Beliefs

“The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible and final authority rule for matters of faith and conduct.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17;1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)

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 Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38), His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9-11, 2:33; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3).

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, and witnesses the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:13; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7). The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence is a life of Godly conduct evidenced by spiritual growth (Romans 12:6-7; Galatians 5:22-23).

Those who have repented of their sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation shall be baptized by immersion in water. The person baptized thereby indicates that he has died with Christ and that he also has been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).

Consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, the Lord's Supper is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death; and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26). As the Scriptures teach, the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated regularly until He comes again (Luke 22:19-20).

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

All believers are entitled to and should expect and receive the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 19:5-7). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), and intensified consecration to God, a dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 1:8, 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28), but different in purpose and use.

The Scriptures teach a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, "Be holy, for I am holy." Sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 2:6; Romans 8:3-4).

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of its great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of "the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the purpose of leading the Church in: (1) glorifying God (Ephesians 1:12); (2) discipling persons in Christian belief and practice (Matthew 28:18-20); (3) calling persons to salvation through repentance, forgiveness, and faith in Christ (Luke 24:47); (4) meeting human need as resources are available (Matthew 25:31-46). Divine Healing Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51- 52).

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the Scriptural promise and the world's hope (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-7; Romans 11:25-27).

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead 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, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).

"But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22).

God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself (Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9). Inasmuch as Scripture only recognizes marriages between a biological man and a biological woman, the Church, including its pastors, elders, and staff, in matters pertaining to ministry functions, shall act in conformance with these standards.

A person’s sex is assigned by the predeterminate will of God, biological male and female, and is inalterable (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5). Attempts to change what God has ordained is an attempt to usurp divine authority and repeat the errors of Gnosticism (Romans 9:20). Mental, spiritual, physical and emotional health are maximized when people live their lives in accordance with their Creator’s intentions (Proverbs 3:6-8; Psalm 119:32; Deuteronomy 29:9).