We believe that everything we say and teach must be lined up with the
Word of God.
Word of God.
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of what holy men of old 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 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21 )
(2 Tim. 3:16; 1 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 (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 15:26).
Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God by 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 (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 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 (Eph. 2:8).
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 experienced, produces eternal life.
(2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12)
(2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12)
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 consumption of salvation at Christ's return. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30)
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 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). He shall return to the 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. 20:6).
Total Prosperity of the Whole Man
a.) Spiritual. John 3:3,11; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10. b.) Mental 2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isaiah 26:3. c.)Physical. Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24 d.) Financial. 3 John 1:2; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38 e.) Social. Proverbs 3:4.
Christian Life: Spiritual Conduct
a.) Personal Ethics. "I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren't good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them. I'll refuse to think they might get such a grip on me that i can't easily stop when I want to" (1 Cor. 6:12). " We can always prove that we are right, but is the Lord convinced?" (Prov. 16:2) " And we beseech you brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you" (1 Thess. 5:12). b.) Obedience to Law.
The Salvation of Man
a.) Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Psalm103:3), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. For by grace we are saved through faith. "The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with your heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10). b.) The Evidence of Salvation. The inward evidence to the believer of his 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. " And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us." (1 John 3:23);... while you are waiting for these things to happen and for Him to come, try hard to live without sinning; and be at peace with everyone so that he will be pleased with you when he returns. (2 Peter 3:14 ). c.) Faith and Works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however our works will determine the rewards of eternity (Romans 10:9-10 and 2 Cor. 5:10).
Water Baptism
Baptism in water, as 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, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the manifested now of Jesus Christ. Amen."
Promise of the Father
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire 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 2:4).
The Lord's Supper
"And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said 'This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the cup, after supper saying ' This cup is the new covenant of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me' Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Cor. 11:24-28).
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).
The Body of Christ
The Body is composed of the entire spiritual church not limited to a single group or organization.
Reaching the World with the Gospel
The Word says," Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" (Psalm 2:8). We believe that it is the sole responsibility of the Church to evangelize the earth (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18).