What We Believe
This statement of faith is not meant to cover every area of doctrine but is a general reflection of our steadfast belief in the ultimate truth of God’s inspired Word which is the foundation of our faith.
*The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is accepted as such..
*Our God is One, but manifested in three Persons -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
*Man was created by God in His likeness and image, but because of Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world.
*Salvation is the gift of God to mankind through faith in Jesus Christ.
*The New Birth is necessary for all mankind, and when experienced, produces eternal life.
*Water baptism is by immersion, and is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only.
*The Baptism in the Holy Spirit--
is a gift and is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues.
*Sanctification--
Is living a life of holiness and should be practiced by all believers.
*Healing--
is the privilege of every member of the body of Christ today, and is provided through Jesus’ death on the Cross.
*Jesus will return and --
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 --
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Anyone who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ will be eternally lost and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting.
Scriptures --
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, both old and New Covenant are the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, or New Testament, is to be accepted as the infallible guide in all things pertaining to conduct and doctrine.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The Godhead --
Our God is One, but manifested in three Persons -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word or Logos and the Begetter.
Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
John 14:28 "You have heard Me say to you, `I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, `I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.
John 16:28 "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.''
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal.
John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Man’s Fall and Redemption -- 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. The Bible says -- all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, and -- There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made manifest by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, producing works acceptable to God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9. not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The New Birth and Eternal Life -- Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that produces repentance. The New Birth is necessary for all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?'' 5. Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
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
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?'' 37. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may.'' And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'' 38. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit --
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit 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.
Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17. "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.''
Acts 2:1. Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39. "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.''
Acts 19:1. And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2. he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'' And they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.'' 3. And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?'' So they said, "Into John's baptism.'' 4. Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.'' 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7. Now the men were about twelve in all.
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
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Phil. 3:12. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Divine Healing --
Physical Healing is for the ailments of our human body and is manifest 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 Body of Christ today.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.
Matthew 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.''
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18. "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.''
Resurrection of the Dead in Christ and the Soon Coming Return of Our Lord. --
Acts 1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11. who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.''
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to 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.
Revelation 5:10 and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.''
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Hell and Eternal Judgement --
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 of repentance. 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 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment;
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!'' And let him who hears say, "Come!'' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.