Statement of Faith
THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit moved them. The New Covenant as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD
Our God is One, but manifested in Three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Philippians 2:6). God the Father, the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14, 1 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).
Original Sin and Fall of Man...
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall, however, sin came into the world: "All have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God…" (Romans 3:23) and "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one..." (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law. It is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8). We believe that He suffered cruel mocking and scourging and that He died for the sin of the entire world (John 3:16, Matthew 27:50, Isaiah 52:14). We believe that His death removed the separation between the Father (Godhead) and mankind which took place in the Garden of Eden. We believe that He is the only Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. (Matthew 27:51, 1 Timothy 2:5). We believe that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:20-28).
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12). We believe that God sent His Son Jesus to a sinful humanity (John 3:16). We believe that you must be born again to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) and that there is no other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord. It is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is often accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4). We do not believe that you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit to be saved because the Bible clearly states that if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved (Acts 16:31).
SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (James 5:14, 15; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is a symbolic expression of our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as a memorial of His suffering, death and prophecy of His second coming. (1 Corinthians 11:23-31).
Resurrection of the Just and the Return of Our Lord...
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said to Jesus' disciples: "…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:19-20). We believe that He is now seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for us (Romans 8:34). His coming is imminent. When He comes, "…the dead in Christ shall rise first...then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…" (Acts 1:11;
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and altogether with His saints (who shall be Priests of God), He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 1:7; Rev. 20:6). We believe that we will live in heaven with Him forever, for He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and will therefore have no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Rev. 19:20)