What
We Believe
The One True God
We believe in the one ever living, eternal God: infinite in power, Holy
in nature, attributes and purposes: and possessing absolute, indivisible
deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son,
in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (I Cor. 8:6; Eph.
4:6; II Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28).
The Bible Inspired
We believe that the Bible, the accepted Canon of the Sacred Scriptures,
is a supreme revelation verbally inspired of God to man, superior to conscience
and reason, though not contrary to reason, and is therefore our infallible,
authoritative rule of faith and practice (John 17:17; Rom. 12: 1,2; 2
Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:19-21).
The Diety of the Lord Jesus Christ
We therefore believe that Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal the
Father and was the brightness of His Glory and the expressed image of
His person. We believe that Jesus Christ was the Creator of all things,
for by Him the worlds were made. We further believe that in Christ dwelt
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and that it is impossible to know
the Father without knowing the Son (John 1:1-14; John 13; Colossians 1:15-19;
2; Hebrews 1). The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures
declare: His virgin birth (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:30-35);
His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22); His miracles (Acts 2:22;
10:38); His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Cor. 13:3; 2 Cor. 5:21);
His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor.
15:4); and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33;
Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
The Lordship of Christ
Wherefore, we acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all things
in heaven, and in the earth and under the earth (Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36;
Romans 10:1-13; 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:9-10).
The Fall of Man
We believe that man, by voluntary transgression, fell from a state of
righteousness and holiness in which he was first created, into a state
of death in trespasses and sins; and thereby incurred not only physical
death but also spiritual depravity and death or separation from God in
which he is held as a slave of sin and an enemy of God, until he is delivered
by the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Gen.1: 26-27; 2:17;
3:6; Rom. 5:21; Psalms 51:5; Rom. 6:23; John 8:32-36).
The Believers Foundation
We believe that each believer must lay a foundation of Biblical truth
and experience upon which he builds his spiritual life of faith. These
foundation stones are: repentance from dead works; faith toward God; the
doctrine of baptisms; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; and
eternal judgment (Heb.6:1-2).
The New Birth
We believe the words of Jesus that “ye must be born again”;
that being born again signifies the partaking in the death, burial, and
resurrection of Christ (John 3:3-7; 1 Cor. 15:1-4); that “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” (Ephesians
2:8-9). We further believe that the emphasis for a continual walk in grace
should be of heart righteousness and purity. We hold that all believers
must live pure lives, being examples to both believers and unbelievers
(Rom. 4:1-5; 2 Cor. 7:1; Col. 4:5; 1 Thes. 4:12).
The Work of Repentance
We believe that repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
produces the work of Justification in the believer. Through faith in the
shed blood of Christ, the believer is brought onto the grounds of the
New Covenant and made a partaker of the death of Christ. This is the initial
step of salvation, and is not to be considered synonymous with the complete
work of the “new birth” (Luke 22:20; Rom. 5:1,9; Heb. 13:20).
The Sacrament of Water Baptism
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
Therefore, we believe that water baptism is a vital part of the fullness
of salvation. It is necessary for complete regeneration or the new birth,
which is essential to laying a foundation for going on to spiritual maturity
(Heb. 6:1-3). We further believe that it is the means whereby those who
have been justified by faith in the blood of Jesus receive the Covenant
sign of circumcision of heart, are made partakers in the burial of Christ,
and become identified with Him in His resurrection. Moreover, we believe
that water baptism is the taking on of a great responsibility because
in it a person makes an everlasting commitment to God and His will. These
commitments require that water baptism be administered only to those who
have reached an age of accountability. The sacrament of water baptism
is to be performed by immersion and in the name of Jesus Christ (Col.
3:17; Acts 2:38). It is a baptism into the Body of Christ rather than
into a denomination or a dogma (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts
2:38; 22:19; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; col. 2:9-14; 3:17; 1 Pet.3: 20-21; 1 John
5:5-8; Rom. 6).
The Seal of the New Covenant
We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an important and necessary
experience in the life of every believer, which is not dependent upon
a believer’s worthiness, but is a free gift of God. We further believe
that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is the seal of the New Covenant,
and the repentance, water baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
constitute the full experience of regeneration or the new birth (John
3:3-7; Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:13).
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
We therefore believe that all believers are entitled to, and should ardently
expect to receive, the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy
Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the
normal experience of all believers in the early Christian Church (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 11:14-16). With the Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes
such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39;
Acts 4:8); a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28); and
intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42).
The Physical Sign of the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit
We hold that God has provided glossa as a prayer language for the purpose
of intercession, praise, and communication with God, and that all believers
may speak with other tongues. The full consummation of the Baptism of
believers in the Holy Spirit is the initial physical sign of speaking
with other tongues as the spirit give utterance, and afterwards has a
continual two-fold aspect, as speaking to God and speaking to men (Isaiah
28:11-12; Ezekiel 36:26; Acts 2:4; 10:44-48; 19:6; 1 Cor.14).
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death and suffering of Jesus
Christ in sacrificing Himself for fallen man. It consists of bread (representing
the body of Christ) and the fruit of the vine (representing the blood
of Christ). Partaking the Lord’s Supper is an expression of faith
in sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor.10:16-17),
and is enjoined on all believers until He comes (1 Cor.11:26).
