Beliefs Statement
THE SCRIPTURES: The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they 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, 1 The 2:13, 2 Pet 1:21).
THE GODHEAD: Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit—being co-equal. God the Father is greater than all: the Sender of the Word and the Begetter. The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (Jn 14:16, 15:26 Deut 6:4; Phil 2:6 Jn 14:28, Jn 16:28; Jn 1:14 Jn 1:1, 14, 18).
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. 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. 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 (Rom 3:10,23; 5:14, 1 Jn 3:8 Eph 2:8-10).
ETERNAL LIFE & 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 (2 Cor 7:10; Jn 3:3-5; 5:12).
WATER BAPTISM: Baptism in water 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, Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST: The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers and is received following 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, Jn 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38,39, 19:1-7, 2:1-4).
SANCTIFICATION: We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of the regeneration and continuing until Christ’s return (Heb 12:14, 1 Thes 5:23, 2 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 3:18, Phil 3:12-14, 1 Cor 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING: Healing is for the physical ills of the body. It is a provision of the atonement of Christ, and it is part of our redemption (Mk 16:18, Jam 5:14-25, 1 Pet 2:24, Mat 8:17, Isa 53:4-5).
THE RESURECTION OF THE JUST & THE RETURN OF OUR LORD: We believe in the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of those who are in Christ Jesus (Acts 1:11, I The 4:16, 17, Rev 5:10, 20:6).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION: Those who die without accepting Christ as their savior are hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire. They no longer have the opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting (Heb 9:27, Rev 19:20).