What We Believe
The Scriptures Inspired
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. (II Tim. 3:15-17. I Pet. 1:23-25. Heb. 4:12.)
The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM”; and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association; i.e., as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. (Deut. 6:4. Mark 12:29. Isa. 43:10. Matt. 28:19.)
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
- His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23. Luke 1:31,35.)
- His sinless life (Heb. 7:26. I Pet. 2:22.)
- His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38.)
- His substitutionary and atoning death on the cross (I Cor. 5:3. II Cor. 5:21.)
- His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6. Luke 24:39. I Cor. 15:4.)
- His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33. Phil. 2:9-11. Heb. 1-3.)
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” But man by voluntary transgression fell, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7. Rom 5:12-21.)
The Salvation of Man
(A) Conditions to Salvation. The grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing to regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 2:11; 3:5-7. Rom 10:13-15. Luke 24:47.)
(B) Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a like of righteousness and true holiness. (Eph. 4:24. Titus 2:12.)
Ordinances of the Church
(A) Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19. Mark 16:16. Acts 10:47,48. Rom. 6:4.)
(B) Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread, and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers until His return.
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49. Acts 1:4-8. I Cor. 12:1-31.) This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the New Birth (Acts 2:38; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9.)
With the baptism in the Holy Ghost comes such an experience as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39. Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43. Heb. 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is evidenced by initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit give utterance (Acts 2:4; 19:1-6), and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 1:8; 2:42-43.) The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (I Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use.
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1,2. I Thes. 5:23. Heb. 13:12.) The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14.) By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:15,16.)
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13. Gal. 2:20. Phil 2:12,13. I Pet. 1:5.)
The Church
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer born of the Spirit is an integral part of the General Assembly and the Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22. Heb 12:23.)
The Ministry
The divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) the evangelization of the world, and (2) the edifying of the body of Christ (Mark 16:15,20. Eph. 4:11-13.)
Divine Healing
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4-5. Matt. 8:16-17. Mark 16:18. James 5:14.)
The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who are fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is imminent and is the blessed hope of the Church (I Thes. 4:16-18. Rom. 8:23. Titus 2:13. I Cor. 15:51-52.)
The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zech. 14:5. Matt. 24:27,30. Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6.) This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezek. 27:21,22. Zeph. 3:19,20. Rom. 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isa. 11:6-9. Psa. 72:3-8. Micah 4:3,4.)
The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt. 25:46. Mark 9:43-48. Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8.)
The New Heavens and New Earth
We, “according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Pet. 3:13. Rev. 21:1.)