What We Believe

The Scriptures Inspired

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man.  The infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason.

(2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12)

The One True God

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM;” and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, i.e. as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

(Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10; Mark 12:29; Matt. 28:19)

Man – His Fall and Redemption

Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after Our likeness.”  But man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

(Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)

The Salvation of Man

(a) Conditions to Salvation – The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life.

(Luk. 9:24-27; Rom. 10:13-15; Tit. 2:11, 3:5-7)
 
(b) The evidences of Salvation – The inward evidence, to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit.  The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.

(Rom. 8:16)

Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord.  In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.

(Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Rom. 6:4)

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of His suffering and death and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers until He comes.

(John 6:48, 51, 53-57; Luke 22:19, 20; II Pet. 1:4; I Cor. 11:26)

The Promise of the Father

All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and services, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.  This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth.

(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Acts 2:38, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9)

Entire Sanctification

The Scriptures teach a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word.

(Heb. 12:14; I Pet. 1:15,16; I Thess. 5:23; I John 2:6; Rom. 8:3,4)

The Church

The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission.  Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the Firstborn which are written in heaven.

(Eph. 1:22, 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23)

The Ministry and Evangelism

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) the evangelization of the world, and (2) the edification of the body of Christ.

(Mark 16:15,20; Eph. 4:11-13)

Divine Healing

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers.

(Isa. 53:4; Matt. 8:16,17; Mark 16:18; John 5:14)

The Blessed Hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is imminent and is the blessed hope of the church.

(I Thess. 4:16,18; Rom. 8:23; Tit. 2:13; I Cor. 15:51,52)

The Millennial Reign of Jesus

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of the nation Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the scriptural promise and the world’s hope.

(II Thess. 1:7, Rom. 11:25,27; Rev. 10:1-7, 19:11-16)

The Lake of Fire

The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

(Rev. 19:20, 20:10-15)

The New Heavens and the New Earth

We, “according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

(II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1)