Doctrinal Statement
THE BIBLE
We believe that scripture is the sole infallible rule of faith for the church. The Bible, is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men, who spoke and wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the sum total of God’s revelation concerning all things essential to his glory. And to the salvation and faith and life of men, is either explicitly set down or implicitly contained in the Holy Scriptures. The new covenant as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Corinthians. 2:13)
GODHEAD
We believe in one God that eternally exists and reveals Himself in three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit being co-equal - having each the same nature, attributes and perfections, worthy of the same worship and confidence. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:26-27 Philippians 2:6, Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14, 10:30, 14:15-17; 28 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14, Romans 1:7 15:16, Hebrews 1:3, Ephesians 4:4-6)
We believe in God as absolute and sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that creation was by divine command, from nothing and not through an evolutionary process. (John 1:3, 10; Acts 17:24-25; Genesis 1:1)
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal God He is the same substance as the Father. The Son is the Word who became flesh-covered, the One Begotten, who has existed with the Father in eternity “Perfect in Godhead and also Perfect in manhood, very God and very man” in all things (John 1:1, 1:3 1:4 14, 8-58, 13-19 Colossians 2:9, 1:16-17, Titus 2:13, Galatians 4:4, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 Revelation 1:8,18, 20:4,22:13, Hebrews 1:1-:3, 7-25 Luke 1:30-35; Ephesians 4:8; John 1:1-5, 10-14, 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:3,11;)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God, possessing all the divine attributes. He has come to give testimony of Jesus and glorify him. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He guides us into all truth, revealing the things of Christ and brings divine comfort and help to the believer. He regenerates, indwells, and seals all believers at the moment of their salvation, filling them in response to yieldedness with the goal of conforming them to the image of Christ. By continued communion through prayer, the Holy Spirit will guide you to live a supernatural, victorious overcoming life that is pleasing to God (John 3:5, 14:16-17,15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13)
MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. The Bible says” all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “There is none righteous, no not one.” We believe that all men are morally corrupt, and of themselves utterly unable to remedy their lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 51:5, Romans 1:18, 3:10,:23, 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
We believe that God, by His sovereign choice and out of love for men, sent Christ into the world to save sinners. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to do undo the works of the devil and gave his life and shed His blood to redeem mankind and restore man back to God. He is the only mediator between God and man, the only sacrifice for sin, and the only way into the presence of God, our Heavenly Father (1 John 3:8, 16,,4:14, John 4:14,14:6, 1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 5:14;1, Colossians 1:13-21, 3:1-11)
SALVATION - ETERNAL LIFE & THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that man’s first step toward salvation is goodly sorrow that brings about repentance. This is followed by the New Birth. The New Birth is also referred to as one “being saved” or “born-again.” The New Birth produces eternal life in the believer.
Salvation is a gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works and that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever.
(2 Corinthians 7:10, l John 5:12-13, John 3:3-5,16, Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:5,5:1, 6:23, 8:1-2, 38-39 10:9-10, John 10:27-29; Ephesians 2:8-9)
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers and is received by faith 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. Though the Holy Spirit, God the Father distributes various gifts to each believer and places them in the Body of Christ as it has pleased Him. We believe in the continuing operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12-14 and as experienced in the early church. (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4)
Tongues is a divine, supernatural language and means whereby the believer may commune with God. Tongues, also referred to as praying in the spirit, is a means of an acceptable expression of thanks and worship unto God. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to walk in the Power of God manifesting the Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit, live a holy life and be a witness of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit guides the believer into insight, revelation and truth of God’s word and insight into the future.
SANCTIFICATION
We believe in the doctrine of Sanctification is a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of our salvation Sanctification refers to a "setting apart." Even though Christians are in the world, they are not of the world. Their lifestyle should be according to the righteous and holy standard revealed in God's Word. The Bible teaches that "without holiness no man can see the Lord". To live a holy life is to live a life free from sin. God has delivered us from the authority of sin so we might serve Him in newness of spirit. We are commanded to separate ourselves from all unclean things of the flesh and every unclean spirit and "to perfect holiness in the fear of God." (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Romans 6:4-14; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ; that they are united together in the body of Christ of which He is Lord and Head; and are commissioned for the God-given tasks of worshiping, fellowshipping, teaching, evangelizing and exercising the spiritual gifts. (Acts 2:42,47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-25, 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2)
We believe that the establishment and continuance of the local church is clearly taught in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
We believe that the local church is autonomous and free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
THE ORDINANCES
We believe the ordinances for the believer are water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper as a memorial. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. But both of which are an evidence of obedience and fellowship with the Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 35-38; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
LAYING ON OF HANDS
The laying on of hands is a biblical practice. Jesus practiced it as a blessing (Mark 10:13-16) and it is our grounds for baby dedication instead of infant baptism. We believe in the 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 8:14-18); to receive a particular impartation or anointing from God (1 Timothy 4:14); laying on of hands for appointment to leadership. (1 Timothy 4:14, Acts 13:1-5)
DIVINE HEALING
Sickness and disease are a curse on human life and were released into the world as a result of Adam's sin. It is God's will that we "prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers." (3 John 2) God has made provision for healing in and through His Word and through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Healing can be realized through the prayer of faith, by the laying on of hands, and by the gift of healing (Psalm 103:3, 107:20; James 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 16:18; Matthew 8:16,17; Isaiah 53:4,5; 1 Corinthians 12:9).
Sin, including the sin of unforgiveness, can hinder or prevent healing from being received. It is expected that the believer will live a life that encourages health and well being, thus cooperating with the laws of God, which promote good health. We recognize that God has given us various natural means and medical science, which also serve to encourage, and prolong life and health. At the same time, we acknowledge that all healing comes from God.
DELIVERANCE
The need for deliverance is manifested by an inability to be free from a bondage: e.g., mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual normally associated with demon activity. It is God's desire to bring deliverance to His people (Job 5:19, Psalms 91:3, Hebrews 2:14,15; 2 Peter 2:9). We have been granted authority in the name of Jesus to bring deliverance to others (Mark 16:17, John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11). We must understand that our warfare is with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), our weapon is the Word of God, our authority and power is from Jesus himself (Mark 16:17, Acts 1:8), and the battlefield is first of all in the spiritual realms (Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Romans 8:9, Galatians 5:22-23, 2Timothy 1:7).
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe that a Christian should walk in holiness and not after the flesh, with the goal of being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a new creation, walking in the Spirit, the Christian learns to grow in faith, in obedience to Scripture, in prayer, in fellowship with the saints and in a life of service. God has created us for a divine purpose and destiny We believe that the Christian will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to have his life evaluated according to his deeds. (Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:11,12, 20-24; Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-2;28, John 17:17; Ephesians 2:10, 6:18; Romans 8:29; 12:3-21, 2 Corinthians 3:17, 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Timothy 2: 15-16)
THE SECOND COMING
We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting glory and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Titus 2:11-13; John 14:1-6; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Peter 3:10)
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)