Statement of Faith
I. THE SCRIPTURES:
The inspired, inerrant Word of God revealed to men by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Tim. 3:15 – 17; I Peter 1:23, 25; Heb. 4:12)
II. THE ONE TRUE GOD:
The triune being existing as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19)
III. MAN:
A created triune being – spirit, soul, and body. Created in the image and likeness of God. Man voluntarily transgressed and fell causing sin to enter into the earth. Redemption for man is in Jesus Christ.
(Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:17; Romans 5:12-21)
IV. THE SALVATION OF MAN:
God’s grace is available to all through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift from God to man. It is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Man’s first step towards salvation is Godly sorrow which worketh repentance. The Bible teaches that with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Eph. 2:8; 2 Cor. 7:10; Romans 10:9-10)
V. WATER BAPTISM:
An ordinance of the church which symbolizes a declaration of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. This is evidenced by submersion of the believer in water.
(Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48, Rom. 6:4)
VI. THE LORD’S SUPPER:
An ordinance of the church consisting of elements symbolizing the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus. The blood represents the new covenant between God and man that provides us forgiveness of sins and a relationship with God.
(Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 11: 24-26)
VII. INFILLING OF THE HOLY GHOST:
Holiness, the will of God for all believers, comes from the infilling of the Holy Ghost. The infilling of the Holy Ghost is a gift promised by God and it is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance; with it comes an infilling of power so that the believer can be an effective witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. This power is also necessary for the believer to be functional in the spiritual gifts for the edifying of the Body and for work in the ministry.
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Cor. 12:1-31; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7)
VIII. LAYING ON OF HANDS:
In the Bible this was displayed on different occasions for different purposes. It was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood and also by Jesus and the disciples. We believe that the laying on of hands should be used in the following areas of ministry: Laying on of hands for the dedication of babies; Laying on of hands for healing; Laying on of hands to confer an office; Laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost; Laying on of hands for ordination; Laying on of hands for the consecration of gifts and to receive the necessary ministry tools.
(Mark 10:12-16; Mark 5:22-23, 41; Mark 5:28-31; Acts 28:8-9; Acts 19:11-12; Acts 6:2-6; Acts 8:16-18; 1Tim. 4:14)
IX. SANCTIFICATION:
The carrying on to perfection the work which began in regeneration and extends to the whole man. It is the progressive work of grace and the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work.
(Rom. 6:13; 1 Cor. 6:11; Heb. 2:14; Phil. 3:12-14)
X. THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL:
The Body of Christ which is the habitation of the Holy Spirit. Each believer is a member of the general assembly and church of the firstborn which is written in heaven.
(Eph. 1:22; Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23)
XI. THE LOCAL CHURCH:
A body of believers systematically assembled together by the orchestration of the Holy Spirit with a common vision.
XII. WOMEN IN MINISTRY:
Women are an integral part of the Body of Christ with gifts according to the measure of grace given to them.
(Acts 18:24-26; 21:8-9; Gal. 3:28; Romans 12:4-6)
XIII. TOTAL PROSPERITY:
Prosperity is in line with the teachings of the Bible. It is God’s desire that we prosper in every area of our lives.
Spiritually – John 3:3;
Mentally – 2 Tim. 1:7; Romans 12:2;
Physically – Matt. 8:17; I Peter 2:24;
Financially – III John 2
XIV. MINISTRY:
Divinely called and scripturally ordained by God for a two-fold purpose:
(1) for the edifying of the Body of Christ, (2) for the equipping of the saints.
(Eph. 4:11-13)
XV. RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST:
The physical (bodily) resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated His power over sin, death, and the grave. His resurrection made the believer’s salvation complete. Jesus Christ’s resurrection power has now been made available to the believer through the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
(1 Cor. 15:3-8, 12-19, 51-58; Rom. 6:3-11)
XVI. THE TRANSLATION OF THE CHURCH:
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the Lord and await the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. “The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:”
(Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; I Thess. 4:16)
XVII. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF JESUS:
Following the tribulation period, Jesus will return to the earth as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Together, with His saints, He shall reign a thousand years.
(Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7)
XVIII. THE LAKE OF FIRE:
It is a literal place that is designated for the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophets, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Anyone who physically dies in sin without accepting Christ is hopelessly damned to the lake of fire eternally and therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for repentance.
(Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15; Hebrews 9:27)
XIX. ETERNITY:
The Bible teaches of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells without room for sin and death, for the former things are passed away.
(2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1-7)
