Statement of Faith
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has
existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son
and is eternal (John 14:16, John 15:26).
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. The Bible says "...all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and "...There is
none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10, 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified and buried,
rose again and ascended to the Father. Jesus Christ was manifested to
undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and
restore man back to God (Romans 5:14, 1 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 (Ephesians 2:8-10).
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH - The
new birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life
(2 Corinthians 7:10, John 3:3-5, 1 John 5:12).
WATER BAPTISM - Baptism in water is
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, Romans 6:4, Colossians 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. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of
speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance and by the
subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public service (Matthew 3:11,
John 14:16,17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38,39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:1-4).
SANCTIFICATION - 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. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to
live a life of holiness and obedience. (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2
Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 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
(James 5:14-15, Mark 16:18, Isaiah 53:4,5, Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD - The
angels said to Jesus' disciples, "...this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven." 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..." (Acts
1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of
kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and
priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Revelation 5:10; 20:6).
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 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).