We
Believe....THE SCRIPTURES - The Bible is the inspired
Word of God, the product of holy men of old who 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).
We
Believe....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).
We
Believe....MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION - Man is
a created being, made in the likeness and image of 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).
We
Believe....ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH - Man's
first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh 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).
We
Believe....WATER BAPTISM - Baptism in water is
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, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Amen."
We
Believe....BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST - The Baptism
in the Holy Ghost 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).
We
Believe....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 consummation 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).
We
Believe....DIVINE HEALING - Healing is for the
physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power
of God through the prayer of faith,and by the laying on of
hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and
is the privilege of every member of the Church today (James
5:14,15; Mark 16:18;Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
We
Believe....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
so 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 becaught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air...." (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess.4:16,17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to 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).
