What we believe
Here is a brief outline:
I The Bible is the Inspired Word of God
Both the OT and NT are inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:21)
II The Triune God
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent "I am," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Deut. 6:4; Is. 43:10-11; Mt. 28:19; Lk. 3:22)
III The Deity of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God & is God. The Scriptures declare:
1. His virgin birth (Mt. 1:23; Lk. 1:31, 35)
2. His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22)
3. His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38)
4. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21)
5. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Mt. 28:6; Lk. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4)
6. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11, 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3)
IV The Fall of Mankind
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, mankind by willful choice ignored God's instruction … choosing to engage in what they knew was wrong and evil. As a result, mankind fell from innocence and goodness and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)
V The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
1. Conditions to Salvation:
Salvation is received through repentance and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
By the work of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God with eternal life (John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Tit. 2:11, 3:5-7).
2. The Evidences of Salvation:
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is seen in both water baptism and living a holy life (Eph. 4:24; Tit. 2:12)
VI Sacraments of the Church
1. Baptism in Water:
Water baptism by immersion is commanded in the Bible. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:4). Water baptism is an outward sign of the inward transformation from salvation.
2. Holy Communion:
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements &endash; bread and the fruit of the vine &endash; is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26); and is directed to all believers "till He comes!"
VII The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the giving of power for life and service, the giving of power for their uses in the work of ministry (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Cor. 12:1-13). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His Word (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mk. 16:20).
VIII Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from evil, and of dedication to God (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his or her identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith depending daily upon the fact of that union, and by continually offering every faculty to the authority of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11, 13, 8:1-2, 13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:5).
IX The Church and Its Mission
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with God selected positions to accomplish the Great Commission. Each believer is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22-23, 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
X The Ministry
A divinely called and scriptural ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the purpose of leading the Church in:
1. Evangelization of the world (Mk. 16:15-20),
2. Worship of God (Jn. 4:23-24),
3. Building a body of saints being
perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11, 16)
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” ( Ephesians 4:11-14).
The Church depends upon current day apostles prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These offices are to build up all believers who are then to do the work of ministry. The work of ministry is to be carried out by the saints, or believers, and they are to be equipped by the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. God will appoint those in the local church.
XI Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in Jesus' death and resurrection, and is the privilege of all believers (Is. 53:4-5; Mt. 8:16-17; Jam. 5:14-16).
XII Divine Deliverance
Deliverance is also an integral part of the gospel. In Luke:18-19 Jesus came to set the captive free and to bring liberty to those oppressed.
XIII The Blessed Hope
The Resurrection of Christians who have died and who are alive and their translation together into heaven. (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Tit. 2:13).
XIV The Millennial Reign of Christ (certainly there is room for differing views on the timing and details of the Second Coming which does not invalidate agreement between believers)
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of Christians, followed by the visible return of Christ with Christians to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zech. 14:5; Mt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ez. 37:21-22; Zeph. 3:19-20; Rom. 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Ps. 72:3-8; Is. 11:6-9; Mic. 4:3-4).
XV The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which those who lead evil lives will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment into the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Mt. 25:46; Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).
XVI The New Heavens and the New Earth
"According to God's promise, we look for new heavens and new earth, where righteousness will dwell and reign forever". (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22)