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What We Believe
We believe...
The Holy Scriptures
We believe
that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, immutable, steadfast, and
unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
The Eternal Godhead
We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the
Three are coexistent, coeternal, and equal in divine perfection (1 John 5:7).
The Fall of Man
We believe
that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the
depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all
mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis
1:27; Romans 5:12).
The Plan of Redemption
We believe
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His
life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus
2:14).
Salvation Through Grace
We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human
righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor
(Ephesians 2:8).
Repentance and
Acceptance
We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a
whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’
sacrificial death (Romans 10:6-10; 1 John 1:9).
The New Birth
We
believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real
one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His
Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (2
Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).
Daily Christian Life
We believe
that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in
sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the
faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Water Baptism and the Lord's
Supper
We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to
His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord’s
Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith
as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians
11:24-26)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers
to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving
grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in
which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1: 5,
8; 2:4).
The Spirit-Filled
Life
We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in
the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience,
love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16, 25).
The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
We
believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and
that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and
evangelism(1 Corinthians 12:1-11); as evidence of a Spirit-filled life,
believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-25).
Moderation
We
believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that
relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism;
their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and
self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).
Divine Healing
We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal
the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still
willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to
faith (Mark 16: 17, 18; James 5:14-16).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and
imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of
His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend
from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up
to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
Church Relationship
We
believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of
believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort
and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to
advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that
civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of
God (Acts 4: 18-20; Romans 13:1-5).
Judgment
We
believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to
be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting
punishment (Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Heaven
We
believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal
home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17).
Hell
We believe
that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which
was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become
the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior
(Matthew 13: 41, 42; Revelation 10:10, 15).
Evangelism
We
believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and
that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark
16:15).
Tithing and Offerings
We believe
that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread
the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16: 1,
2).
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