for evil influence, but as a created being who is the author of sin and the cause of the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God; that he is currently the ruler of all spiritual wickedness and counterfeiting of Christianity; and that he will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire along with his angels and all men who have rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior (Genesis 3:1-5; Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 20:10).

A. His Origin: We believe that God originally created man and woman, in the image and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26; 2:7).

B. His Fall and the Results: We also believe that man fell through sin, and as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of Satan. We also believe that this spiritual death has been transmitted to the entire race of man, the Man Christ Jesus, alone being excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but from God’s point of view is essentially and unchangeably bad apart from divine grace (Genesis 3:1-24; 6:5; Psalms 14:1-3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:53; Romans 3:10-19; 5:12-21; 8:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 John 3:8).

A. The Need for Salvation: We believe that man is universally and totally sinful. We believe this does not mean that man is as bad as he could be, but simply means that man is tainted with sin in every facet of his personality and cannot, apart from saving grace through faith, come to knowledge of the righteousness of God and/or enter into the kingdom of God. We believe that this means that no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven apart from a new nature imparted from above. This is a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, which MCC Bylaws and Constitution Page 6 of 20 is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are sons of God (Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:21- 32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8, 9; Romans 10:13-17; Philippians 3:4-9; John 3:5, 18; 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18).

B. Election: The Father’s choice is referred to as “election” (Romans 9:11: 11:5, 7, 28) or predestination (Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5). God also desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). Christ died for the whole world (1 John 2:2), and whoever calls up on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). This doctrine is a great mystery, but must be viewed from the juxtaposition of God’s sovereignty as seen in Romans 9 and man’s responsibility as found in Romans 10. It is no more mysterious than the fact that the God who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and does not change (Malachi 3:6), can accomplish His will in response to our prayers (1 Timothy 2:1,2, James 5:16). This doctrine of election is a great comfort to those who believe, since what God predestines cannot be set aside by man or anything else (Romans 8:35-39).

C. The Basis for Salvation: We believe that the death of Jesus Christ provided the necessary payment for the price of sin and that our salvation is based upon our trust in His Person and His finished work upon the cross (Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:35; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:23-25; Galatians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:19,21; Hebrews 10:4, 10-12; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).

D. The Pre-requisites for Salvation:

1. What will save a person: We believe that a new birth of a believer comes only by grace through faith in the person and finished work of Christ and that repentance (that is, to change one’s mind about the person and finished work of Christ) is a vital part of believing, and is no way, in itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts such as baptism, or faithful service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation. We believe that faith or belief is based upon the knowledge of the Word of God, (John 3:15-18; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Romans 4:5; 10:13-17; Ephesians 2:5, 8, 9; 1 John 2:6).

2. What will not save a person: We believe that since our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, no feeling, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no commitment, no amount of subsequent good works, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church, nor all the churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles, can add in the very least degree to the value of the blood of Christ, or to the merit of the finished work wrought for us by Him who united in His person true deity with perfect and sinless humanity (Romans 3:10-18, 23; Ephesians 2:5,8,9; Galatians 2:16; 3:2, 11; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor 5:21).

A. God’s Universal Church: We believe that God’s Universal Church, which is the body and the espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present Age of Grace, irrespective of their individual organizational affiliation (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:24-27, 30,32; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).

B. The Local Church: What it is and what is does.

1. What it is: We believe that God’s Universal Church (the Body of Christ) is to have its primary expression in local assemblies (or churches) whose membership is made up of professing Christians and whose governments are to be autonomous and independent of any denominational association except for the purposes of participation in God-honoring, cooperative efforts and Spirit-guided fellowship, always recognizing the headship of Christ in every aspect of the life of the church. We further believe that the government of the local church is made up of God-ordained leaders to carry on the responsibilities as they are listed below (Revelation 1:4; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Acts 11:22; 13:1; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18).

