What We Believe

THE SCRIPTURES
The scriptures, both old and new testaments are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21) 

THE GODHEAD
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the creator of heaven and hearth and the redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22) 

JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

  • His virgin birth. (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35) 
  • His sinless life. (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22) 
  • His miracles. (Acts 2:22; 10:38) 
  • His substitutionary work of the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21) 
  • His bodily resurrection from the dead. (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4) 
  • His exaltation to the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9-11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3) 

MAN’S FALL
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and therefore incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19) 

SALVATION
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, salvation is received through the repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. (Luke 24:27; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7) The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence of all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12) 

WATER BAPTISM
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the scriptures, all who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they are dead with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4) 

COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements; bread and fruit of the vine, is a symbol expressions our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophet of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoining on all believers until He comes.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the filling of the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service. The bestowment of the gifts and their uses in work of the ministry. (Luke 24:40; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of new birth. (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences of overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), and intensified consecration to God and dedication for His word (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, His word, and the lost. (Mark 16:20) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives them utterance. (Acts 2:4) The speaking of tongues in this instance is the same as the gift of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28) but different in purpose and use.

THE BODY OF CHRIST

The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born in the spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23) Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His son, the priority reason for being of the church as part of the church:

  • To be an agency for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 15:15-16) 
  • To be a corporate body in which man may worship God. (1 Corinthians 12:13) 
  • To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints perfected in the image of His son.

HEALING

Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel, deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16) 

THE SECOND COMING

The second coming of Christ including the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for 1,000 years. (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6) This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21; Zechariah 3:19-20; Romans 11:26-27) and establishing of universal peace. (Isaiah 11: 6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4) There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and His angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burnt with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-38; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8) “We according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelt righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22) 

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