Our Beliefs
GOD
We believe that there is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator, and Redeemer of all that is. He is totally loving and completely holy. He is just, truthful, always present, all-powerful, all-knowing, unchanging, and full of mercy and grace. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self-existent – one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4. Genesis 1:26-27, Isaiah 44:6-8, Isaiah 43:10-11, Isaiah 45:5, Luke 9:35, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, I John 5:7)
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the supernaturally given revelation from God Himself, concerning Himself, His being, nature, character, and will. We believe all 66 books of the Bible are fully and equally inspired; and that every single word of Scripture was produced under the control of the Holy Spirit. The Bible in its entirety is inerrant and infallible. For this reason, the Bible is our final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith, and practice. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Matthew 5:17-18)
JESUS
We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God; that He is God incarnate, fully God and fully man; that He was eternally preexistent with the Father and the Holy Spirit; and that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By His blood shed at the cross, He obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints forever. He will return to earth again to reign in righteousness. (2 Corinthians 13:14, Luke 3:22, Luke 9:35).
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 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)
(f) and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, Acts 2:32-33)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We experience the life and presence of God in our relationship with the Holy Spirit, who reveals sin, points us to Christ, applies Christ’s work to our lives, and compels us to be more like Him. The Spirit gives spiritual gifts and power to the church. He is the One who creates biblical community within the church, revealing truth and guiding our lives individually and corporately. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission. We believe the church should operate in the fullness of the Spirit as the first-century church did in the book of Acts. (John 16:8–11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor.12:12–14; Rom. 8:9; Rom 12:3–8, Eph. 5:18) (Acts 1:8; 2, 4, 8, 10, 19 ; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13 , John 14:16-17; Galatians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:18)
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to receive the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. We believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. (Acts 2:4, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9)
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
- an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8
- a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28
- an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42
- and an active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. (Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10).
SALVATION
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, Titus 3:5-7).
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12).
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separating oneself from evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12: 1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can obey the command, “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11; 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is God’s primary instrument, through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes on the earth. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the kingdom.(Mt. 16:17–19; Acts 2:17–18, 42; Eph. 3:14–21; 4:11–16; 1 Tim. 2:11–15; Heb. 10:23–25; 1 Pet. 2:4–5, 9–10)
DIVINE HEALING
We believe divine healing is an integral part of the gospel and is active in the lives of people today through Jesus, who is the Healer. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement (Christ’s sacrifice for sin), by the power of God through the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, and through the Gifts of the Spirit. Healing includes physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional restoration. It is the privilege of all believers and is included in the redemption of man as “the children’s bread” (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; Matthew 9:35; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16, Acts 10:38; Luke 9:11; Matthew 10:1).
THE TWO SACRAMENTS:
WATER BAPTISM
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. We do not believe in the baptism of infants since there is no way an infant can make a conscious decision to follow Christ. Children and adults who understand the spiritual significance of their commitment to Christ are welcomed and encouraged to share this important spiritual rite. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47,48, Romans 6:4).
By being baptized, you are:
- Following the EXAMPLE set by Jesus
- Demonstrating your CHANGED LIFE
- Declaring your commitment PUBLICLY
THE LORD’S SUPPER (COMMUNION)
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25).
GOD'S WILL FOR PROVISION
It is the Father’s will for believers to become healthy and whole in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
- Spiritual (John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10).
- Mental and Emotional (2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3).
- Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
- Financial (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19).
ISRAEL
We believe in the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel, as taught in the Scriptures, and God’s end-time plan for the nation of Israel (Gen. 28:13). The greatest miracle of our day has been the re-establishment or rebirth of the State of Israel according to prophecy. In God’s sovereign will, Israel serves as a channel of His blessing to the entire world (Gen. 12:3) for His glory (Isa. 43:7), and His witness to the nations (Isa. 43:10). God’s election of Israel for this unique relationship is irrevocable. We believe Israel is distinct from the church and central to God’s plan, past, present, and future. The unfulfilled prophecies given to Israel in the Old Testament will find their literal fulfillment in Israel at a future time (Ps. 105:6-10; Ro. 11:28-29; Ezek. 34:11-31; 36-39; Hos. 3; Amos 9:11-15; Zech. 12-14; Isa. 11; 43; 54; 60-62; 66; Rom. 11:1-34).
MARRIAGE
Biblical marriage consists only of a faithful, heterosexual union between one genetic male and one genetic female, and biblical marriage is the only legitimate and acceptable context for a sexual relationship. We believe God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 12:1, 2, 26 and 27; I Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:3; Heb. 13:4-7).
THE FALL OF MAN
EVIL
We believe that Satan, originally a great and good angel, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil, and unrest on earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:10–17, Ezek. 28:11–19, Matthew 12:25–29, Matthew 25:41, John 12:31, Revelation 12:7–9)
THE SECOND COMING
We believe in the future, visible, and bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth, commonly called the Second Coming. At this time, Christ will rule the nations and establish His kingdom on earth. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7).
ETERNAL LIFE AND JUDGEMENT
Heaven and hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not the end. We believe that when Christians die, they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and the glorious transformation of their bodies. The saved will receive eternal rewards and forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great triune God. We also believe that there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire, which is the second death. (Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:46; Lk. 16:19–31; Jn. 5:25–29; 1 Cor. 15:35–58; 2 Cor. 5:1–10; Phil. 1:19–26, 3:20–21; 2 Thes. 1:5–10; Rev. 20:11–15; 21:1–22:15)
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN & THE NEW HEAVENS & THE NEW EARTH
THE MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, and the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-14; Revelation 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21; Revelation 22).