2. What it does: We believe the responsibilities of the local church are (a) to stand unequivocally for the fundamentals of the faith as contained in the Holy Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 4:1-2); (b) to teach the Holy Scripture for the maturing and edifying of the saints for the work of the ministry (Acts 20:27; Romans 15:1-2; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 2 Corinthians 1:4; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:1-3; 3:8, Hebrews 10:24-25); (c) to evangelize the world, namely, giving the world an opportunity to hear the Word of God and the claims of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:46-48; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-17); (d) to glorify Jesus Christ, namely, to do all things in the name of and for the honor and glory of our Savior, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, even Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10-11; Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 19:16); (e) to administer the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper; and (f) to realize the Scriptural injunctions, namely to do all things decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), with love (1 Corinthians 16:14), for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26), and in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). We hereby believe the local church has the authority to administer discipline to any of its members for immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-13), for false doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18), for a disorderly walk (2 Thessalonians 3:6,14), for divisive tendencies (Romans 16:17-18), and unrepentant attitude toward sin (Matthew 18:15-17).

A. The Transfer of the Church: We believe that the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord Jesus in the air to receive to Himself the dead in Christ and the believers that are alive at His coming, otherwise known as the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11- 14).

B. The Tribulation: We believe that this present Age of Grace will be followed by a period of tribulation for the world, which will be consummated by the literal, bodily, second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth (Matthew 24:25; Revelation 6:17; 19:11-16; Joel 2:3; Zechariah 14; Acts 1:11; etc.).

C. The Millennial Reign of Christ: We believe that, following and dependent upon the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, God in His sovereign control of history will faithfully keep His covenants with Israel to restore them to and bless them in their “promised land”, under the dominion of the perfect son of David, Jesus Christ, in a heavenly kingdom rule (commonly known as the millennium), which will likewise bring blessing to the whole earth (Genesis 12:1-7; 15:17-21; 17:1-8; Deuteronomy 30:1-5; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 87:105; Isaiah 9; Micah 4:5; Joel 3; Amos 9; Zephaniah 3; Romans 11:26-29; Revelation 20).

D. Man’s Destiny Beyond the Grave: We believe that at the death of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, their spirits and souls pass immediately into His presence until the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and body shall be associated with Him forever in glory, but the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death, conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast unto the lake of fire, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (Luke 16:19-31; 23:42,43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Revelation 20:11-15).

A. Believer’s Baptism: We believe that baptism by immersion is a symbolic representation of a spiritual transformation within and has no saving power. It is the logical conclusion to the New Birth (Acts 2:38; 10:47; 16:31-33; 1 Corinthians 1:13-18; Ephesians 2:8,9; Matthew 3:13-17; etc.).

B. The Lord’s Supper: We believe that fellowship among all true members of the Body of Christ should be encouraged, and that such fellowship includes participation in the Lord’s Supper. The elements are symbolic representations of the sacrificed body and blood of Christ, a memorial service to Christ’s death (Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26).

A. To Live a Holy Life of Service and Obedience: We believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of all Christians to live a Christ-centered life. We believe that normal expression of this kind of life is individual ministry according to each believer’s gift(s) and attitudes, which edify the entire Body of Christ, not bringing reproach upon the Name of Jesus Christ. We believe any Christian who is not so living is subject to the chastening hand of the Father and the discipline of the local church (Romans 12:1-21; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 7:1; 5:10; Galatians 5:16, 25; Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 2:6-7; Hebrews 12:1-15).

B. To Pray and Give: We believe that it is the obligation and privilege of every Christian to remember the work of the Lord in prayer, and to support this work with their means as the Lord has prospered them (1 Corinthians 16:2; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Galatians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

C. To Witness: We believe that it is the obligation and privilege of every Christian to witness by life and by word to the truth of the Holy Scriptures according to their spiritual gift(s) (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Romans 12:1-21).

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as either male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that marriage is the exclusive, covenantal union of one man (biologically born male) and one woman (biologically born female), whose union was designed by God. Genesis 2:24 states, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus Christ affirmed this in Matthew 19:4-6: “And He answered and said, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave MCC Bylaws and Constitution Page 10 of 20 his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.’ ” We will faithfully follow this scriptural definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of the Church, and therefore, for example only, the Church will not officiate, solemnize, perform or host a marriage or marriage-like ceremony involving anything other than the union of one biologically born male with one biologically born female as instituted by God. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, cohabitation, homosexual behavior, or use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139).

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of the Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Elders (which includes the Senior Pastor) is the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s application.