Statement of Faith:
THE GODHEAD
The triune Godhead is comprised of three separate and distinct persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost), who are eternal, self-existent, self-revealed, and function as one. Jesus Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit. (Philippians 2:6; John 1:1, 1:14, 14:16, 15:26).
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. We accept the Word of God as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (II Timothy 3:16; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21)
ETERNAL REDEMPTION
We are created beings, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to destroy the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem mankind back to God. (Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:14; I John 3:8) Salvation is the free gift of God to man, separate from works and law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing good works acceptable to God. (Ephesians 2:8)
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
The new birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life. (II Corinthians 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5). The first step to personal salvation is to accept the supreme sacrifice that Jesus made for all. (John 3:16)
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water by immersion is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only. This ordinance is a symbol of the Christian identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:35-39)
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
We believe the baptism in the Holy Ghost 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 evidence is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. We also believe in the gifts of the Spirit, and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. We believe that all of these are available to believers. (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 19:1-7)
DIVINE HEALING
We believe healing is provided for in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Healing is God’s will for the mental, spiritual, and physical ills of mankind and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15; I Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5)
SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe that the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, beginning with the new birth and continuing throughout one’s life. (Hebrews 12:14; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; I Corinthians 1:30)
ETERNAL CONCLUSION
We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the eternal redemption of the saved – forever in the presence of the Lord; and the eternal punishment of the lost – forever separated from the Lord.
RETURN OF THE LORD
We believe in the soon coming and eminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11). At the time of the rapture, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we (believers) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud, to meet the Lord in the air…” I Thessalonians 4:16-17 |
