Statement of Faith
Our Beliefs
The Bible; It is God’s word to man. It is living and active. It is inspired, infallible, and authoritative (II Timothy 3:16, I Thess. 2:13, II Peter 1:20-21, Heb 4:12)
The Trinity; God is one, eternal, and self-existent in three persons: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-2,14; Gen 1:1-3; Matt 3:16-17; John 14:26; John 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 3:17).
God the Father; We believe the heavenly Father is the source of all that exists, whether of matter or spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man, male and female, in His image. By intention He relates to people as Father, thereby forever declaring His goodwill toward them. In love He both seeks and receives penitent sinners. (Ps. 68:5; Isa. 64:8; Mt. 5:45; 7:11; Jn. 3:17; Rom. 8:15; 1 Pet. 1:17)
God the Son, Jesus Christ; Jesus is the Messiah prophesied, the one and only God, in the exact representation of God, fully human and fully God. He was born from a virgin, lived a sinless life, and He died and rose again to reconcile all people to God and to free them from the power of sin and the devil. He will return again to reign over His Kingdom (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13).
God the Holy Spirit; Jesus baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies and purifies the believer. He draws believers to God and empowers them to be the witnesses of His Kingdom and resurrection. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to all believers and is received subsequent to and is distinct from the experience of New Birth. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowal of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to empower the believer to be a witness of Jesus Christ by the preaching and demonstration of the Gospel. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also evidence of this experience. Whereas there is one initial baptism, there are many subsequent infillings of the Spirit. (John 1:33; Acts 1:8; John 16:5-15; Titus 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:16, 23, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
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. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of 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. (Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10; I 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. (Ephesians 2:8)
The Church; We believe that the Church is God’s primary instrument, through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the kingdom. (Mt. 16:17–19; Acts 2:17–18, 42; Eph. 3:14–21; 4:11–16; 1 Tim. 2:11–15; Heb. 10:23–25; 1 Pet. 2:4–5, 9–10)
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. (Heb. 12:14; I Thes. 5:23; II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; I Cor. 1:30)
Miracles & Healing; Miracles and healings were the works Jesus and His disciples demonstrated to confirm the good news about God’s Kingdom making its advance against the dominion of the devil. All believers today are empowered to demonstrate these works and thereby advance His Kingdom (Matthew 4:17, 23, 12:28, 28:19-20; John 9:4, 10:37; Mark 16:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:9-10).
THE BLESSED HOPE; The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the Lord, is certain and is the blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Romans 6:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS; The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the Earth are scriptural promises and our hope (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Romans 11:25; Revelation 19:1l-16, 20:l-7).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION. The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for 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 noting the duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints in the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27; Rev. 19:20)
MARRIAGE. The Biblical definition of marriage is defined by the Word of God as taking place between one man and one woman only. The church of Jesus Christ upholds this standard and will only marry those who subscribe to the Biblical definition of marriage as revealed in the scriptures. (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:21-25, Malachi 2:14, Mark 10:9, 1 Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4)
Ordinances
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; Romans 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39)
COMMUNION
The ordinance of Communion is also a commandment of the Lord Jesus that must be received consistently until His return. Only believers can come to the Table of the Lord, which consists of the bread and the cup. The bread – His body, which was broken for us. The cup – His blood that was shed for us. Both elements are witnesses of the New Covenant believers now enjoy while prophetically declaring His soon return (Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
THE APOSTLES CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.