Core Beliefs
A. 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 (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16; I Thes. 2:13).
B THE GODHEAD. Our God is One, but manifested in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16,17; John 1:1-3; I John 5:7).
God the Father is greater than all; the Source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; 16:28; 1:14; Matt. 11:25).
Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, The Word (flesh-covered), the One begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; 1:14; 1:18; 10:30).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-14).
C. MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man was formed by God of the dust of the ground, made in the likeness 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, born of a virgin, was manifested to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God and to destroy the works of the devil. (Gen. 2:7; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; 3:9,10; Matt. 1:18-25; John 3:16; I John 3:8; I John 1:9)
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. 2:8-10; II Cor. 5:21).
D. ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH. Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, produces Eternal Life. (Acts 2:38; II Cor. 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
E. WATER BAPTISM. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord 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. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Rom. 6:4)
F. COMMUNION – THE LORD’S SUPPER. Christians observe the ordinance of the Lord in obedience to His command that we show the Lord’s death until He come. The bread symbolizes the Lord’s broken body through which we have healing and health. The cup represents the New Covenant in His blood, which provides us forgiveness and relationship with God. We judge ourselves, honoring the Broken Body and the Blood of The Lord as our salvation; for if we receive it unworthily (without giving it honor as our salvation) we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Cor. 11:23-31; Mark 14:22-26; Matt. 26:26-30; Luke 22:17-20)
G. SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS. The Bible teaches that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). God has provided the Grace of Sanctification “wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-3). This grace is entered by:
Faith (believing that Jesus’ blood was shed for our sanctification) (Heb. 13:12);
Knowledge of the Word of God (Truth) (John 17:17);
Consecrating ourselves and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Phil. 2:12; Rom. 12:1,2; Rom. 6:1-13; Rom. 8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20)
H. DIVINE HEALING. Healing of the physical ills of the human body is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every Christian. (Mark 16:18; James 5:13-16; I Pet. 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4,5)
I. BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a gift from God as promised to all believers by the Lord Jesus Christ. Persons who receive this baptism will speak with other tongues (languages other than their own) as the Spirit gives utterance, and will manifest other gifts of the Spirit according to the Spirit’s choosing. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:6)
J. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. We believe in the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. (Acts 1:11; I Thes. 4:16,17; I Cor. 15:51-53; Rev. 20:4,5)
K. RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT OF THE UNSAVED. Those who do not believe and obey God’s Word are presently under His condemnation. Their death in that state will result in their resurrection after the thousand-year reign of Christ, to stand before God at the White Throne Judgment, to be judged according to their works. Those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:5, 11-15; John 3:18; Mark 9:42-48; Heb. 9:27; Acts 24:15)
L. TITHING AND GIVING OF OFFERINGS. Support of the ministry and the church is to be accomplished through tithing and giving of offerings. (Neh. 13:10-14; Matt. 23:23; Mal. 3:10-12; I Cor. 16:2)
M. GOD’S CHURCH. God is choosing for Himself a church. We should therefore recognize and have fellowship with other Christians wherever we find them. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:25-27)
B THE GODHEAD. Our God is One, but manifested in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16,17; John 1:1-3; I John 5:7).
God the Father is greater than all; the Source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; 16:28; 1:14; Matt. 11:25).
Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, The Word (flesh-covered), the One begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; 1:14; 1:18; 10:30).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-14).
C. MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man was formed by God of the dust of the ground, made in the likeness 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, born of a virgin, was manifested to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God and to destroy the works of the devil. (Gen. 2:7; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; 3:9,10; Matt. 1:18-25; John 3:16; I John 3:8; I John 1:9)
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. 2:8-10; II Cor. 5:21).
D. ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH. Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, produces Eternal Life. (Acts 2:38; II Cor. 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
E. WATER BAPTISM. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord 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. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Rom. 6:4)
F. COMMUNION – THE LORD’S SUPPER. Christians observe the ordinance of the Lord in obedience to His command that we show the Lord’s death until He come. The bread symbolizes the Lord’s broken body through which we have healing and health. The cup represents the New Covenant in His blood, which provides us forgiveness and relationship with God. We judge ourselves, honoring the Broken Body and the Blood of The Lord as our salvation; for if we receive it unworthily (without giving it honor as our salvation) we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Cor. 11:23-31; Mark 14:22-26; Matt. 26:26-30; Luke 22:17-20)
G. SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS. The Bible teaches that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). God has provided the Grace of Sanctification “wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-3). This grace is entered by:
Faith (believing that Jesus’ blood was shed for our sanctification) (Heb. 13:12);
Knowledge of the Word of God (Truth) (John 17:17);
Consecrating ourselves and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Phil. 2:12; Rom. 12:1,2; Rom. 6:1-13; Rom. 8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20)
H. DIVINE HEALING. Healing of the physical ills of the human body is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every Christian. (Mark 16:18; James 5:13-16; I Pet. 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4,5)
I. BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a gift from God as promised to all believers by the Lord Jesus Christ. Persons who receive this baptism will speak with other tongues (languages other than their own) as the Spirit gives utterance, and will manifest other gifts of the Spirit according to the Spirit’s choosing. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:6)
J. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. We believe in the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. (Acts 1:11; I Thes. 4:16,17; I Cor. 15:51-53; Rev. 20:4,5)
K. RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT OF THE UNSAVED. Those who do not believe and obey God’s Word are presently under His condemnation. Their death in that state will result in their resurrection after the thousand-year reign of Christ, to stand before God at the White Throne Judgment, to be judged according to their works. Those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:5, 11-15; John 3:18; Mark 9:42-48; Heb. 9:27; Acts 24:15)
L. TITHING AND GIVING OF OFFERINGS. Support of the ministry and the church is to be accomplished through tithing and giving of offerings. (Neh. 13:10-14; Matt. 23:23; Mal. 3:10-12; I Cor. 16:2)
M. GOD’S CHURCH. God is choosing for Himself a church. We should therefore recognize and have fellowship with other Christians wherever we find them. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:25-27)