What We Believe

Statement of Fundamental Truths:

 

The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.  This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, I Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42).  The phraseology employed in this Statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full gospel ministry.  No claim is made that it contains all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.

 

1.  The Scriptures Inspired.  We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testament, is God's Word.  It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives. (2 Timothy 3:15 - 17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

 

2.  The One True God.  We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things.  He exists in three parts as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He is totally loving and completely holy.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22).                     

 

3.  Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the 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).
  •  His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9-11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

 

4.  The Fall of Man.  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).

 

5.  The Salvation of Man.  We believe that sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ as both God and man is the only One who can reconcile us to God.  He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.  Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Romans 5:8-19)

 

  • Conditions to Salvation.  We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and salvation we must repent by expressing repentance toward God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and submission to His will.  (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
  • The Evidences of Salvation.  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).  The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness, true holiness and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12; Galatians 5:22-25).

           

6.  The Ordinances of the Church. 

 

  • Baptism in Water.  The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures.  All who repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and who give clear evidence of their salvation are to be baptized.  Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthews 28:19; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4).
  • Holy Communion.  The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - bread and the fruit of the vine - is the memorial of His suffering and death, prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"  The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be observed regularly as enjoined in the Scriptures (Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). 

 

7.  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  We believe that in order to live the holy and fruitful lives that God intends, we need to be baptized in water and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and service and the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).  This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of salvation (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).  With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, spiritual power, and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost.

 

8.  Sanctification.  Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil or carnal, and one of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1, 2).  The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).  By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).  Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, by faith which causes us to depend daily upon our union with Christ, by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit, and by maturing in our relationship with Christ (Romans 6:1-13; 8:1, 2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12, 13).

 

9.  The Church and Its Mission.  The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission.  Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:24-29). Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason-for-being part of the Church is:

 

  • To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16).
  • To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
  • To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:12).

 

10.  The Ministry.  We believe that God has individually equipped us so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to live holy, worship God, fulfill our role in the Church and serve the community in which we live.  A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the three-fold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20; (2) worship of God (John 4:23, 24); (3) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16).

 

11.  Divine Healing.  We believe God wants to heal, deliver and transform us so we can live healthy and prosperous lives in order to serve others more effectively.  Healing is the privilege of all believers (Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthews 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).

 

12.  The Blessed Hope.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.  The resurrection of those who have died in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent "Blessed Hope of the Church" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).

 

13.  The Millennial Reign of Christ.  The second coming of Christ includes the 'rapture' (translation) of the saints, which is our Blessed Hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 201-6).  This millennial reign will bring the salvation of the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 37:21, 22; Zephaniah 3:19, 20; Romans 11:26, 27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:3, 4).

 

14.  The Final Judgment.  We believe that our eternal destination of either Heaven or Hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.  There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works.  Whosoever 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).

 

15.  The New Heavens and the New Earth.  "We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13