STATEMENT OF OUR BELIEFS!
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; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD – Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons – the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal (Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:6).
God the Father is greater than all; the 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 14:16; John 15:26).
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. The Bible says “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,”
and “There is none righteous, no, not one.”
(Rom. 3:10; 3:23). 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 (Rom 5:14; 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 (Eph. 2:8 – 10).
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; I John 5:12).
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;
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, Jesus, and
the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
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 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
utterance
(Matt. 3:11; John 14: 16, 17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2: 38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4).
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; I Thess 5:23; 2Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12 – 14; I Cor.
1:30).
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; I Peter 2:24).
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; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to 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. 5: 10; 20:6).
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).