OUR BELIEF
STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE BIBLE
We affirm that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, authored by holy men who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, serves as our infallible guide in matters of conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, manifested in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are coequal (Deuteronomy 6:4; Philippians 2:6).
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God the Father is the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14).
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The Son is the Word made flesh, eternally begotten, existing with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14).
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The Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is created in the image of God, but through Adam's transgression, sin entered the world. The Bible states, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10; 3:23).
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Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to undo the works of the devil, sacrificing His life and shedding His blood to redeem humanity (Romans 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
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Salvation is a gift from God, apart from works and the Law, made effective by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in good works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
The first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that leads to repentance. The New Birth is essential for all, producing eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12).
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism by immersion is a commandment from our Lord and is for believers only. It symbolizes the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; 8Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The baptismal formula we recommend is:
"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, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God, promised by Jesus Christ to all believers, received after the New Birth. This experience is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance (Matthew 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 one can see the Lord. We believe in Sanctification as a definite yet progressive work of grace, beginning at regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING
Healing for physical ailments is provided by God through the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands. This healing is part of the atonement of Christ and is a privilege for every member of the Church today (James 5:14-15; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels assured the disciples, saying, "...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 returns, "...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 Thessalonians 4:16-17). After the Tribulation, He will return as King of kings and Lord of lords, reigning with His saints for a thousand years (Revelation 5:10; 20:6).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
Those who die in their sins without accepting Christ are eternally lost in the lake of fire, with no further opportunity for repentance. The lake of fire is real, and the terms "eternal" and "everlasting" describe the endless duration of punishment for the damned, just as they denote the eternal joy of the saints in God’s presence (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20).