1. THE SCRIPTURES: We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only infallible, authoritative Word of God. The Bible is the product of holy men of old, who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We accept the New Covenant, as revealed in the New Testament, as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
 2. THE GODHEAD: We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Philippians 2:6, Matthew 3:16-17)
 

               A. THE FATHER – God the Father is greater than all; the Source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. (John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14)
               B. THE SON – Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, the Word made flesh, the One begotten. He has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14, John 10:30)

 

We believe in:
a. the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ,
b. His virgin birth,
c. His sinless life,
d. His miracles,
e. His vicarious sufferings and atoning sacrifice though His shed blood,
f. His bodily resurrection,
g. His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and
h. His personal return in power and glory.
 
               C. THE HOLY SPIRIT – The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)

 
3. MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION: We believe regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful humanity. 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.” “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifest in the flesh to undo the works of the devil. He gave His life and shed His blood to redeem man and restore him back to God. (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:9-10, 1 John 3:8, Galatians 3:13-14)  
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 3:8)

 

4. ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH – Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that works repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces eternal life. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 5:7, John 3:3-5)

 

5. CONCERNING BAPTISMS:

 

               A. WATER BAPTISM – Baptism in water is by immersion. It is a direct command of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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 12:2, Acts 8:36-39)

 

               B. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – The baptism of or in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God, promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who believe. The “promise of the Father” is the Holy Spirit, indwelling and empowering the believer to live a holy life and to do the works of the Father. The baptism of the Holy Spirit includes (but is not limited to) speaking in other tongues as the Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4)

 

6. SANCTIFICATION – The Bible teaches that without holiness, no man may see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive, work of grace, commencing at regeneration and continuing unto the consummation of salvation. (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30)

 

7. DIVINE HEALING – Healing for the physical ills of the human body is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and it is the right and privilege of every member of the church today. (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5)

 

8. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD – The angel said, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner.” His return 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)

 

The Lord shall return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with his saints, a generation of kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

 

9. HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION – One who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire, and has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or of repentance. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20, Hebrews 6:1-2)

 

10. COMMUNION – THE LORD’S SUPPER. – We partake of the Lord’s Supper to show the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-31). The bread symbolizes the Lord’s broken body (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Corinthians 11:24). The cup represents the New Covenant in His blood which provides for us forgiveness and relationship with God (Hebrews 9, 1 Corinthians 11:25). We judge ourselves and realize that this is our salvation and receive it (1 Corinthians 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 (1 Corinthians 11:27).

 

11. THE LAYING ON OF HANDS – We believe that power or anointing, or any other necessary quality, can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing. This is our grounds for baby dedication rather than baptism. Laying on of hands for healing (Mark 5:22,23 and 41; Mark 5:28-31; Acts 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 Spirit (Acts 8:16-18), laying on of hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing, and to cultivate that anointing (1 Timothy 4:14), laying on of hands for ordination to consecrate and receive necessary ministry tools (1 Timothy 4:14.)