HOME Statement of Faith
STATEMENT OF FAITH
WE BELIEVE...
THE SCRIPTURES — The Bible is the inspired word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit moved them. (II Tim. 3:16)
THE GODHEAD — Our God is one, but manifested in three persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. (Phil. 2:6)
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION — Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. But through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and "... There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:12-15; Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:23; I John 3:8)
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:8-10)
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. (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39)
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. The initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself give utterance accompanies this experience. (Matt. 8:19; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4)
SANCTIFICATION — The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. (Heb. 12:14; I Thess. 5:23; II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; I Cor. 1:30)
DIVINE HEALING — Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and 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. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4-5)
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HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION — The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or of repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting", used in describing the duration of punishment of the demand in the lake of fire, carry the same though and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God. (Heb. 9:27; Rev 19:20)
COMMUNION — THE LORD'S SUPPER — We partake of the Lord's Supper to show the Lord's death till He comes (I Cor. 11:23-31.) The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken body (Isa. 53:5; I Cor. 11:24). The cup represents the new covenant in His blood, which provides us forgiveness and relationship with God (Heb. 9; I Cor. 11:25). We judge ourselves and realize that this is our salvation and receive it (I Cor. 11:28-30), for if we receive it unworthily — without giving it honor as our salvation — we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (I Cor. 11:27).
LAYING ON OF HANDS — A simple belief that power or anointing or any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. The Levitical Priesthood practiced laying on of hands. Jesus practiced it in (Mark 10:13-16) as a blessing, and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. Laying on of hands for healing (Mark 5:22-23 & 41; Mark 5:28-31; Act 28:8; Acts 19:11-12); laying on of hands to confer office (Acts 6:2-6); laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:16-18); laying on of hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing, and to cultivate the anointing (I Tim. 4:14); laying on of hands for ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools (I Tim. 4:14).
DELIVERANCE— Believe in freedom from the yokes of bondage and expelling of demonic forces. {Matthew 10:1, Mark 16:17-18}
SALVATION— Believe salvation is for all mankind through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection and the deliverance from the power of sin. {John 3:3, Romans 10: 9-10, Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12}
TITHING— Believe in giving 10% of what we have been given to your local Church. It is the “gateway for the believer into the covenant of blessings. In the Hebrew “maasrah,” is translated tenth, or tenth part, and in the Greek “apodekatoo” and in both, it means a payment or giving. Abraham tithed before the law, and God blessed him supernaturally. We’re under grace that we might establish the law; not turn from it. Jesus said that He didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it. {Matthew 5:17-19, Malachi 3:10, Malachi 3:8-9}
SALVATION— Believe salvation is for all mankind through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection and the deliverance from the power of sin. {John 3:3, Romans 10: 9-10, Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12}
TITHING— Believe in giving 10% of what we have been given to your local Church. It is the “gateway for the believer into the covenant of blessings. In the Hebrew “maasrah,” is translated tenth, or tenth part, and in the Greek “apodekatoo” and in both, it means a payment or giving. Abraham tithed before the law, and God blessed him supernaturally. We’re under grace that we might establish the law; not turn from it. Jesus said that He didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it. {Matthew 5:17-19, Malachi 3:10, Malachi 3:8-9}
