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Statement of Beliefs
1. Authority
of God's Word
The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God.
It is the revelation of God to man, the infallible,
authoritative rule of faith and conduct (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2
Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter
1:21).
2. One true God
There is one true God who has revealed himself as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew
28:19; Luke 3:22).
3. Deity of the Lord Jesus
Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The
Scriptures declare:
a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3;
2 Corinthians 5:21).
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke
24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11;
2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
4. Fall of man
Man was created good and upright but by voluntary transgression
fell and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death, which is
separation from God (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans
5:12-19).
5. Salvation of man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.
a. Conditions to salvation. Salvation is
received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord
Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians
2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
b. Evidences of salvation. The inward
evidence is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and
holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
6. Ordinances of the church
a. Baptism in water by
immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who
repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be
baptized. This declares to the world that they have died with
Christ and been raised with Him to walk in newness of life
(Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).
b. Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper, consists
of the elements -- bread and the fruit of the vine. It is
a symbol of our sharing the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4); a
reminder of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a
prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26).
7. Baptism in the Holy
Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and
earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. With it
comes enduement of power for life and service (Luke 24:49; Acts
1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). It is distinct from and
subsequent to the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16;
15:7-9).
8. 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).
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that
which is evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1
Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a
life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord"
(Hebrews 12:14).
10. Church and its mission
The Church is the body of Christ of which each believer is a
part (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry
is for the
threefold purpose of leading the church in: evangelizing the
world (Mark 16:15-20); worshiping God (John 4:23,24); building a
body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son
(Ephesians 4:11,16).
12. Divine healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel, provided for
in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah
53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. Blessed hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and
their rapture together with those who are alive at the coming of
the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (Romans
8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Titus
2:13).
14. Millennial reign of
Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of all
Christians, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible
return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for 1,000
years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7;
19:11-14; 20:1-6).
15. Final judgment
There will be a final judgment of the wicked dead according to
their works. Whoever is not found written in the
Book of Life will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the
lake of fire (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20;
20:11-15; 21:8).
16. New heavens and new
earth
"We, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13;
Revelation 21,22).
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