The Scriptures-
The
Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of
holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the 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, 1Thess.2:13, 2 Peter 1:21 )
We Believe
The
Godhead- Our God is one, but manifested in three
persons- The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, being coequal. (Phil. 2:6)
God the Father is greater
than all: Sender 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 )
We Believe
Man, His 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. "....all have
sinned, and come short of the glory God..." "As it is written, 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, Rom. 3:23, 1John 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 )
We Believe
Eternal Life and the New
Birth- Man's first step toward
salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is
necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life. ( 2Cor.
7:10, John 3:3-5, John 5:12 )
We Believe
Water Baptism-
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of 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 wit: " 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
Ghost." Amen.
We Believe
Baptism in the Holy Ghost-
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 the
utterance. ( Matt. 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts
2:38-39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4 )
We Believe
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. ( Heb. 12:14, 1Thess.
5:23, 2Peter 3:18, 2Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, 1Cor. 1:30
)
We Believe
Divine Healing-
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. ( James 5:14-15, Mark 16:18, Isa.
53:4-5, Matt. 8:17, 1Peter 2:24 )
We Believe
Resurrection of the Just and the Return of Our Lord- 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 which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air...." ( Acts 1:11, 1Thess. 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 )
We Believe
Hell and Eternal Retribution- 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 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. ( Heb. 9:27, Rev. 19:20 )