Statement Of Faith
1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURE—The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the work of the holy men 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).
2. Our God is One but manifested in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
THE GODHEAD—Our God is One, but manifested in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal in attributes (Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:6). However, God the Father is greater in position 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 continue a course of action both of the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26).
3. 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.
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. The Bible says “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
4. Salvation is the gift of God to man through faith in Jesus Christ.
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).
5. The New Birth is necessary to all men and, when experienced, produces eternal life.
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH—Man’s first step toward salvation is godly regret that leads to 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).
6. Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only.
WATER BAPTISM—Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance symbolizes 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; “Based 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.”
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is a gift accompanied by the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
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 after the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Mat. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1–7; Acts 2:1–4).
8. We believe in sanctification. Every born-again Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit and is required to live a life of holiness.
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).
9. Healing is the privilege of every member of the Church today provided through Jesus’ death on the Cross.
DIVINE HEALING—Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is produced by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the redemption 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 that we need to take care of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and should not be forced to take DNA/MRNA altering substances against the will of a believer as it can alter God’s image and purpose in life. We believe that we cannot take any vaccines produced using human cells from present or past abortions, as that would be a sin and against the word of God. (Exodus 20:13) We believe God created mankind in His image, and human life begins at fertilization (Psalm 139:13-16).
10. Jesus will return and “. . . 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 . . .” (1 Thess. 4:16–17).
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 be caught 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. 5:10; 20:6).
11. The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is eternally lost and, therefore, will have no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repent.
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION—The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, will have no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repent. The lake of fire is a factual place. The terms “eternal” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19-20).