What We Believe
The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible, and the only Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It is God’s Word to all people. Human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote it. It alone is the final authority and the supreme source of truth for living. It is inspired by God and is truth, without error and is our infallible rule of faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:20-21; Romans 16:25-26)
God
God is the Eternal Godhead, creator and Ruler of the universe. There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal and are One, both distinguishable and indivisible, commonly called the Trinity (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Mathew 3:16-17; Luke 1:35 Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11)
God the Father
The Father is the first member of the Trinity. During creation; He was the designer, Jesus being the one who created and the Holy Spirit thus breathed life into all creation. Fatherhood belongs to the very essence of the Father and so it was for all eternity. It was the Father who sent Jesus to earth to become a sacrifice for all humanity. During Jesus’ life he spoke often of His Father; In the temple he was doing His Father’s business.” “My Father is greater than me,” he stated; “Be reconciled to the Father.” Every word that Jesus spoke came from the Father: “the things I say, I say as the Father told me.” Jesus directed people to His Father saying: no ones goes to the Father except through me…” thus lifting up His Father’s eternal presence as the believer's ultimate goal. (Gen 1:1; John 12:49-50; John 5:19, 5:30, Matthew 26:27-29; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 3:15 John 1:14)
Jesus
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for all humanity and through His substitutionary work on the cross atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return again in power and glory. He alone is the Savior of all humanity. (John 1:1, 14; 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; I Timothy 2:5)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding spiritual truth and guidance. Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Christians have power available to them as found in the book of Acts. (Acts 1:4-8; Acts 1:5; John 20:22; Luke 24:49; I Corinthians 12:1-31)
The Fall of Mankind
Because of the sin of Adam and Eve and the resulting curse, we are all born sinners and only by personally accepting Jesus Christ as Savior, can we receive forgiveness of sin, have an abundant life on earth and enter into an eternal life with Jesus Christ. (John 3:15-17; Romans 3:23; Colossians 1:13-14)
Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was conceived by God, the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb. Therefore He is the Son of God. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35)
Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross thus fulfilling prophecy. He was seen by his disciples and ascended into heaven where He is at the right hand of God until His return. (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4)
Jesus’ Blood
The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse all humanity of all sin. Through His death on the cross He accomplished the redemptive work that allows us to once again be in fellowship with God. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for our sins and sinfulness, enabling all those who believe in Jesus Christ to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29)
Salvation
We are saved by grace through faith and by believing in Jesus Christ, his birth, His death and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not as a result of our good works or of any human efforts. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22)
Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and salvation. (Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9)
Sanctification
Sanctification, though initially occurring at salvation, is also the on going process of yielding to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life and produce the fruits of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:3,5:23; II Corinthians 3:18,6:14-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-3; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Given first at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. This same baptism is available today for all believers and is a subsequent experience after salvation, with the scriptural evidence of speaking in tongues and power for an abundant, victorious life and a fruitful ministry. (Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4, 17, 10:38, 44-46; 11:15-17; 19:1-7; Luke 24:49; Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17)
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible's list of these gifts is not necessarily exhaustive and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters. As a body we emphasize both the supernatural acts of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Word as being essential in our daily lives. (I Corinthians Chapters 12-14, Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; II Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14 I Peter 4:10)
Divine Healing of the Sick
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and thus provides healing for our spirit, soul and bodies. (I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4-6; Psalms 103:2-3; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29)
Heaven
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a place that Jesus has prepared for all who believe in Him. (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20. 19:21.25:34; John 17-24; II Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4)
The Blessed Hope…The Rapture
At a future moment in time, prior to His second coming, all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air and those Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:15-52)
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will be the Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for a thousand years. During this millennial reign universal peace and the salvation of Israel will be accomplished. (Matthew 24:27,30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7,19:11-14; 20:1-6 Ezekiel 37:21-22;Zephanian 3:19-20; Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4)
The Final Judgment
After living one life on earth, the non-believers will be judged by God and sent to eternal punishment, hell, where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. (Matthew 25:41, 25:46; Mark9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14 9-11, 19:20 20:11-15, 21:8)
The New Heavens and New Earth
Christ is preparing a New Heaven and a New Earth for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live with Him there forever following His millennial reign on earth. “And so shall we forever be with the Lord” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation chapters 21 & 22)
Ordinances
1. Water baptism by immersion following salvation
2. Observe the Lord’s Supper through communion
3. Foot washing when the Holy Spirit leads