We Believe…
1.) 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 upon by the Holy Spirit and we accept it as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21
2.) The Godhead,…. Our God is one, but manifested in three – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 5:7). In His infinite wisdom, God has chosen to reveal Himself in three separate persons, as Father, Son, and Spirit to accomplish His divine will. Each person of the Godhead having a separate purpose in mans creation and redemption.
3.) The Diety of the Lord Jesus Christ,…. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare the following:
A. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31-35)
B. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22)
C. His miracles (Acts 2:22 & Acts 10:38)
D. His substitution upon the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
E. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4)
F. His exaltation to the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9, 11, 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:1-3)
4.) Man, His Fall and Redemption,… Man is a created being, made in the image and likeness of God, but 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 5:14, 3:10, 3:23, 1 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).
5.) Eternal Life and the New Birth,…. Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5).
A. Conditions of salvation.
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, 3:57).
B. Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12).
6.) Water Baptism,…. Baptism in water is by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).
7.) Holy Communion,…. The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol of expressing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4). This ordinance is a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), prophesy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and it is enjoined on all believers “till He come.”
8.) Baptism in The Holy Ghost,…. The baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a figt from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers and is received subsequent to the New Birth. The initial evidence of this experience is speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 2:38-39, 19:1-7, 2:4). We believe in the operation of the gifts of the spirit in the body as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14 as manifested in the early church.
9.) 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 (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30).
10.) Divine Healing,…. Healing is for the physical and emotional ills of the human body and mind. It 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 in the privilege of every member of the church today (Mark 16:18, John 5:25, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5).
11.) Faith and Works,…. We believe that faith without works is dead. We do not believe, as a matter of the fundamental beliefs and doctrines of this church that any mater can be believed without there being an accompanying and corresponding action. Our faith is an active faith that requires the doing of acts in the world (James 2:14-16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Matthew 7:24-27, 5:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 2:23, 22:12).
12,) Eternity,…. We are all created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. The place of eternal separation from is God is called Hell. Heaven is the place of eternal union and eternal life with God (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 21:27).