What We Believe

THE BIBLE

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, therefore it is what we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD

Our God is one but is manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being co-equal (I John 5:7). God the Father is greater than all, the Source of the Word ((John 1:14; 14:28; 16:28). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).

MAN – HIS FALL & REDEMPTION

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (I John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, which is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8).

ETERNAL LIFE & NEW BIRTH

Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, it produces eternal life (John 3:3-5, II Corinthians 7:10, I John 5:12). We further believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation as He said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

WATER BAPTISM

Baptism in water by immersion is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12). The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted: “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.”

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 subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 2:4; 2:38-39; 19:1-7).

SANCTIFICATION

The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in sanctification as a definite yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of salvation and continuing until the physical death (Hebrews 12:14, I Thessalonians 5:23, II Peter 3:18, I Corinthians 1:30, II Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14).

DIVINE HEALING

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body. It is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-16, I Peter 2:24). We further believe in Divine healing, the restoration of health, that by his stripes, we are already healed (Isaiah 53:5)

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST & THE RETURN OF OUR LORD

The angels said, “This same Jesus…shall so come in like manner…” (Acts 1:11). 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…” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then, together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

HEAVEN, HELL & ETERNAL RETRIBUTION

After death, eternal life begins in either Heaven or Hell. Where one spends eternity is based on their decision to live according to God’s Word, the Bible or to rebel against it. The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” 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 (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20).

TITHES & OFFERINGS

Tithes and offerings should be given freely to the local church to address the needs of the ministry (Malachi 3:10) and community. (View what we believe concerning tithing).

ALMS & GIVING

It is the responsibility of the church to give alms and minister to the needs of the poor, sick, homeless, and others in despair (Matthew 25:35).