SCRIPTURE:

We believe the Word of God (Bible) is the inspired word of God, completely and equally, both Old Testament and New Testament alike. The words that appeared in the original manuscripts were given by the Holy Spirit to the holy men of old, and God’s thoughts toward and about man were accurately, and infallibly recorded. The Bible is not only accurate in the thoughts of God toward and about man, but also historically and scientifically. The whole Bible is valid today, and through the translations, has remained infallible, insofar as the translations correctly follow the original manuscripts. Scripture is absolute in authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content and without any errors in its statements. (Psalms 89:34; Luke 24:44; Acts 1:16, 17:3; Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 6:18; II Peter 1:21)

GODHEAD:

We believe there is one God, who exists as three Persons: that is one nature or essence with three personalities participating in that essence. The three Persons are the Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit who are co-eternal (One never existed before or after another), co-equal (all Three have same character, power, ability, etc. and doesn’t have more than Another) and co-essential (same essence). Above all, each One is God, fully and completely, yet not acting as separate gods. All Three are of essential equality, meaning there is no distinguishing between their natures. All Three are of functional subordination, meaning the Son voluntarily submits Himself to the will of the Father and likewise, the Holy Spirit voluntarily submits Himself to the will of the Father and Son. This does not make one Person more or less “God” than Another. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 11:7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 6:8. 9:6, 41:22-23, 43:10b, 12b; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29, 32b; John 8:24, 58 with Exodus 3:14; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 11:3; II Corinthians 13:14; Titus 1:3-4, 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3)

JESUS CHRIST:

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is fully God. Jesus’ deity is proved by many things, including His titles, works, and resurrection. Jesus is unique because He is eternally existent, sinless and perfect despite taking on the form of man and was the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (Titus 2:13; II Peter 1:1; John 14:11; Romans 1:4; I John 1:2; John 8:58, 17:5, 24; John 1:29; Hebrews 4:15, 10:1-10; I John 3:5)

We believe Jesus became God incarnate. Jesus revealed His human nature in that He became hungry, sore, tired, and wept. He revealed His divine nature in that He healed the sick, lame and blind, performed many miracles, raised people from the dead, rose from the dead Himself, forgave sins and reconciled the world to God. He needed to be fully man to die on the cross, yet fully God to be able to offer Himself as the sacrificial lamb and reconcile the world back to Himself. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (Matthew 1:18, 20-23; Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1, 14; Philippians 2:6-8; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 2:9. John 4:6, 11:35, 43; Luke 22:44; Matthew 4:2)

We believe Jesus Christ took away the sin of the world. His death is referred to as the substitutionary death because by His death, the unmeasured, righteous judgment of God against sinners was borne by Christ. Jesus was the propitiation, or satisfaction, of all God’s righteous demands upon the sinner. The “judgment seat” became a “mercy seat” for us through His death. Through His death, the world can be reconciled to Him, by allowing us to enter into a personal relationship with Him and be considered God’s friends and heirs instead of His enemies.

After Jesus died on the cross, He was buried in a tomb for three days, He bodily rose from the dead. He appeared to nearly 500 people, at different times. His appearances are irrefutable and solid. Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the Father. He now acts as our High Priest, interceding for us daily on our behalf. He is also our Advocate, who keeps His children from being separated from the Father, through His death, when we sin. (John 3:18-19; Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:13, 4:5; Luke 24:21; Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:18; Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 3:25-26; I John 2:2, 4:10; II Corinthians 5:19; II Peter 2:1; I John 2:1-2; Romans 8:17; Revelation 1:5; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Matthew 28:11-15; Luke 24:2, 12, 30; Revelation 1:8, 2:8; Luke 16:19; Hebrews 7:25, 8:1-4, 9:24)

HOLY SPIRIT:

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person or “essence” of the Triune Godhead, and is God. Though always eternal, the Holy Spirit took abode in this world at the day of Pentecost according to divine promise, and now abides in all believers, thus uniting them in one body in Christ. He never takes His departure from the church, nor from the feeblest saint, but is ever present to testify of Christ. Not only does the Holy Spirit unite all believers in Christ, but also convicts the world regarding sin, righteousness and judgment; regenerates all believers, indwells believers at conversion as well as seals them until the day of redemption, baptizes believers into one body of Christ, anoints believers to teach them all truth and fills for power and service those among the saved who yield to Him and are subject to His will. (John 14:16-17, 16:7-15, I Corinthians 6:19, 12:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; I John 2:20-27; Acts 5:1-4)

MAN:

We believe man was created in the image (or likeness) of God, but rebelled against Him and fell into sin. As a result of his sin, man lost his spiritual life, became dead in his trespasses and sins and became subject to the power of the devil and of his nature/flesh. Every man is born with a sinful nature. No works, merits, experiences or knowledge can save man from this wretched state—only Christ can save man. (Romans 3:23; John 3:7; I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14; Luke 24:49; Titus 3:5)

SALVATION:

We believe that universal death from sin prevents any man entering into the Kingdom of God, unless born again (salvation in Christ). Man is saved by undeserved mercy through faith, and nothing of man enters into his salvation—it is a free gift. Man’s redemption has been accomplished solely through the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross. A new birth of the believer occurs at conversion only through faith in Christ, by the Holy Spirit. This new birth gives him a new nature, which allows him to live a life pleasing to God, no longer subject to the devil or man’s sinful nature. Salvation through Christ is entire, lacking nothing. Once saved, man cannot lose his salvation. (Leviticus 17:11b; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 26:28; John 1:12, 3:5, 18; Romans 5:1, 6-9, 10:9-10; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:18-19, 23)

DAILY LIVING:

We believe, that as a new believer, we are to walk in a manner (lifestyle) pleasing to God. We are no longer slaves to sin, and now can make the choice to be servants of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, man is continually “sanctified” or “transformed” as he walks with Christ. It is the will of God that man walk in the Spirit daily, identify ourselves with the visible body of Christ, which is a church or fellowship with other believers, and obey rulers and authorities over us in government, except in things opposed to the will of God. The daily walk of a believer should never lead him to extremes of fanaticism.

We believe new believers should share the gospel of Christ with others, living a life “read of by all men” that brings honor and glory to Christ. The purpose of man is to love and obey God in all things, and to bring honor and glory to Christ in every thought, action and deed. All the commandments are summed up in this one commandment: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself. In this, the will of God is fulfilled. It is also appropriate to offer free-will offerings and tithes to the Lord. (Hebrews 6:1; Ephesians 4:30-32; I Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 4:5; Acts 6:5; Hebrews 10:25; Romans 13:1-5; Malachi 3:10; II Corinthians 9:7; James 5:20; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:47-48)

BAPTISM/LORDS SUPPER:

We believe that immersion in water (baptism) is an outward sign of an inward work. Salvation does not require baptism, nor is man saved by it. Man should also commemorate the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ by partaking in communion (the substation of bread and the fruit of the vine for Jesus’ body and blood broken and spilled for us). (Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 11:24-25)

ETERNITY:

We believe at an appointed time determined by the Father, there will be a resurrection of all the dead and a “gathering” of those alive. All men must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Those who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in heaven, but those who refuse Christ, will spend eternity in hell. Heaven is the glorious eternal home of believers in Christ. Hell was originally created for Satan and the fallen angels (demons). Hell is the place of eternal torment for those who reject Christ as their Savior. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41; II Corinthians 5:10; John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17; 20:10, 15)
 

- Back to top -