STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19: 7-8; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Godhead

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work 6-day creation, providence and redemption (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

God the Father

We believe in God the Father, who is infinite, eternal, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and spiritual death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 4:24; Isaiah 44:6).

God the Son

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension in heaven and perpetual intercession for His people. We believe in the personal, bodily premillennial return of Christ occurring in two phases. (1) To complete the Church Age by rapturing all believers; and (2) as King, to end the Great Tribulation, judge the nations and usher in the Millennial Kingdom. (John 1:1-2; 1:14; Romans 5:8; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1; John 14:3; Isaiah 9:6.).

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, proceeding from the Father and the Son, who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. We believe He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6:19; John 14:16-18: 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14;).

Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternal punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Isa 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; John 8:44; 11 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelations 20:10).

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; that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:53; Romans 3:10-19; 8:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 John 3:8).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We further believe that salvation is manifested in two-fold way: (1) a godly sorrow for sin, and (2) a turning from sin to live a godly life. Those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will rejoice forever in God’s presence, and those who refuse to accept Him will be forever separated from God (John 1:12; 3:36; Ephesians 1:7; 2:9-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Believers

Eternal Security and Assurance

We believer that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus
secure in Christ forever (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39:1 Corinthians l:4-8; l Peter l:5; John 5:13).

Assurance
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galations 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

The Two Natures

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 -Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly pleasures, practices and associations is command of God (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 110 7:1; 11 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 11 John 9-11).

Priesthood

We believe in the priesthood of all believers; that is, that every believer, in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, has the right of direct access to God through prayer and that no priest, church or decree can come between the believer and his Lord (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 2:5-9).

The Church

The Universal Church

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We further believe that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today, and, that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and then authority became established (Acts 2:41; 47; Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:11,12:1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

The Local Church

We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, edification of the saints, and fellowship. We also believe that the local church shall be self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating. The ultimate objective of the church is the evangelization of the world (Matthew 28:19; 20; Acts 2:42; 14:27; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 4:11,12).

The Ordinances

We believe that there are only two New Testament ordinances that Christians are commanded to observe, namely:

Water Baptism

While recognizing that baptism has no saving merit, it is our conviction that after one is saved, baptism is the next step in order to portray to the world the believers union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It is our further conviction that the Scriptural method of water baptism is by immersion. We believe the New Testament order is (1) to believe, (2) to be baptized, and (3) to be added to the church (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 28:19; 20; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 2:41).

The Lord’s Supper

We believe the observance of the Lord’s Supper to be the privilege of all born again believers, and by the reverent use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate the death of Christ. It is a spiritual exercise of His saints to be observed “till He come” and should be proceeded always by a solemn self-examination and confession of any known sin (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Luke 22:19-20).