Statement of Faith
Our Faith in God:
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. We believe this one, true God has manifested Himself as Father in creation, as the Son in redemption and as Holy Spirit working in the lives of people today. These are not three distinct persons but manifestations of the one, true living God. He is eternal; infinite in power and wisdom; holy in His nature, attributes and purpose. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity. He hears and answers prayer and saves from sin and death all who believe according to His Word.
Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Isaiah 45:21; Hosea 13:4; Mark 12:29, 32; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelations 4:11
Our Faith in Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh. He is both God and man. He is the image of the invisible God. He is the one and only true God – the Jehovah of the Old Testament – taking upon Himself the form of man and, as the Son, was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the Cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The Name of Jesus Christ is a Name above every name. It is the Name by which we are saved and there is salvation in no other Name. The authority of God is vested in the Name of Jesus. All that the believer does in word or deed, including baptism, is to be done in Jesus' Name.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16
Our Belief in Holy Spirit:
The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God working in the earth and in the lives of believers. The Holy Ghost provides the believer with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Ghost brings comfort to the believer according to John 14:26. The "Baptism of the Holy Ghost" describes the Holy Ghost completely filling, or immersing, a believer and permanently residing in his or her life. This experience is a gift according to Acts 2:38. It is the basis for all spiritual gifts and without the infilling of the Holy Ghost there are no gifts in action.
John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18
Salvation:
We believe that salvation is a gift from God given to humanity by grace and received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that all people are sinners by nature and are alienated from God until reconciled to Him by obeying the Gospel as described in the scriptures. A person is saved by faith in the work and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. This saving faith is demonstrated as a person identifies with Christ's death, burial and resurrection through repenting of our sins, being baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. The experience of repentance, water-baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost constitutes the New Birth as described in John 3:3-5.
John 3:3-5; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22; James 2:17-18
Bible / Word Of God:
We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God. We believe God's word is divine, infallible and the final authority on all spiritual matters. We believe it is God's complete revelation concerning the salvation of mankind. We believe in the importance of daily study of and devotion to the Word of God as it provides direction, instruction and answers for the Christian life.
John 1:1-3, 14; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20, 21
Repentance:
Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, which is a confessing, turning from and forsaking of sins. John the Baptist preached repentance; Jesus proclaimed it and the apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3), thus showing that repentance is a necessary part of salvation.
Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30; 1 John 1:9
Water Baptism:
We identify with the burial of Christ when we are baptized in His Name. Water baptism is a circumcision of the heart and an integral part of the new birth, salvation experience. Water baptism is inseparable from saving faith and is how we demonstrate our faith in the work of Jesus Christ. The scriptural mode of baptism is by immersion, and is for those who have fully repented and turned from their sins. It is always to be administered in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Acts of the Apostles; thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5; Colossians 2:11-12
Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Baptism, or infilling, of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues is part of the new birth salvation experience and is how we identify with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same Holy Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead comes to dwell within us and enable us to rise to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) The gift, or baptism, of the Holy Spirit is an experience promised by God to all. The Lord, through the Prophet Joel said, "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh" (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:39).
Joel 2:28; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:4, 33, 38, 39; Acts 10:46-47; Acts 19:6
Church:
We believe the Church is the living, spiritual body of believers of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head. The church functions as Christ would function in the earth, seeking to find lost souls for the purpose of bringing them to salvation. Signs and wonders, including divine healing, are part of the Church's ministry, as they were part of the ministry of Jesus on earth. The scriptures teach us the importance of all believers attaching themselves to a church that teaches Biblical truth where they can grow in their faith, have fellowship with other believers and be equipped to serve.
Mark 16:17; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25
Gospel and Great Commission:
The gospel, or "good news," is that "…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:3-4) We are commanded by Jesus to spread this "good news" throughout the whole world and to make disciples of all men.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
About Divine Healing:
The physical suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ provided for healing for our bodies. Isaiah said, "…with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Matthew 8:17 reads, "…Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." We believe that healing was provided by the work of Jesus Christ and is available to all believers. Jesus said of the believer, "…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18) Later James wrote in his epistle to all the church; "and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick…"
Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:17; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-16; I Peter 2:24
About Communion or the Lord's Supper:
On the night of our Lord's betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with His apostles, after which He instituted the sacrament of the Lord's Supper or what we also call communion. "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, 'This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.' Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20) Paul also instructed the church how to observe it (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. There is also a spiritual significance and blessing in partaking of this sacrament.
Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29
About Holiness:
After we are saved from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and sin no more." (John 8:10, 11) We are instructed to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11, 12) and warned that without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We must present ourselves holy unto God (Romans 12:1-2), cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Corinthians 7:1) and separate ourselves from all worldliness (James 4:4). No one can live a holy life by his or her own power, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not live holy to earn salvation but rather live a holy life as a reflection of the new nature that was put within us when we were saved.
John 8:11; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1; II Corinthians 6:16-18; II Corinthians 7:1; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:4
Tithing:
The tithe is the first ten percent of our monetary increase. Tithing is returning that ten percent to the local church that we are part of. We believe tithing is God's financial plan to provide for His work and has been since the days of Abraham. The scripture teaches us to, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in my house." (Malachi 3:10) Not only does tithing provide the resources to the local church to enable it to carry out its ministries, but we believe that God's blessings will be upon those who tithe their income to the local church.
Malachi 3:10-12; Luke 6:38
Civil Government:
All civil magistrates are ordained of God for peace, safety and the welfare of all people; therefore, it is our duty to be in obedience to all requirements of the law that are not contrary to the Word of God. It is our duty to honor without murmuring and show respect to them in all lawful requirements of the civil government.
Matthew 17:24-27; 22:17-22; Titus 3:1-2; I Peter 2:13-15
The Return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Rapture of the Church:
Jesus Christ is coming back to earth in bodily form just as He went away. Jesus Christ's return to earth in person is a doctrine clearly set forth in apostolic times. Whereas, the Word of God teaches the imminent second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, it also teaches that there will first be a catching away, or rapture, of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe the rapture to be at hand and likely to occur at any moment. We believe at the rapture of the church the dead in Christ shall rise from their graves, and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up, or translated, to meet the Lord in the air.
Matthew 24; Luke 17:20-37; Acts 1:10-11; 3:19-21; I Corinthians 1:7-8; 11:26; 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13
