WHAT WE BELIEVE

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1. THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and the product of Spirit-controlled men and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21).

2. THE ONE TRUE GOD

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; inexpressively glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

(A) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14).

(B) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22).

(D) His atonement for our sins (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21).

(E) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt.28:6; Luke 24:39; I Cor.15:4).

(F) His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; Acts 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Hebrews 1-3).

4. CREATION

We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not of evolution (Gen. 1; Gen. 2; Col.1:16, 17; John 1:3; Psalm 33:6, 9).

5. THE FALL OF MAN

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

6. SATAN

We believe in the personality of Satan that he is the author of all powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. (Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:3,4; Rev. 20:10).

7. THE SALVATION OF MAN

(A) Conditions to Salvation: The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men through the preaching of repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man is saved by believing in Jesus Christ, having cleansed him from all unrighteousness, and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:45-47; John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).

(B) The Evidences of Salvation: The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).

8. BAPTISM IN WATER

Baptism is an act that is simulated by being immersed in water, which represents “burial with Christ”. We believe that it should be observed as commanded in the scriptures, by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as their Savior. In so doing they declare to the world that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 19:5).

9. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST

All believers are entitled to and should expect and receive the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the word of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; I Cor. 12:1-31).

10. SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). The scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14) By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15, 16).

11. 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 her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:22, Heb. 12:23).

12. THE MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the three-fold purpose of leading the Church in:

(A) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20);

(B) Worship of God (John 4:23, 24);

13. PRAYER

We believe that prayer is the believer’s communion with God and includes such elements as adoration, praise, thanksgiving and intercession; that true prayer, in faith believing is heard and answered by God, when the believer prays in the spirit and according to His will; that it is for us “always to pray and not faint.” We believe that if we regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord will not hear us and answer our prayer. (Rev. 3:20; Ex. 25:22; Jer. 29:13; Rom. 8:26,27; Jude verse 20; Luke 18:1; Luke 11:13; I Thess. 5:17; Isa. 59:1; Psa. 66:18; Prov. 28:9).

14. DIVINE HEALING

Deliverance from infirmities is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:16, 17; Mark 16:18; James 5:14).

15. THE BLESSED HOPE

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Jesus and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is imminent and is the blessed hope of the church (I Thess. 4:16,17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Cor. 15:51,52).

16. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST JESUS

The second coming of Christ includes the catching away of the saints, which is our blessed hope, and the visible return of Christ with His Saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zech. 14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3, 4).

17. THE FINAL JUDGMENT

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 prophets, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake that burns with fire, which is the second death (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

18. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

“We according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:13; Rev., chapters 21and 22).

19. APPEARANCE

We believe that the Christian should adorn themselves in modest apparel exemplifying Christian virtue.