Statement of Faith | Doctrinal Statement

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:16,17

Inspiration of Scriptures: We believe that the Holy Bible is the written Word of the Living God. We believe it was inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by holy men of old. It is infallible in content and a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction which is truth without any mixture of error. When we speak of the divine nature of the Bible it applies strictly speaking to the original writings (the Autographs) and not to the translations; however, we believe mankind has received the actual Word of God in His divine plan as the Bible has withstood all attempts at its extinction down through the ages. The Bible reveals the principles by which God will judge us and reveals His great plan of salvation. It will remain eternally. We believe the Bible is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. Therefore, we believe this Word should go into all the world and should be given first place in every believer’s life (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; and 2 Peter 1:19-21).

God and The Trinity: We believe in one God revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost…making up the blessed Trinity. The Scriptures clearly teach that there is one God who is an infinite being and who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is wholly God, equal in power and glory, and possesses precisely the same attributes and perfection. Though undivided in nature and being, they each have different roles, eternally functioning with perfect harmony. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:18-20, John 1:1-14, John 14:5-14, Matthew 3:16,17; 1 John 5:6,7).

Jesus, Fully God and Fully Man: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and second person of the Trinity, is God. He is of the same essence as the Father and equal to him. At just the right time, according to the predestined plan of God, the eternal Son became a man. He was made like us in every way, except for his sinlessness. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. This union of the divine and human made Jesus forever both God and man in one person. He is fully God and fully man. Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man, was, and is, fully God and fully man. (John 1:1-14, Romans 1:1-4, John 3:16, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:5-14, John 10:22-39, Galatians 4:1-7, Hebrews 4:14-16, Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-24, 1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Man: We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner- lost, undone, without hope, and without God. (Romans 3:19-23; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,2,12).

Salvation: We believe the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is how the new birth occurs, which we call being “born again.” Salvation is possible only through God’s grace by faith, not by our works. When one believes and accepts Christ, he is then justified by the saving work of the Cross. Good works are simply the fruit or proof of salvation (Acts 3:19,20; Romans 4:1-5, 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-10). Water Baptism should immediately follow the experience of the new birth as a public witness to one’s faith (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38).

Body of Christ: We believe the Body of Christ is made up of all who have been “born again” regardless of denominational differences. We believe in the spirit of unity, while allowing for variety in individual ministries as to their work, calling, and location as directed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:34,35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

Blood Atonement: We believe in the saving power of the blood of Jesus and His imputed righteousness (Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-9, 5:1-11; Ephesians 1:3-14).

Bodily Resurrection: We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:24-29).

Ascension: We believe that Christ Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in building a place for us in His Kingdom and interceding for the saints (John 14:2,3; Romans 8:34).

Second Coming: We believe in the visible, bodily return of Christ Jesus to this earth, to meet His Church (Bride) and to judge the world (Acts 1:10,11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; James 5:8; Revelation 1:7).

Judgment: God has appointed a day when he will judge the world with perfect justice through Jesus Christ, to whom he has given all power and authority. On that day the fallen angels will be judged as well as everyone who has ever lived on the earth. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for everything they have done (their thoughts, words, and actions) while they lived on the earth. The Lord Jesus will give his unchangeable verdict on that day, forever sealing the destinies of everyone. The wicked will be sent into the Lake of Fire to experience eternal torment, while the righteous, those whom Jesus purchased on the cross, will be rewarded and will enter into eternal life (John 5:24-30, Jude 5-7, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-15).

Ordinances: We believe that the two ordinances of the Body of Christ are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

Heaven and Hell: We believe Scripture clearly sets forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal bliss and service for the saved — a literal hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the saved (Matthew 25:34,41,46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15).

Holy Spirit: We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into all truth, indwell all believers, and give gifts to those He wills that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 will operate through present-day Christians who yield to Jesus (Luke 11:13; John 7:37-39, 14:16,17, 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-18).

Baptism in the Holy Spirit: We believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (1 Corinthians 14), is for all believers as promised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), Jesus (Acts 1:4-8), and Peter (Acts 2:38-41). The fulfillment of this promise was witnessed by early disciples of Christ (Acts 2:4, 10:44-47, 19:1-6) and operates in many present-day disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Divine Healing: We believe God has used doctors, medicines, and other natural means as channels of healing; however, we believe divine healing is provided for believers in the atonement made by Jesus’ blood shed on the cross (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe divine healing may be received by the laying on of hands by the elders (James 5:14-16), by the prayer of an anointed person gifted by the Holy Spirit for healing the sick (1 Corinthians 12:9), or by a direct act of receiving this provision by faith (Mark 11:23,24).

Marriage: Marriage was originally established by God to join a man and a woman together for life. Believers are instructed to only marry another believer. Marriage serves a variety of God-ordained purposes. Its primary purpose is to provide companionship. A secondary purpose is procreation. Another reason for marriage is to provide a legitimate outlet for our sexual drive. Marriage also functions as a picture for the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. (Genesis 2:18-25, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 7:39-40, Romans 7:1-3, Genesis 1:26-31, 1 Corinthians 7:1-7). Although most individuals will get married, there is a special enabling for some to be single. Singleness (celibacy) provides greater freedom for service to the Lord and is to be honored in the church as well (Matthew 19:10-12, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, 1 Corinthians 7:8-9).