Statement of Faith

We Believe:

That the BIBLE is the inspired Word of God. It was written by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, which is recorded in the New Testament, is to be the guide in all matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. II Tim. 3:16, I Thes. 2:13, II Peter 1:21.

That the GODHEAD is one, but manifests Himself in three persons, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit, each being co-equal. Phil. 2:6. God the Father is greater than all; He sent the Word and His only begotten Son. The Son is the flesh-covered Word and He has existed with the Father from the beginning. John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from the Father and the Son and is eternal. John 15:26

About MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION, that 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. 5:14, Rom. 3:10, Rom. 3:23, I John 3:8. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from the works of the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. Eph. 2:8. That the Holy Spirit enables us to live each day in the presence of God.

About ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH, that 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. That the Word of God, alive in our heart, through the New Birth and growing in the grace and knowledge of God, is the most precious thing that we can possess. II Cor. 7:10, I John 5:12, John 3:3-5.

About WATER BAPTISM, that baptism in water is by immersion, and is a direct commandment of our Lord. It is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39.

That 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 (time period) and is received following 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 1:9, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4.

That the Bible teaches SANCTIFICATION. Without holiness, no man can see the Lord. We believe that Sanctification is definite and begins at the New Birth and must be progressive until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return. Heb. 12:14, I Thes. 5:23, II Peter 3:18, II Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, I Cor. 1:30.

OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS that we were created for His pleasure, to praise and worship Him and that praise and worship must be a part of our daily life. Eph. 2:10, Col. 1:16, Rev. 4:11.

We believe that GOD HEALS TODAY. Healing is for the whole man, body, soul, and spirit. This is brought about by the power of God through the prayer of faith and/or by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Body of Christ today. We will not inhibit the Holy Spirit’s movement. He may heal any way that He chooses and that signs, wonders and miracles follow the Word.

That THE JUST WILL BE RESURRECTED AND THAT THE LORD WILL RETURN. The angel said to the disciples, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven”. His coming could happen at any time and 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, I Thes. 4:16-17. He shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Rev 20:6.

That HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION is very real. The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly 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 the endless existence as used in denoting the duration of the joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God. Heb. 9:27, Rev. 19:20

That God’s principle of SOWING AND REAPING applies to everyone. I Cor. 16:1-2, II Cor. 9:6-15, Phil. 4:15-19.

That all believers need to be ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN A LOCAL BODY of believers who practice New Testament Christianity, a continuation of the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:4, 1:14, 2:1, 4:31, I Cor. 11:33, Heb. 10:25.