We Believe…
About the Precious, Holy, Written Word of God
We believe… the Lord our God has given us His examples about how we are to live like Christ, love like Christ, and labor like Christ…as we pass through this world. The following are our tenants of faith.
We believe…The Scriptures:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God; it is the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21). The Bible is the only living book in existence. (Hebrews 4:12)
We believe…The Godhead:
Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal (Deuteronomy 6:4; Philippians 2:6). God the Father is the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26).
We believe…Man, His Fall & Redemption:
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible says “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
We believe…Salvation:
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection were provided for the salvation of all people, but are effective only for those who believe. Christ’s death and resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation, and only those who believe in Jesus Christ become born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God (John 3:16).
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world [All people], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [All who believe] in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We believe that God’s saving grace is resistible, that election unto salvation is conditional on faith in Christ, and that persevering in faith is necessary for final salvation (Eph 2:8-9; Rev 2-3).
Eph 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Faith is not – works… Faith is believing]
Rev 2:6b – To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 2:11b – He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:17b – To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev 2: 26-29 – And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:5-6 – He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:12 – Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:21 – To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
We overcome, by the blood of the Lamb [Grace] and the word of our testimony [Faith] (Rev 12:11). This faith must endure until our last breath.
We believe…Water Baptism:
The Ordinance of Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). Because infants are unable to identify with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, we do not believe it is Scriptural to baptize them in water. However, we do believe in dedicating babies and children to the Lord until they are old enough to experience the New Birth.
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority; I baptize you in the Name of the Father; and the Son; and the Holy Ghost. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
We believe…The Lord’s Supper:
We believe the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper / Holy Communion / the Lord’s Table is a memorial to Christ’s death and to His soon return. We also believe it to be a time of fellowship with Christ as well as a point of contact for releasing faith in any and all of the promises of God written in the Holy Scriptures (Luke 22:19, 20; 1Corinthians 11:23-26). Born Again believers have the privilege of Partaking in the Lord’s Supper; reserved for those in Covenant with the Almighty.
We believe…Sanctification:
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
We believe…Resurrection of the Just & the Return of Our Lord:
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…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; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 5:10; 20:6).
We believe…Hell & Eternal Retribution:
Hell is as literal as Heaven. One who physically dies in his sins is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire; therefore, he has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20).
We believe…The Great Commission:
The Great Commission is for all who come to believe in Christ (Matt 28:18-20). Through His last address to His disciples, Jesus set forth the mission of every Christian. Therefore, as ambassadors, each Christian is to take the gospel of Christ to all of the world by sharing, as the Holy Spirit leads, to those encountered each day. Due to the fact that the Lord’s return is imminent, the Great Commission must be the pressing issue for all who believe.