Our Beliefs
These statements of our faith are the foundation of what we believe.
We believe...
The Bible is the inspired Word of God written by holy men who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We accept the New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, as our infallible guide in matters relating to conduct and doctrine.(2 Tim 3:16 ; 1 Thes 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 (Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:6)
God the Father who sent the Word is greater than all (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word who came as a man, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14 ). The Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26).
Man, his fall and redemption - man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world.
The Bible says "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and "...there is none righteous, no, not one." (Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:23).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8 ).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made effective by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works that are acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:8-10)
Eternal life and the new birth - man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that produces repentance. The New Birth is necessary for all men, and gives eternal life.
(2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12 ).
Water baptism - is by immersion, a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. It 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 )
Baptism in the Holy Spirt - is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation, and is received after 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; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4 )
Sanctification - the Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, starting at the time of the new birth and continuing until Christ's return.
(Heb. 12:14; 1 Thes 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30 )
Divine healing - is for the physical problems of the human body and bought about by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in salvation, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today.
(James 5:14,15; Mark 16:18 ; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24 )
Resurrection and the return of our Lord - the angels said to Jesus disciples, "...this same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall come again in the same manner as you have seen him go into heaven."
Jesus 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 meet the Lord in the air...".
(Acts 1:11; 1 Thes 4:16 ,17)
Following the Tribulation, Jesus shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords. Together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years.
(Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:6 )
Hell and eternal retribution – anyone who physically dies in their sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and has no further opportunity to hear the Gospel or repent. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment in the lake of fire, carry the same meaning of endless existence as used to describe the duration of joyous saints in the Presence of God.
(Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20 )