What We Believe

God

We believe in ONE GOD, and that He only is God (Exodus 6:3; Isaiah 45:5,6; John 17:3); that He is eternal (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 90:2; 102:27;ITimothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8); invisible (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 4:24); infinite in wisdom (Job 11:7-10; Psalm 145:3; 147:5); goodness (Psalm 36:6; 104:21; 145:9,16; Matthew 5:45); mercy, love and grace (Psalm 107:1; John 3:16; Luke 1:54; Romans 9:16; Ephesians 1:6,7; 2:4-9; Titus 2:11-14); power (Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37) that He is Maker of Heaven and earth (Genesis I: John 1:3); and that as God. He is triune, being revealed as Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:7).Article H – The Son of God We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16, 17:5), is the second person in the Godhead, co-equal and coexistent, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost (Phil. 2:5; John 1:24; Matthew 1:18; Mark 1:11; I John 1:3, 7; Isaiah 7:14). We further believe in the fullness of time He was manifested in the flesh, incarnated by the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:34-35) in the womb of the Virgin Mary (John 1:1-4).

The Son of God

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16, Matthew
17:5), is the second person in the triune Godhead, co-equal and co-existent, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:6; John 1:24; Matthew 1:18; Mark 1:11; 1 John 1:3-7; Isaiah 7:14).

We further believe in the fullness of time He was manifested in the flesh, incarnated by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34-35) in the womb of the Virgin Mary (John 1:1-4).

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the triune Godhead; and
that He is ever present and active in the Church of Christ (John 14:16); convicting (John 16:8) and regenerating those who believe in Jesus Christ; dwelling in, sanctifying, teaching and comforting believers (John 14:16-17; John 17:17) and guiding them into all truth as it is in Christ Jesus (John 16:13), (John 14:26), and empowering them to witness (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Bible

We believe that the Holy Bible is the ultimate authority for human living and is composed of sixty-six books, known as the Old and New Testaments, and that said books contain the eternal inerrant word of God. (Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 43:13; Psalm 80:36-37; Matthew 24:35; John 1:1-4). We believe that the Bible was written by holy men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Samuel 23:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16) and that it contains all necessary truth pertaining to salvation and to Christian living (2 Peter 1:3).

Original Sin

(a). We believe that original sin is the corruption of the nature of all offsprings of Adam by which they are separated from original righteousness and made sinners by nature (Romans 3:9-24; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 6:20; John 14:6), and that it is referred to in the scriptures as, the carnal mind, the flesh, sin that dwelleth in me and such like (Romans 7:17; Romans 8:6-8).
(b) We believe that original sin renders man unfit to enter the presence of God (Genesis 3:22-24; Colossians 2:13a), and incapacitates man for the service of God (Romans 8:7-8), and to keep God’s holy law (Romans 7:12-18; Romans 8:6-7).
(c) We believe that original sin cannot be overcome by mere force of human
will, nor by mental culture (Romans 7:12-23), but must be eradicated by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:29;
Hebrews 13:12; 1 John 1:7).
(d) We believe that original sin brings every man under the penalty of death
(Romans 5:12) and makes man by nature a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3), and that only Christ can deliver from the penalty of death and restore man to divine favor and give everlasting life (John 3:16-19; 1 John 5:10-12).

Attonement

We believe that the atonement made by Jesus Christ through the shedding of His blood for the remission of sins, is for the whole human race; and that
whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified, regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin (Romans 3:22-26; Romans 5:9; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 9:13-14, 22).

Repentance

We believe that repentance is a sincere change of the mind involving a sense of personal guilt of sin and a turning away from sin to righteousness; and that the penitent heart is graciously helped and pardoned by the Spirit of God. (Acts 2:37-38; Acts 26:18; Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-10).

Justification

We believe that justification is God’s judicial work done for man, whereby
full pardon is granted to all who repent, believe and receive Jesus Christ as
personal Savior and Lord, exonerating him from the guilt and penalty of sin. (Acts 10:43; Romans 3:24-27; Romans 5:1; Romans 2:16-18).

Regeneration

We believe that regeneration is a spiritual transformation wrought in the
heart of the penitent by the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the word of God, renewing him in the spirit of his mind (Ephesians 4:23); and that no accountable person may enter into the kingdom of God without having this experience (John 3:3-7; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).

We further believe that regeneration is manifested by victory over the
world and sin (1 John 3:7-10), and by regulating one’s relationship with all men according to the will of God, having the heart filled with divine love. (1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 5:1, 2).

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the act of divine grace, whereby man is
freed from moral depravity (original sin) and made holy.

We further believe that sanctification can and must be experienced in this
present world to prepare man to see God. (John 17:15-17; Hebrews 2:11; 10:14; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

In justification, the guilt of sin is removed; in regeneration, the love of sin is
removed; in sanctification, the inclination to practice sin is removed.

Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that Christ truly rose from the
dead, ascended into heaven and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Acts 1:9; 7:56; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 1:3;
Hebrews 7:25). We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust (I Corinthians 15:3b-4: 15:36-16:4) and that the just shall be raised incorruptible and shall be changed and made like unto Christ’s own glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:52; Philippians 3:20, 21). The unjust shall be resurrected also but unto everlasting damnation and punishment (Revelation 20:14-15).

The Second Coming

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to rapture the church and to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:10).

Baptism

We believe that baptism is commanded by our Lord as an ordinance in the
church; and that it belongs to the believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ (not infants who cannot believe) and that the Bible way of administering it is by immersion (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:14-16; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:1).

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a New Testament ordinance, and that it
was instituted when our Lord celebrated His Last Passover with His disciples, and that it consists of bread and wine (unfermented) and that as often as we take it we declare the Lord’s death until He comes again (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34).

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

(a). We believe that every true believer is heir to the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 4:6-7).

(b). We believe that He is the gift of God in Christ Jesus to the children of God, sanctifying, quickening, guiding into all truth, and giving power to obey and witness God’s work (John 14:16-26; Acts 1:8).

(c). We believe that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is an integral part of
conversion (Acts 2:39; Acts 5:32; Acts 8:14-16; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-4).

(d). We believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the ratification of man’s
acceptance with God and the earnest or guarantee of man’s eternal inheritance in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14).

(e). We believe that the Holy Spirit baptized the church, Jews on the day of
Pentecost (Acts 1:4-5), and Gentiles, at the house of Cornelius (Acts 11:13-18).
His indwelling also is referred to as a gift (Acts 2:38-39), a receiving (Acts 19:1-2), a filling (Ephesians 5:18), and an anointing (1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 1:21-22).

(f). We believe that the Spirit-filled life produces the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23); however, the greatest fruit is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that spiritual gifts are set forth in 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14, Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:7-16. We further believe that spiritual gifts are given to every true believer for the work of ministry. Although the type and number of gifts that we possess may differ, each is valuable and meaningful to the church (Ephesians 4:7). Each local church is encouraged to assist its members in identifying their individual gift(s) and for providing the nurturing for the developing and exercising of personal spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. We further believe that spiritual gifts are used “for the perfecting of saints, for the work of the ministry, the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). When all the spiritual gifts are recognized and fully utilized, the local church functions as a true spiritual organism, vibrant and vital in performing its mission in the world. We recognize that the diversity of spiritual gifts is beneficial to the body, and encourage our members to allow all gifts to be demonstrated and not allow some to overshadow others (I Corinthians 12:25).

We further believe:
(1) That no one gift is the specific sign or evidence of the Holy Spirit’s
presence, but faith (Hebrews 11:1) and love (1 Corinthians 13; John 13:35) are the evidence; not even power alone is the evidence, for that may be of Satan.

(2). That these gifts, though they may be of use to edification, may be
counterfeited or abused and alone, are not to be trusted as evidence (2
Thessalonians 2:7-12; 2 Timothy 3:8).

(3). That there are three essential evidences of the spirit-filled life: Faith, Hopeand Love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

(4). That the Bible endorses speaking in tongues, or a gift of tongues, but that no one really speaks in tongues unless he speaks a language understood by man, as in Acts chapter 2.

(5). That though one speaks with tongues, it is not the primary evidence of the Holy Spirit, but merely a sign (1 Corinthians 14:22). When such a gift is
exercised, it should follow strictly the guidelines of 1 Corinthians 14:26-33.

Foot Washing

We believe in foot washing as an act of obedience in following the example
of humility given by our Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:1-18). We hold that foot
washing is not an ordinance in the church and was never so administered in the New Testament Church.

Divine Healing

We believe in and teach divine healing according to the scripture (Psalm
103:2; Jeremiah 30:17). We further believe that divine healing is a gift of God to the church (1 Corinthians 12:9), and that the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up (Matthew 9:21-22; 21:21-22; Mark 10:51-52; James 5:14-16).

Speaking with Tongues

We believe that the Bible endorses speaking with tongues as a means of edifying the Church and as a sign to unbelievers. (I Corinthians 14:12, 22, 26).
We further believe:
1) That speaking in tongues is not the primary evidence of the presence of
the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23);
2) That one who speaks with tongues speaks a language understood by man
(Acts 2:4-11);
3) That if any one speaks with tongues, it should be by two, or at the most
three, and in turn, and one should interpret; and that if there is no
interpreter, he should be silent in the church, and speak to himself, and to
God (I Corinthians 14:27-28).