What We Believe

The Holy Scripture, the Bible, is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to humanity and the sufficient rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12)

The triune Godhead is comprised of three (3) separate and distinct personalities, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:10; Luke 3:22)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. Scriptures declare:

1. Jesus’ virgin birth (Matthew 1:13; Luke 1:31, 35)
2. Jesus’ sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
3. Jesus’ miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
4. Jesus’ substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
5. Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 25:6; 1 Corinthians 5:21)
6. Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)

Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)

1. Humanity’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus Christ became sin and sickness, providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10)
2. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity. (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7)

1. The ordinance of baptism by burial in water as Jesus Christ was buried, should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4)
2. “And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'” (1 Corinthians 11:24; 25, 28)

All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, which is the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”, 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 endowment of power for life and service, the impartation of spiritual gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)  This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 2:38; 10:44-48; 11:14-16)

The full consummation of the filling of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and by the subsequent manifestation of the spiritual power in public testimony and service. (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; Galatians 5:22-23)

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication to God. (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:13) The scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing our individual identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reflecting daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:1-11; 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13)

The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, the divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in Heaven. (Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23) Since God’s purpose concerning man is to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the primary reason for being is:

1. To be an ambassador of God for evangelizing the world. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-20)
2. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
3. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son. (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12)

The Church exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit which:

1. Enables believers to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs. (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3-4)
2. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 12; 13; 14)
3. Equips believers to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit, gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11-12)

A divinely called and biblically ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:

1. Evangelization of the world. (Mark 16:15, 20)
2. Worship of God (John 4:23,24)
3. Building of a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.(Ephesians 4:11-16)

The resurrection of those who are dead in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:12, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)