OUR BELIEFS
1. The Scriptures Inspired.
The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God.
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The scriptures declare: His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God.
4. The Fall of Man.
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own 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).
5. The Salvation of Man.
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
6. The Ordinances of the Church.
Baptism in Water & Holy Communion. 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 (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48: Romans 6:4). The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4).
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost.
All believers are entitled to and should earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all 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 Corinthians 12:1-31).
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost.
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).
9. Sanctification.
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). 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.
10. The Church and Its Mission.
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 church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry.
Our Lord has provided a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry 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 a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11,16).
12. Divine Healing.
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53: 4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope.
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep 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 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51,52)
14. The Millenial 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 earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6)
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel,
Ezekiel 37:21,22, Zephaniah 3:19,20, Romans 11:26,27and the establishment of universal peace.
Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalms 72:3-8, Micah 4:3,4
15. The Final Judgement.
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
16. The New Heavens and New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22)
The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God.
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The scriptures declare: His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God.
4. The Fall of Man.
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own 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).
5. The Salvation of Man.
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
6. The Ordinances of the Church.
Baptism in Water & Holy Communion. 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 (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48: Romans 6:4). The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4).
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost.
All believers are entitled to and should earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all 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 Corinthians 12:1-31).
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost.
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).
9. Sanctification.
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). 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.
10. The Church and Its Mission.
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 church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry.
Our Lord has provided a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry 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 a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11,16).
12. Divine Healing.
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53: 4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope.
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep 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 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51,52)
14. The Millenial 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 earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6)
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel,
Ezekiel 37:21,22, Zephaniah 3:19,20, Romans 11:26,27and the establishment of universal peace.
Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalms 72:3-8, Micah 4:3,4
15. The Final Judgement.
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
16. The New Heavens and New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22)