We Believe
1. The Scriptures
The
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God
(2 Timothy 3:16) presenting to us the complete revelation of His will
for the salvation of men, and constituting the Divine and only rule of
Christian faith and practice (2 Peter 1:2 1).
2. The Godhead
We
believe there is but one true and living God, who is everlasting,
infinite in power, wisdom and goodness; that He is the Creator of all
things, visible and invisible, and Preserver of all things (Romans 1:20;
Colossians 1:16). In the unity of this Godhead, there are three persons
of one individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent and
co-eternal; namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew
3:16, 17; 28:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 1:1,2, 18; 10:33; 14:26;
15:26; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 9:14).
The
Son is the eternally begotten of the Father, and accepted earthly
limitations for the purpose of incarnation, being true God and true man;
conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon
the cross, the just for the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and
all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.
He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the
right hand of the Majesty on High as our great High Priest, and He will
return again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and justice.
The
Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, Executive of the Godhead on earth, the
Comforter sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to indwell, to guide and to
teach the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness
and of judgment.
3. Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man
is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, but
through Adams transgression and fall, sin came into the world (Romans
5:12). "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans
3:23). "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans
3: 10). 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 to God (1 John 3:8).
4. Salvation
Salvation
is made possible through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ on the
cross and through Holy Spirit conviction. Godly sorrow works repentance
and makes possible the experience of the new birth, and Christ formed
within us is the gift of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke
24:47; Titus 3:5-7).
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).
Man
is a free moral agent and can at any time after the new birth
experience turn away from God and die in a state of sin; with the
consequences of hell to look forward to.
5. The Church
The
true Church, built upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians
3:11; Ephesians 2:20), is the Body of our Lord (Romans 12:5; 1
Corinthians 12:27); Christ being the Head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians
1:18). Its earthly constituents are all true believers, born again of
the Spirit (John 3:6) and of the Word (I Peter 1:23), who are living an
overcoming Christian life (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:27).
To
the Church, through its members, is delegated the various gifts and
offices of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:7-lI, 27, 28) which are
necessary for the successful evangelization of the world and the
perfecting of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11,
12).
This
universal, invisible, sanctified Church is the chaste virgin Bride of
Christ (2 Corinthians 1:1,2; Ephesians 5:26, 27; Revelation 21 :9b, 27).
It is this Bride for whom Jesus Christ returns, just prior to the Great
Tribulation, to catch her away and take her to heaven (John 14:23; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18).
6. The Ministry
God,
through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls such as He desires to serve
as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and
specifically endues the one called with the talents and gifts peculiar
to that office or offices (Ephesians 4:11-13). Under no circumstances
should anyone be ordained or set apart to any such office unless the
calling is distinct and evident.
7. Water Baptism
Baptism in water is by immersion, a direct commandment of our Lord
(Matthew
28:19), and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the
Christians identification with Christ in His death, burial and
resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptism formula
is adopted, "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
8. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The
Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11), 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 (John 14:16,
17; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38, 39; 10:44-48). The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is
accompanied by the speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself
gives utterance as the initial physical sign and evidence (Acts 2:4).
9. Sanctification
The
Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord (Hebrews
12:14). 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 (Hebrews 13:12; 2
Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 12 Ephesians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John
17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
10. The Lord's Supper
The
ordinance of the Lords Supper is a commandment of our Savior; and being
a memorial to His death and resurrection, is strictly limited to
Christian believers (1 Corinthians 11:27). The time and frequency of its
observance is left to the discretion of each congregation (1
Corinthians 11:26).
Only unfermented grape juice, the fruit of the
vine, as recommended by our Lord (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18)
shall be used in connection therewith.
11. Foot Washing
Foot
washing is recognized among many believers as a Christian practice, and
the time, manner and frequency of its observance is left to the
discretion of each local congregation (John 13).
12. 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 (Mark
16:18; James 5:14, 15). It is provided for in the atonement of Christ
and is available to all who truly believe.
13. The Resurrection of the Just
The
Bible promises, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner" (Acts
1:11). 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" (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 20:6).
14. Setting a Time for the Lord's Return
It
is unwise to teach that the Lord will come at some specified time,
thereby setting a date for His appearing. It is also unwise to teach,
preach or publish visions of numbers and dates which would tend to fix
the time of the second coming of the Lord (Mark 13:32, 33).
15. The Coming of the Lord
We
believe the Bible presents the coming of Christ as personal, imminent,
pre-tribulational and pre-millennial. We further contend that this
position alone admonishes watchfulness, incites holy living, prevents
spiritual declension, and provides maximum incentive and motive for
urgency and zeal in evangelizing the unsaved. As demonic deception and
satanic darkness deepens, we urge our ministers to maintain and proclaim
this doctrinal viewpoint as the "blessed hope" of the Church.
Furthermore,
we recommend that should any of our preachers hold to the mid or
post-tribulation doctrine, they refrain from preaching and teaching it.
Should they persist in emphasizing this doctrine to the point of making
it an issue, their standing in the fellowship will be seriously
affected.
16. Hell and Eternal Retribution
The
one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and
eternally lost in the Lake of Fire, and therefore has no further
opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for repentance (Hebrews 9:27). The
Lake of Fire is literal (Revelation 19:20). The terms "eternal" and
"everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the
damned (Matthew 25:41-46) 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.
17. Tithes
We recognize the scriptural duty of all our people, as well as ministers, to pay tithes as unto the Lord (Hebrews 7:8).
Tithes
should be used for the support of the active ministry and for the
propagation of the Gospel and work of the Lord in general and not given
to charity or used for other purposes (Malachi 3:7-Il; Hebrews 7:2; 1
Corinthians 9:7-lI; 16:2).
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