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OUR STATEMENT OF
FAITH
This is an outline of the basics of our belief. Of course
we could go on and on about the relationship among believers, the end of times,
etc. But we include herein, our basic statement of faith.
GOD
We believe that God, the Creator, the Father of Jesus Christ, is “the only true
God” (John 17:3).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), is the
only-begotten Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, was filled with Holy
Spirit, lived a sinless life, and suffered and died as a payment for the sins of
mankind. He was raised from the dead, and exalted to the position of “Lord” by
God Himself. Jesus is the Head over all matters to the Church, His Body.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus
Christ to all believers and is received at the new birth (Matthew 3:11, John
14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 2:4; 2:38-39; 19:1-7).
THE BIBLE
We believe the Scriptures (the Bible) are the inspired Word of God
(“God-breathed”), the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit. They are perfect in their original writing,
without flaw or contradiction, and provide the only sure basis for faith.
Understanding the Scriptures is attainable by applying logic and sound
principles of biblical interpretation, in conjunction with the spirit of God in
the believer (I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16).
MANKIND – HIS FALL & REDEMPTION
We believe MAN is a created being (not evolved from something), made in the
likeness and image of God, but through the fall of Adam (first man), sin entered
the world. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent by God the Father to undo the work of the
devil and to give His life to redeem and restore mankind back to God (I John
3:8). Salvation is the gift of God’s grace to man, not achieved through good
works, but only through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).
NEW BIRTH & ETERNAL LIFE
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that brings forth repentance
(2 Corinthians 7:10). We believe salvation is given to those who confess Jesus
Christ as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Immediately at this confession, man is then “saved”, “born-again”, “sealed”,
“anointed”, “clothed with power from on high”, and “baptized with holy spirit”
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:13-14). This baptism in holy spirit is the
“one baptism” referred to in (Ephesians 4:5). This “new birth” through faith in
Jesus Christ insures eternal life for the believer (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12).
MANIFESTATIONS & GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that all nine “manifestations” of the gift of God (“holy spirit”) are
available, desirable, and profitable to every believer to operate by faith in
conjunction with God’s energizing. They are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing,
miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of
tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). We believe that God has given every believer a
measure of “spiritual gifts” differing from each other to do the “work of the
ministry”. When used cooperatively with other believers, these gifts will “build
up” the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:8, 11-12)
SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in
the doctrine of sanctification (to make holy; being free from sin) as a definite
yet progressive work of grace, starting at the time of salvation and continuing
until the return of our Lord Jesus (Hebrews 12:14, I Thessalonians 5:23, II
Peter 3:18, I Corinthians 1:30, II Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14).
THE CHURCH
We believe that there is a scriptural distinction between the Church of the Body
of Christ and Israel. The Church, to which all believers (Jews & Gentiles)
belong today, began on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) and will end with
the Rapture of all Christians. The “Mystery” (secret) revealed in Ephesians is
that those from both Jew and Gentile would be “joint heirs”, and members of a
“joint body”. This mystery (secret) is not revealed in the Old Testament, the
Four Gospels, or the book of Revelation, and was first made known to the Apostle
Paul. The Church Epistles (Romans through Thessalonians) form the nucleus of
Scripture written to the Church and is what we accept as our infallible guide
concerning our conduct and doctrine.
