The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative, living, eternally reliable Word of God equally in all parts and without error in its original manuscript, absolutely infallible, and our source of supreme revelation from God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to reason; and it is therefore our infallible rule of faith and practice and necessary to our daily lives (II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12).
The Godhead
We believe in one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:20). The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all coeternal, all stand equally superior to time, free from the temporal distinctions of past and future (FATHER – Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:27; I Timothy 1:17; SON – John 1:1-2; John 8:58; Hebrews 1:8; I John 1:2; Revelation 1:8; SPIRIT – Hebrews 9:14).
We believe in God the Father, creator of all things visible and invisible (Colossians 1:15-16).
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who came into the world to reveal the Father, and was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person; that Jesus Christ was the Creator of everything, for by Him all things were made. We further believe that in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and that He was very God and very Man (John 1:1-2 & 14; I Timothy 3:16; Acts 7:37-38).
We believe in Jesus Christ’s pre-existence, incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary and atoning death, bodily resurrection, bodily ascension into heaven, exaltation, present rule at the right hand of God, coming personal return in power and great glory, and in His everlasting Kingdom and dominion (Daniel 7:14; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; Revelation 20:4). We acknowledge His Lordship – that Jesus Christ is Lord over all things in heaven and on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).
We believe in the Holy Spirit, His present Ministry, His indwelling, His empowering, His impartation of gifts for today, and His transforming power in the lives of all believers (I Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22-23).
We believe in God the Father, creator of all things visible and invisible (Colossians 1:15-16).
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who came into the world to reveal the Father, and was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person; that Jesus Christ was the Creator of everything, for by Him all things were made. We further believe that in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and that He was very God and very Man (John 1:1-2 & 14; I Timothy 3:16; Acts 7:37-38).
We believe in Jesus Christ’s pre-existence, incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary and atoning death, bodily resurrection, bodily ascension into heaven, exaltation, present rule at the right hand of God, coming personal return in power and great glory, and in His everlasting Kingdom and dominion (Daniel 7:14; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; Revelation 20:4). We acknowledge His Lordship – that Jesus Christ is Lord over all things in heaven and on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).
We believe in the Holy Spirit, His present Ministry, His indwelling, His empowering, His impartation of gifts for today, and His transforming power in the lives of all believers (I Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22-23).
Man and Salvation
We believe that man was created by a direct and immediate act of God (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:4).
We believe that man by transgression fell from a state of righteousness and holiness in which he was first created into total spiritual depravity, a state of death in trespasses and sins in which he is held as a slave of sin and an enemy of God. As such, he is unable to attain divine righteousness by his own efforts but must be redeemed and delivered by the power of the gospel (Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:1-4).
We believe that repentance and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ are an integral part of God’s work of justification of the believer. Through faith in the shed blood of Christ, he or she is justified and made a partaker in the death of Christ (Romans 5:1; Romans 9).
We believe that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We further believe that the emphasis for a continuous walk in grace should be on demonstrating righteousness and purity of heart, believing in keeping the power of God, walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh, living a lifestyle that demonstrates the character, standards and convictions of Jesus Christ, and not being conformed to the world (Romans 4:1-5; Romans 8:25; Romans 12:1,2; Galatians 5:16-25; Jude 1:24).
We believe that repentance is dependent upon the convicting action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of sinners and believers and their response. The conviction of the Holy Spirit, which often accompanies the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will result in the revelation of the sinfulness of self,
which should lead to godly sorrow. Remorse, or worldly sorrow, is a feeling of deep regret, hopelessness or even despair. It does not lead to constructive change. On the other hand, Godly sorrow produces repentance which causes us to turn away from sin and selfishness and to receive faith for change. Repentance is evidenced by an earnest desire to change. Repentance changes the way we feel and act about sin, self and God. Repentance is a total change of mind, will and emotions (Psalm 51; Matthew 9:12-13; Acts 11:18; Romans 1:18-32; II Corinthians 7:10; II Timothy 2:25).
We believe that in the final judgment, which will accompany the return of Christ, every person will give an account to God of every aspect of this earthly life. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat) is the judgment of believers in reference to rewards or lack thereof. The Great White Throne Judgment is the judgment of unbelievers who will be eternally separated from God and in torment (I Corinthians 3:10-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).
We believe that water baptism is necessary in obedient response to the command of Jesus. Baptism is to be performed only upon repentant believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6. We hold that the real evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one’s response to the Word of God (John 16:13), a Christ-like life, showing forth Christ’s character, and experiencing and manifesting the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit ( John 15:26; John 16:14; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:22-23).
We believe that man by transgression fell from a state of righteousness and holiness in which he was first created into total spiritual depravity, a state of death in trespasses and sins in which he is held as a slave of sin and an enemy of God. As such, he is unable to attain divine righteousness by his own efforts but must be redeemed and delivered by the power of the gospel (Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:1-4).
We believe that repentance and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ are an integral part of God’s work of justification of the believer. Through faith in the shed blood of Christ, he or she is justified and made a partaker in the death of Christ (Romans 5:1; Romans 9).
We believe that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We further believe that the emphasis for a continuous walk in grace should be on demonstrating righteousness and purity of heart, believing in keeping the power of God, walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh, living a lifestyle that demonstrates the character, standards and convictions of Jesus Christ, and not being conformed to the world (Romans 4:1-5; Romans 8:25; Romans 12:1,2; Galatians 5:16-25; Jude 1:24).
We believe that repentance is dependent upon the convicting action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of sinners and believers and their response. The conviction of the Holy Spirit, which often accompanies the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will result in the revelation of the sinfulness of self,
which should lead to godly sorrow. Remorse, or worldly sorrow, is a feeling of deep regret, hopelessness or even despair. It does not lead to constructive change. On the other hand, Godly sorrow produces repentance which causes us to turn away from sin and selfishness and to receive faith for change. Repentance is evidenced by an earnest desire to change. Repentance changes the way we feel and act about sin, self and God. Repentance is a total change of mind, will and emotions (Psalm 51; Matthew 9:12-13; Acts 11:18; Romans 1:18-32; II Corinthians 7:10; II Timothy 2:25).
We believe that in the final judgment, which will accompany the return of Christ, every person will give an account to God of every aspect of this earthly life. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat) is the judgment of believers in reference to rewards or lack thereof. The Great White Throne Judgment is the judgment of unbelievers who will be eternally separated from God and in torment (I Corinthians 3:10-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).
We believe that water baptism is necessary in obedient response to the command of Jesus. Baptism is to be performed only upon repentant believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6. We hold that the real evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one’s response to the Word of God (John 16:13), a Christ-like life, showing forth Christ’s character, and experiencing and manifesting the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit ( John 15:26; John 16:14; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:22-23).