Statement of Faith
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
The Godhead
We believe our God is one, but manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Phil. 2:6)
God the Father is greater than all; the splendor of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28, 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)
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus is 100% God, and 100% man. We see His Deity expressed through the virgin birth, His sinless life, miracles, death, burial, bodily resurrection from the dead, and His exaltation at God’s right hand. (Matt. 3:17; 17:5, Luke 3:22, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:33-34, Isaiah 7:14, Heb. 2:17-18, John 11:47; 12:37, 1 Cor. 15:14, Eph. 2:19-23)
Man, His Fall and Redemption (salvation of man)
We believe man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. But through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no not one.” 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 (Rom. 5:12-15; 2:10; 3:23, 1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8-10).
Eternal Life and the New Birth
We believe man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth in necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (2 Cor. 7:10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5).
The Ordinance of the Church
We believe…
Water Baptism – Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39). the following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted, to whit: “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.”
Holy Communion – This symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord, our participation in the benefits of His atoning death, and the covenant which He sealed with His own blood. It represents our union with Him who is the sustenance of our spiritual life. It is a memorial of His death and looks forward to His coming again. It was instituted by our Lord, and He commanded His disciples to observe it. We are instructed to search our hearts diligently and examine ourselves carefully before partaking of Holy Communion. (Luke 22:19-20, Matt. 26:26-27, 1 Cor. 11:24, 1 Cor. 11:27-32)
Baptism in the Holy Ghost
We believe in 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 accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matt 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 2:38-39; 19:1-7; 2:4) Along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are the nine spiritual gifts of the Spirit given to the Church through the believer “…for the profit of all…” as the Holy Spirit wills. (1 Cor. 12:1-11)
Sanctification
We believe 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. (Heb. 12:14, 1 Thess. 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, 1 Cor. 1:30)
The Church, Its Mission and Ministry
We believe the Church is the living body of Christ, with divine appointments to fulfill the Great Commission. Christ has given to the Church the Five fold ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, “…for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ.” (Matt. 28:18-20, 1 Cor. 12:27-28, Eph. 4:7-16)
Divine Healing
We believe 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. (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15, 1 Peter 2:24, Matt. 8:17, Isa. 53:4-5)
The Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the Just, and the Rapture of the Church
We believe 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.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meed the Lord in the air…” (Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16-17) Following the Tribulation, He shall return to the earth as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and together with His saints who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6). The New Heaven and the New Earth: Following the final Judgment, we believe in the New Heaven and the New Earth, in which every believer shall live for eternity. (2 Peter 3:5-13, Rev. 21:1-3)
Hell and Eternal Retribution
We believe the one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has 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 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. (Heb 9:27, Rev. 19:20)
