In Essential Beliefs: We have UNITY (Ephesians 4:4-6)
In Non-Essential Beliefs: We have LIBERTY (Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22)
In All Our Beliefs: We show CHARITY (1 Corinthians 13:2)
1. The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. We believe that the Holy Bible is the written Word of the Living God. We believe it was inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by holy men of old. It is infallible in content and a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction which is truth without any mixture of error. The Bible reveals the principles by which God will judge us and reveals His great plan of salvation. It will remain eternally. We believe the Bible is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant. The Bible should be given first place in every believer's life.
Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-24,25; 2 Peter 1: 19- 21; Romans 16:25-26
2. The One True God - Trinity
We believe that there is only one living and true God who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual and personal Being. He is perfect, infinite, and eternal in His being, holiness and love, wisdom and power. He is absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. Our God is revealed to us in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. making up the blessed Trinity.
1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:1,26; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11; John 10:30;15:26; I Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:6-7
3. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, On earth, Jesus was born of a virgin, was wholly God and wholly man, lived a sinless life, died in our place as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, was buried, arose bodily from the grave, and ascended into Heaven. We believe that He was divine as no other man can be. The second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word, existing from all eternity, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. He became man by miracle of the virgin birth, begotten of the Holy Spirit. That, as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead. That He arose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures and ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is now our great High Priest, our Advocate and Intercessor before the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
John 1:1-2,14; 3:16; 20:28; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4,5; Philippians 2:5-10, I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1,2; 1 Timothy 2:5; Isaiah 9:6
4. Redemption
We believe that man was the direct creation of God, being made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, man became a sinful creature. Thus, alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God, and has within him/her, no possible means of salvation. We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner, lost, without hope, and without God. His only hope is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; 3:16; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:19-23, Romans 5:12-21; Galatians 3:11,22; Ephesians 2:1-2,12
5. Regeneration
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
John 6:44,-45
6. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that all who accept Christ as their Savior are born again. We believe the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is how the new birth occurs, which we call being "born again." Through faith in Christ, all true believers have received the gift of eternal life, have a perfect righteousness, have been adopted as children (sonship) into the family of God, have deliverance and security from all condemnation, have every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish. Apart from Christ there is no possible salvation.
Acts 3:19-20; Romans 4:1-5; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; John 3:14; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:1; Philippians 1:6
7. 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 appropriate salvation.
Acts 2:21, Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9
8. Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11
9. Jesus' Blood
We believe in the saving power of the blood of Jesus and His imputed righteousness. The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death.
1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29, Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-9, Romans 5:1-11; Ephesians 1:3-14
10. Jesus Indwells All Believers
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as their Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead.
John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20
11. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit – the third person of the Trinity- whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into all truth, indwell all believers, and give gifts to those He wills that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 will operate through present-day Christians who yield to Jesus). Given 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.
Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6; Luke 11:13; John 7:37-39, John 14:16-17, John 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-18
12. 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 lists of these gifts are 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.
Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11,12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10
13. Righteous Living
We believe in righteous living, not as a means of salvation in any sense, but it is the proper evidence and fruit of salvation. Therefore, as Christians we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privilege of bearing the gospel to a lost world. Remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who in gratitude for the undeserved mercies of God have presented themselves wholly to Christ.
(Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:16
14. The Church
We believe that the local church is a local assembly of born-again believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinance, to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and a united testimony, and to actively engage in carrying out the Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, Acts10:34-35; I Corinthians 11:2; I Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23
15. Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation.
Luke 24:16, 36, 39-43; John 2:19-21, 20:24-29, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
16. Ascension of The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that Christ Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in building a place for us in His Kingdom and interceding for the saints.
John 14:2-3; Romans 8:34
17. The Secong Coming of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom and to judge the world. He will first, resurrect the righteous dead, and then translate the righteous living to be removed from the earth, His waiting church. He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:27,28; 10:37; Jude 14,15; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4-7
18. Healing of the Sick
We believe that God is able and willing to heal all physical and spiritual sickness of the human body by His power through the prayer of faith. We believe divine healing is provided for believers in the atonement made by Jesus' blood shed on the cross. 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’ work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. We believe God uses doctors, medicines, and other natural means as channels of healing.
Isaiah 53:4, 5; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29
19. Heaven
We believe that heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4
20. Hell
We believe that after living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the fallen angels.
Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8
21. Existence of Satan
We believe in the existence of Satan who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God. Utterly depraved in character, he became the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits, the deceiver and god of this present world. That his powers are vast but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good; that he was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ephesians 6:12; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Revelation 12:9-11; 20:10
22. God's Will For provision
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
SPIRITUAL
(John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10).
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
(2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3). PHYSICAL (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
FINANCIAL
(Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19)
23. Two Sacraments—Baptism | Communion
I. BAPTISM IN WATER
We believe in the ordinance of Water Baptism by immersion according to the Holy Scriptures. Water Baptism should immediately follow the experience of the new birth as a public witness to one's faith (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). The ordinance of baptism symbolizes burial with Christ (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed on Christ as the Savior of their Souls and Lord (Romans 6;3-5; Colossians 2:12). In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life. Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new believer is commanded by the Word of God be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8;12, 36-38; Romans 6:4
II. THE LORD’S SUPPER (COMMUNION)
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. The Lord’s Supper is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers “until He comes”. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly by all established places of worship as instructed in the Scriptures.
Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25