WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man. They are infallible, authoritative and the absolute, and final rule of faith and conduct. The 66 book cannon of scripture is the total and final revelation of God, His will, His standard, His character, and His truth. All other illumination is, at best, subordinate to the integrity of the Bible when in agreement with it, and, at worst, disproved by the Bible, and therefore heretical.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
1 Thessalonians 2:13
2 Peter 1:21
Psalm 119:89,130
2. THE ONE TRUE GOD
There is one God, Who has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has similarly revealed Himself as, though being One, embodied simultaneously in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, complete in Their divinity, perfect in Their unity, cooperative in Their harmony, vital in Their distinction. He is called the “Triune God” or the Godhead is referred to as the “Trinity”. Though neither term appears in the scripture, these terms help to identify God’s simultaneous distinctions in Three Persons, and yet singularity in Being.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Isaiah 43:10,11
Matthew 28:19
Luke 3:22
Matthew 28:19
2 Corinthians 13:14
John 14:16-17
a. UNITY FURTHER EXPLAINED
The Father has specific constitutions, operations, and characteristics that make Him The Father and not The Son; The Son, likewise, possesses specific constitutions, operations, and characteristics that make Him The Son and not The Father; and there is that in The Holy Spirit by constitutions, operations, and characteristics that make Him The Holy Spirit and not The Father or the Son. Wherefore the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these Three Persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty.
John 1:18
John 15:26
John 17:11
John 17:21
Zechariah 14:9
b. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN
The Lord Jesus Christ, in regards to His Divine Nature, is the Son of God, but in regards to His human nature, He is the Son of Man. He is therefore, acknowledged to be both God and man; who because He is God and man is "Immanuel," God with us. Since the name "Immanuel" embraces both God and man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title, Son of Man, His proper humanity. Therefore, the title Son of God, belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, to the order of time.
Matthew 1:21-23
Matthew 1:23
1 John 4:2
1 John 4:10
1 John 4:14
Revelation 1:13
Revelation 1:17
2 John 1:3
1 John 3:8
Hebrews 7:3
Hebrews 1:1-13
c. Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him. And having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit that we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father until the end, when the Son shall become subject to the Father and deliver to Him the Kingdom that God may be all in all.
Hebrews 1:3
1 Peter 3:22
Acts 2:32-36
Romans 14:11
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His virgin birth,
Matthew 1:23
Luke 1:31
Luke 1:35
His sinless life,
Hebrews 7:26
1 Peter 2:22
His miracles,
Acts 2:22
Acts 10:38
His substitutionary work on the cross,
1 Corinthians 15:3
2 Corinthians 5:21
2 John 2:1-3
His bodily resurrection from the dead,
Matthew 28:6
Luke 24:39
1 Corinthians 15:4
His exaltation to the right hand of God.
Acts 1:9
Acts 1:11
Acts 2:33
Philippians 2:9-11
Hebrews 1:3
His eternal state as High Priest over the House of God
Hebrews 3:1
Hebrews 10:21-22
Hebrews 7:1-17
4. THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and upright; God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." However, man voluntarily succumbed to sin and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
Genesis 1:26,27
Genesis 2:17
Genesis 3:6
Romans 5:12-19
5. THE SALVATION OF MAN
Salvation for man, and redemption from sin and corruption is only possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ
Salvation is predicated and received by belief in, and confession of the Deity, Lordship, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the verbal admittance of sin, and repentance thereof.
Luke 24:47
John 3:3
Romans 10:13-15
Ephesians 2:8
Titus 2:11
Titus 3:5-7
The Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
Romans 8:16
1 John 4:13
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:24
Titus 2:12
1 John 2:29
6. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by 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.
Matthew 28:19
Mark 16:16
Acts 10:47,48
Romans 6:4
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements --bread and the fruit of the vine-- is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"
7. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, 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 enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
Luke 24:49
Acts 1:4
Acts 1:8
1 Corinthians 12:1-31
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
Acts 8:12-17
Acts 10:44-46
Acts 11:14-16
Acts 15:7-9
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8
a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28,29
an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42
and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20, Acts 1:8
8. THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
Acts 2:4
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
1 Corinthians 12:4-10
1 Corinthians 12:28
9. SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
Romans 12:1,2
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Hebrews 13:12
The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."
Hebrews 12:14
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
1 Peter 1:15,16
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:1-11
Romans 6:13
Romans 8:1,2
Romans 8:13
Galatians 2:20
Philippians 2:12,13
1 Peter 1:5
10. 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 Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven.
Ephesians 1:22,23
Ephesians 2:22
Hebrews 12:23
11. THE MINISTRY
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in:
Evangelization of the world.
Mark 16:15-20
Worship of God.
John 4:23,24
Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.
Psalms 112:9
Galatians 2:10; 6:10
James 1:27
12. DIVINE HEALING AND HEALTH
Divine healing and health is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the expiatory work of Christ. Healing is often manifested by The Spirit during, or in confirmation to the preaching of the gospel to the lost, and that same healing, along with Divinely sustained health, is the privilege of all believers.
Isaiah 53:4,5
Matthew 8:16,17
James 5:14-16
Acts 10:38
Galatians 3:13-15
13. THE BLESSED HOPE
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
Romans 8:23
Titus 2:13
1 Corinthians 15:51,52
14. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
Zechariah 14:5
Matthew 24:27
Matthew 24:30
Revelation 1:7
Revelation 19:11-14
Revelation 20:1-6
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel,
Ezekiel 37:21,22
Zephaniah 3:19,20
Romans 11:26,27
and the establishment of universal peace.
Isaiah 11:6-9
Psalms 72:3-8
Micah 4:3,4
15. 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 prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Matthew 25:46
Mark 9:43-48
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 21:8
16. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."
2 Peter 3:13
Revelation 21
Revelation 22