The Gospel of Salvation
We believe that salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel. Therefore,
salvation gathers into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as
justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness,
sanctification, and glorification. The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation
imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness.
Salvation is in three tenses:
(a) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin and
is safe (Luke 7:50’ 1 Cor.1:18:2; 2:15; Eph. 2:5-8; 2 Tim. 1:9).
(b) The believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom.
13:11; 2 Cor.3:18; Gal. 2:19-20; Phil. 1:19; 2:12-13; 2 Thes.2:13).
(c) The believer shall be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ
(Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10:36; 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 John 3:2).
Salvation is by grace through faith. It is a free gift, and wholly without
works (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8). The divine order is
first salvation, then works (Eph. 2:9-10; Titus 3:5-8).
The Healing of the Body
We believe that 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; Acts 4:30; 1 Cor.12:9;
James 5:14-16).
The Unity of the Body
We believe that we are one Body being members one of another, and that
the basis of our fellowship is in Christ in the power of the Spirit (Psalms
133; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 2:13-22; 4:3-6; Col. 3:15).
The Local Church
We believe in the autonomy of the local church expression, and adherence
to the Scriptural revelation of its life, ministry, and worship (Matthew
18:20; Heb. 10:25; Eph. 4:6; Heb.13:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3; Heb.13:15;
Phil. 3:3; Eph. 5:18-20; Col. 3:16).
The Ministry Gifts Given to the
Church
We believe in the ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors,
and teachers given to the church at the ascension of Jesus Christ; and
that they continue to be needed and should be expected today (Eph. 4:7-12;
1 Cor.12:28; 1 Tim. 3:2-12; Rom. 16:1; Titus 1:5-9; Rom. 12).
The Care and Discipline of the
Body
We believe that God has set overseers in the local church to watch over
the souls of the believers and to apply discipline when necessary to keep
the unity of the church. We believe that discipline in the local church
is to be carried out by the overseers in accordance to the Scriptures
(Heb. 13:17; Matt. 18:16-20; acts 20:28; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 2:6; 2
Thes. 3:11-12).
The Priesthood of the Believer
We believe that each Christian is called and chosen of God before the
foundation of the world, to be a priest unto God and to minister unto
the Father in praises; offering up the sacrifices of the fruit of his
lips and his time and body for the service of the Lord; and his material
holdings. We therefore hold that all true believers have been purchased
with the blood of Jesus and are no longer their own, but belong unto the
Father to be used for His glory. As possessions of the Lord, believers
must give themselves to serving Him, finding their place in the Church,
His Body (Rom 12:3-8), and making themselves available by being present
when the Church comes together, that they might be able to minister their
gifts and talents for the building up of the Body of Christ (John 15:16;
Eph. 1:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:20; 12:18; Heb. 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5,9).
The Tithe Is Holy
We believe that the tithe (10 percent of one’s individual gross
earnings) is Holy unto God. We believe that “bringing all the tithes
into the store house” of the Local Church and giving freewill offerings
is to be practiced continually by all believers. It is an outward expression
of the Lordship of Christ in the believer and the unity of the Local Church
and the Body of Christ as it joins together in support of the work of
the Lord (Gen. 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Heb. 6:20; 7:1-10; Lev. 27:30-32; Prov.3:9-10;
Mal. 3:6-18; Matt. 23:23; 1 Cor.16:1-2).
The Testimony of Jesus
We believe that each believer should speak in tongues so that he might
edify himself and the whole church. “For ye may all prophesy one
by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (1 Cor. 14:31).
We further believe that prophecy in the church is the sign of the end
time visitation of God, for the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit
of prophecy” (Joel 2; Acts 2; 1 Cor. 14:1-5; Rev. 19:10).
The Manifestations of the Spirit
We believe that the manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) should
be and must be operative in the church to enjoy the fullness of God. We
also believe that these manifestations are imparted by the sovereignty
of Holy Spirit and only work or are operated by this one and self-same
Spirit, dividing or distributing to each one individually just as He wills
(1 Cor.12:11).
The Laying On of Hands
We believe in the doctrine of the laying on of hands for:
(a) The confirmation and ordination of ministry by the laying on of hands
by an assemblage of elders (Acts 13:1-3).
(b) The impartation of spiritual gifts when accompanied by prophecy and
the laying on of hands by an assemblage of elders (1 Tim. 4:14; 2:Tim.
1:6).
(c) The impartation of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-18).
(d) The ministry of healing to the sick (Mark 16:18).
(e) The confirming of the believers in the faith (Acts 14:22).
(f) The blessings and dedication of children (Mark 10:16).
The Blessed Hope
We believe in 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 (John 5:28-29;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 16:22b).
The Personal Return of our Lord
We believe in the personal return of our Lord and the restitution of all
things spoken by the mouth of all the prophets since the world began (Matt.
23:39; 25:31; 24:42-44; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; 1 Thessalonians
4:14-18).
The Final Judgment
We believe that the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murders, fornicators,
sorcerers, idolaters, and liars shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt. 24:36-51;
25:46; Rom. 6:23; 2 Thes. 1:5-9; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8).
The New Heaven and New Earth
We believe that there shall be a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). |